It is not easy to deal with a mental illness. In the same way, it is also difficult to deal with an addiction. But what happens to a person who has to deal with both of these problems at the same time?
A person with a dual diagnosis may feel overwhelmed by their condition. Their mental illness may be fueling their desire to drink or abuse drugs, but it may also be the other way around, with their substance abuse worsening their existing mental health disorder.
This creates an unhealthy cycle that often leads people into a downward spiral. Without the help of a dual diagnosis treatment program, it can feel hopeless. But treatment programs for dual diagnosis exist, and they are specifically designed to address these complex conditions.
TRUST SoCal, for example, is one of the best dual diagnosis treatment centers out there. They can help patients who are struggling with a substance abuse problem and co-occurring mental health disorders. Here we are going to talk about how treatment programs for dual diagnosis work. Let’s take a closer look.
Addiction on its own is already difficult enough. Imagine having a co-occurring mental health disorder to go along with it. Unfortunately, this problem is that dual diagnosis is much more common than people may think.
A dual diagnosis treatment center is equipped to handle such problems, even though it may feel hopeless at the moment. They offer a wide range of mental health services, addiction treatment programs, etc., that are meant to tackle addiction and mental illness simultaneously. It is very difficult to solve one problem without addressing the other. This is why dual diagnosis treatment is extremely beneficial.
But before you can start looking for addiction therapy services that specialize in dual diagnosis treatment, you first have to understand what a dual diagnosis is.
A dual diagnosis is when a person has a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health disorder. The co-occurring disorder may be something like generalized anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, dissociative identity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.
Knowing these things will help you make an informed decision as you choose from the available treatment programs in your area.
Mental illness and addiction have a complicated relationship, which we will explore later on. In fact, about half of all people who have mental health conditions eventually develop a problem with substance abuse later in life. This does not guarantee that they will become addicted, but they are at risk. If they experiment with drugs or alcohol, they may eventually develop an addiction.
A COMPLETE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT PROGRAM is often necessary to help people with various mental health disorders. There are many different types of programs that are geared towards those who require mental health treatment. Patients may participate in individual or group therapy, for example. Some rehab programs offer both types.
Just like with addiction therapy services, treatment for mental health involves an individualized treatment plan. Everybody is different, including the way mental illness affects each person. People may have completely different situations that contribute to their mental health condition. They may have different symptoms. This is why a personalized treatment plan is ideal.
Most mental health treatment providers will create a treatment program based on a patient’s specific needs. It will also be based on what mental health disorder they are suffering from, whether it’s anxiety disorders, depression, personality disorders, etc.
These programs will include psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is the therapeutic treatment of mental illnesses with the help of a trained mental health professional.
During psychotherapy, a trained counselor or therapist will help the patient recognize unhealthy thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They will seek to improve the person’s general well-being. They may also administer medications to promote a safe and effective recovery.
Different types of psychotherapy include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and exposure therapy. Rehab programs also offer things like individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, etc. These programs are designed to help patients with their relationships with other people, with their peers, with their family members, and even with themselves.
Medications are commonly administered during rehab to help control the symptoms of mental health disorders. It can be very challenging to function on a daily basis while dealing with the effects of common mental health disorders. Medications help the patient feel more comfortable so they can focus on their therapy.
By addressing the effects of the psychiatric illness, the patient can become productive again and start rebuilding their relationships with other people. They can even make room for new connections, new hobbies, and new activities that make them feel fulfilled.
With fewer symptoms to worry about, they can put more focus on the proper coping mechanisms and healthy habits they are learning in treatment.
A treatment provider may also offer case management services. Case managers assess, plan, and implement a lot of recovery strategies for their patients to make their treatment journey a lot smoother.
In cases of dual diagnosis, wherein addiction is involved, hospitalization may be necessary. Hospitalization ensures that they can receive round the clock care from medical professionals in a safe and comfortable environment.
Dual diagnosis treatment programs usually offer hospitalization services so that patients can stay safe throughout their treatment journey. This way, they can be closely monitored and accurately diagnosed. Their medications can be adjusted as their condition improves.
Another important part of mental health programs is support groups. Support groups play a vital role when it comes to giving patients the reassurance that they are not suffering alone. In a support group, each member offers guidance to others. They share their experiences and learn from other people who know exactly what they are going through. This social factor is very important as it helps relieve the burden of mental illness especially for those who feel alone.
