If someone you care about is struggling with addiction, you want to do your best to support them as much as possible. But this is easier said than done. You need to understand their condition before offering your support.
Addiction alone is complicated enough. Imagine if mental illness also comes into play. Having a dual diagnosis is not easy for anyone. So today we are going to discuss dual diagnosis: what it means, how it affects an individual, and how treatment works for someone with this condition.
Knowing as much as you can about dual diagnosis rehab centers will help you with your decision as you choose the right program for you or your loved one. Let’s take a closer look.
Before we discuss how treatment works for someone with a dual diagnosis, let’s talk about what this condition is first. This will help you make an informed decision when choosing a dual diagnosis treatment program.
Dual diagnosis is when a person has a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health disorder such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociative identity disorder, etc.
It’s hard to watch someone you love struggle with an addiction. Unfortunately, dual diagnosis is far more common than people think. Mental illness and addiction have a close connection that is worth looking into.
Some people who are suffering from a mental health condition turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with their symptoms. They self-medicate in the hopes that it would make them feel better. But then the substances only make them feel good for a short period of time. It then leads to an even bigger problem once tolerance, addiction, and dependence sets in.
It can also happen the other way around. People experimenting with drugs develop mental health disorders as a result of their substance abuse.
About half of all people with a mental health disorder will develop a substance abuse disorder later in life. While this isn’t a guarantee, they are at greater risk of becoming addicted, especially if they get exposed to drugs or alcohol.
A person’s mental condition may fuel their desire to drink and take drugs. Alternatively, their drug abuse or alcohol abuse may cause serious mental health effects. Either way, they are stuck in an unhealthy cycle that affects every aspect of their life. The person may feel hopeless as they struggle to break this cycle and go into a downward spiral.
Contrary to popular belief, addiction isn’t just a problem of willpower. Even if you want to quit, you won’t be able to. A dual diagnosis is even more complex and requires specialized care.
The effects of addiction alone are already difficult to deal with. The same can be said for various mental illnesses. It’s easy to see how a person with a dual diagnosis can get overwhelmed by their condition.
What they need is proper treatment from a rehab center that specializes in dual diagnosis. A dual diagnosis treatment center is equipped to deal with these complicated diagnoses. They address both problems at the same time, knowing that you can’t beat one without also tackling the other.
Dual diagnosis rehab centers offer a wide range of services and treatment programs for their patients. They provide mental health services that complement their addiction treatment. This gives patients the greatest shot at becoming sober again.
But the goal of rehab isn’t just to get sober: it’s to teach patients how to become self-reliant so they can maintain their sobriety for the long term.
TRUST SoCal 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. When in doubt, choose TRUST SoCal.
There are a few similarities between treatment for mental health conditions and treatment for addiction. Before we talk about dual diagnosis rehab, let’s discuss treatment for mental illnesses, which is a huge part of a dual diagnosis.
Oftentimes, when a person has a mental health condition, a complete treatment program is needed. This applies no matter what kind of mental health disorder the person has, whether it’s post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc. The good news is that there are plenty of treatment options for people with severe mental illnesses.
These programs typically use psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and exposure therapy are some examples of psychotherapy.
Most treatment programs offer individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy. These are designed to help the patient learn more about themselves, their triggers, their thought patterns, and their relationships. They can learn to manage these thoughts and behaviors better, as well as cope with the effects of their mental health condition.
Individual therapy allows the patient to get some wonderful insight from their therapist or counselor, who will try to learn about their condition and situation. Once the therapist has an understanding of their underlying mental health issues, they can create an individualized treatment plan based on the person’s needs.
On the other hand, group therapy provides emotional support and a sense of belongingness, so that the patient does not feel alone in their struggle. They can share their experiences and struggles with people who understand what they are going through. Support groups exist for people with mental health conditions and they are designed to provide a sense of community and support.
Family therapy can also be very helpful, depending on the patient’s relationship with their family members. They can either learn how to support their loved one better, or fix their relationship and help them heal.
Regardless of the type of therapy, the goal is the same: to improve the patient’s general well-being. Medications are often used during treatment of mental health disorders to help keep symptoms under control while the patient learns to manage their condition. Medications can also promote a safer recovery.
Medication-assisted treatment is beneficial because it allows the patient to feel normal and put more energy into their recovery. With fewer symptoms to worry about, they can focus on their therapy. Medication management is necessary, however, or else the patient may develop a substance use disorder. Medical professionals are there to help patients stick with their prescription.
Both substance use disorders and mental illnesses can make life significantly harder for a person who has them. If someone has a dual diagnosis, it is not enough to just treat one condition and neglect the other. A complete treatment plan that covers both addiction and mental health is necessary.
Treating a mental health condition is one thing, but dealing with an addiction on top of that is another challenge altogether. A person with a dual diagnosis needs an addiction treatment program that can also treat their co-occurring disorder.
While there are plenty of treatment options for people with drug addiction or alcohol addiction, not all of them specialize in treating mental health disorders. You need to find a dual diagnosis treatment center near you.
These programs can handle the complexity of a dual diagnosis because they address the relationship between substance abuse and mental health.
It is important to keep in mind that everyone is different. Everyone is affected by addiction differently. Different drugs cause different adverse health effects. Different people have different reasons to abuse drugs or drink alcohol. Not to mention that different mental health diagnoses have different effects. A dual diagnosis will cause a wide range of physical and mental health problems.
