A client came to seek help at our Delhi center due to ongoing anxiety, struggles with craving management, dependence, and overuse of substances. They also lost a close family member leading to feelings of unmanaged grief. A structured plan was formulated to help the client process grief, abstain from substances, and develop better-coping mechanisms to deal with the underlying anxiety.
Patient Profile: A 23-year-old young adult struggling with addiction and feelings of uncontrolled anxiety.
Emotional symptoms reported were feelings of sadness and low mood, anxiety, anger, and guilt. Harboring high expectations and low self-compassion.
Behavioral symptoms experienced were withdrawal & isolation, risk-taking, restlessness, and, procrastination of important tasks.
The physiological symptoms included fatigue and irregular sleep
The treatment approach was integrative, multidisciplinary, and holistic. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was used as a primary course of treatment, combined with aspects of REBT, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Gestalt therapy, EMDR, and Art Therapy. Additionally, mindfulness-based therapy, expressive arts, sports and physical training, yoga, sound healing, and Reiki were also incorporated into the client’s weekly treatment plan. Nutritional counseling and diet management were also facilitated.
The client-specific challenges included initial resistance to trust the therapy process and doubting the treatment program’s effectiveness, in general.
The clinical hurdles included management of the co-occurring issues such as ongoing anxiety and stimulation-seeking requests for using the substance. Our team gradually supported the client through effective rapport formation as well as helping to deal with urges experienced. Personalized strategies were formulated to sustain study habits, schedule, and productivity.
In terms of Quantitative outcomes, there was an overall improvement in managing daily schedule, productivity, anxiety, and urges to use substances.
Whereas, concerning Qualitative outcome, there was improved emotional regulation and processing along with enhanced coping strategies to deal with anxiety, triggers, and urges.
The client made progress in many aspects including grief/trauma processing, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, dealing with anxiety, maintaining routine, following through with academic goals, decision-making skills, mindfulness, meditation & yoga as well as cognitive restructuring.
Key takeaways and lessons learned:
Client’s perspective: “I am so glad I did not give up on myself and trusted this process.”
A combination of psychotherapeutic modalities along with alternative healing practices helped the client enhance their mental well-being and deal with unprocessed grief along with practicing healthy coping mechanisms. Although dealing with high levels of anxiety and abstaining from substances can be tough, with the right kind of support, intervention, and therapeutic space, one can drastically improve mental health and be better equipped to deal with challenges.
Anonymity Assurance: Names, images, or identifying details have been changed or omitted to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.
Medical Disclaimer: This case study is provided for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as medical advice, nor is it intended to replace the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals. Always seek the advice of a licensed medical provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