Finally, a self-help plan is another part of a complete treatment program. It is a unique health plan that allows the person to address their condition by covering things like triggers, recovery, warning signs, and wellness. With a self-help plan, they can stay on track even if they are not in the treatment facility.
Much like being in a drug rehab, learning how to be self-reliant is one of the goals of treatment for mental health conditions.
If an addicted individual has co-occurring disorders, this is called a dual diagnosis. This is where dual diagnosis treatment programs come in. These programs are specifically designed to address the needs of patients with dual diagnosis.
They may have mental health problems and also struggle with substance abuse. They may have borderline personality disorder and suffer from alcoholism. They may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and are trying to cope with prescription drugs.
Because of the complexity of dual diagnosis, you need expert help from medical professionals in a dual diagnosis treatment center. These people are specially trained to deal with such problems.
Because of its complicated nature, treatment for dual diagnosis is not straightforward. Different mental illnesses have different symptoms. The same can be said for substance abuse and addiction. Different substances cause different physical and psychological effects. It can be tricky to deal with them all.
You have to think about the different effects of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, and eating disorders. On top of that, you also have to consider the effects of addiction.
These effects can be altered further by factors such as frequency of intake, dosage taken, and other factors like genetics and environment.
Dual diagnosis treatment focuses on the connection between mental health and addiction. They offer behavioral therapies and use medications to treat a patient. Both problems are addressed at the same time to give patients the best chances of regaining and maintaining their sobriety.
The patient may go through a detox process, wherein their intake is gradually lowered as their withdrawal symptoms are managed. Afterwards, they can dive into the root causes of addictive behavior through therapy. Trained medical professionals will help patients recognize and change unhealthy thought patterns as well as triggers.
Patients will also learn healthy coping mechanisms so they can replace their substance abuse with healthier choices. This will help them deal with the stress of real life without spiraling back into addiction.
Keep in mind that relapse is a common thing and that it happens sometimes. It does not mean that the person failed or the dual diagnosis treatment program did not work. It is just another obstacle in their journey towards long-term recovery.
A dual diagnosis treatment center will use an integrated approach to reach this goal. This means implementing lifestyle chances and prescribing medications as necessary to help patients with their drug or alcohol addiction. At the same time other mental illnesses will be managed with the same approach.
Rehab, medications, behavioral therapy, and peer support can all contribute towards breaking this vicious cycle.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that over eight million Americans are suffering from a dual diagnosis.
Meanwhile, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, around 50% of people with severe mental illness are also affected by substance use disorders. This journal also reported that 37% of alcohol users and 53% of drug users have at least one serious mental health problem.
These statistics only show that dual diagnosis is very common. This also means that dual diagnosis treatment is just as important as traditional substance abuse treatment.
Drug abuse is a very common problem, and a lot of people suffer from various mental health conditions, so it’s no surprise that dual diagnosis is so common. For them to occur at the same time is very likely.
The relationship between mental health and addiction is very interesting. People will often self-medicate in an attempt to get rid of their mental health disorders. They will drink or misuse drugs to cope with their mental health condition.
On the other hand, some people who have been abusing drugs or alcohol may develop a mental disorder as a result of their substance use disorder. In fact, mental illness and addiction are so closely intertwined that they may end up worsening each other. Dual diagnosis treatment centers help patients by addressing this relationship. They target both substance use disorders and mental illness simultaneously.
TRUST SOCAL provides high quality behavioral health services. This addiction treatment center recognizes the need for more mental health services across the country, which is why they have dedicated their rehab approach to mitigating these issues with the use of intensive treatment.
TRUST SoCal believes in highly personalized treatment that addresses a client’s specific addiction treatment needs. What makes TRUST SoCal different is their evidence-based practices, coordination of care, true discharge planning, and feedback-informed treatment.
TRUST SoCal also follows the eight dimensions of wellness: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, and social. This allows them to address most concerns that affect a person’s ability to recover from their addiction.
CALL TRUST SOCAL TODAY AND LEARN MORE ABOUT ADDICTION TREATMENT IN SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.
Sign up to receive updates, promotions, and sneak peaks of upcoming products. Plus 20% off your next order.