On top of these various health effects, there are also social factors to consider. Addiction will affect a person’s relationships, their career, their finances, their reputation, etc. There is a lot of stigma surrounding addiction and substance abuse. This condition is still widely misunderstood. In fact, even mental health conditions like anxiety disorders and depression sometimes receive the same stigma.
But addiction is a serious medical condition that is characterized by the compulsive intake of a substance. The addicted individual will keep on abusing drugs or alcohol even if they are already struggling with its adverse effects. They will prioritize it over everything else, losing interest in things they used to enjoy. At this point, they can’t simply quit even if they want to.
If they develop drug dependence, it will be even harder to quit. They will experience cravings and intense withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop taking the drug. A drug dependent person may find it hard to feel normal when they are not under the effects of the drug.
All of these factors need to be taken into consideration during the addiction recovery process.
When dealing with co-occurring disorders, a tailored treatment plan is always ideal because it caters to the unique needs of each patient.
It’s easy for someone with a dual diagnosis to feel overwhelmed by their situation. This is why dual diagnosis treatment takes everything into consideration as they create a personalized treatment plan. It can be tricky to deal with all the physical and mental effects of a dual diagnosis, so looking for a treatment center that specializes in this type of care is ideal.
A dual diagnosis treatment center will consider how their co-occurring disorders are affecting the individual. They will also consider things like drug abuse history, genetics, environment, frequency of intake, dosage taken, etc.
The patient will go through a period of medical detox. During this stage, their drug or alcohol intake will be reduced gradually. The patient will undergo withdrawal, which can be painful and uncomfortable, but the treatment provider will make sure they are safe. They may administer medications and provide round the clock care to keep the patient’s symptoms under control. Certain medications may help keep their symptoms and cravings in check.
In a rehab center, the patient can receive all the care they need as they deal with the effects of withdrawal. Medical professionals will make sure they are as comfortable as possible throughout this period. Eventually, the patient’s body will readjust to the absence of the substance, and it will become much easier for them to focus on their therapy.
Just like with treatment for mental health conditions, treatment for addiction involves behavioral therapy. Therapy may be done during or after detox. This stage of addiction recovery involves identifying the root cause of addictive behavior. The patient will learn all about their triggers, and pick up healthy coping mechanisms for when they are done with the treatment and facing the challenges of the real world.
Therapy is important because it equips patients with the knowledge and skills needed to maintain their sobriety. Remember, it’s not just about getting sober but learning to maintain that sobriety. A dual diagnosis program isn’t just concerned with your co-occurring disorders but also with your life after rehab.
Hopefully, throughout the rehab process, the patient will learn how to replace their substance abuse with healthy choices. This will be much easier because of detox. The patient will be in a much better physical and mental space to stick with their self-care plan.
A treatment center that offers dual diagnosis will typically use an integrated approach to reach this goal. They won’t just prescribe medications to keep symptoms under control, they will also teach patients how to live a healthy lifestyle.
With support from their peers, their family members, and health professionals, they will finally break the vicious cycle of addiction. They can start rebuilding their relationships, find new hobbies, and start enjoying life again.
Developing a self-help plan is usually a part of a complete treatment program. This unique health plan will help patients prepare for life outside of rehab, particularly for when they encounter their triggers and stressors. This plan will help them stay on track in case they feel lost or confused. They can also stay in touch with their treatment provider or participate in support groups to help them with their emotional needs.
When it comes to dual diagnosis, hospitalization isn’t always necessary. But inpatient treatment does ensure that the patient can get round the clock care in a safe and comfortable environment.
Look for a treatment facility near you today and ask about their dual diagnosis treatment program.
Dual diagnosis focuses on the connection between addiction and mental health. So what is this relationship and why is dual diagnosis so common?
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), over eight million Americans are suffering from a dual diagnosis. The Journal of the American Medical Association also reports that around 50% of people with severe mental health disorders are also affected by substance use disorder. The journal also reported that 53% of drug users and 37% of alcohol users have at least one serious mental health problem.
Dual diagnosis substance abuse treatment is important because of how common this condition is.
Some people deal with their mental health problems by self-medicating and taking drugs. Others cope with stress by drinking alcohol. Some people who are struggling with PTSD, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder decide to take drugs to deal with their symptoms.
The tendency to self-medicate is dangerous because it only provides a temporary solution to the problem. In fact, in the end, substance abuse only makes the problem worse as it leads to even bigger health problems, especially if it develops into an addiction.
Mental illness and addiction are so closely intertwined that they can sometimes end up worsening each other. If a patient has an addiction and a co-occurring disorder, a dual diagnosis treatment is necessary so that both of these conditions can be addressed.
When choosing a treatment center for drug or alcohol addiction—and especially for a dual diagnosis—one of the things you have to decide on is whether to go for an inpatient program or an outpatient program.
This is an important choice as these are two very different treatment programs. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, so there is no right or wrong answer. But one may be a more suitable fit for your loved one, depending on their condition.
Those who have a mild to moderate addiction may go for an outpatient treatment center. These programs are more affordable, and they do not require patients to stay in a rehab center for the duration of their mental health treatment. Instead, it involves frequent visits to the rehab center. This setup allows them to go to work, go to school, or manage their other responsibilities while still receiving proper addiction treatment.
In an outpatient setting, the dual diagnosis treatment program can be designed around the patient’s schedule. This makes treatment more accessible to them. They also don’t have to adjust as much to life outside of rehab because they don’t stay in a facility for a certain period of time.
Inpatient treatment is suitable for people with more serious conditions, wherein hospitalization is needed. Inpatient treatment centers provide more intensive care, but they require patients to stay in the rehab center for the duration of the program. There, they can receive round the clock care and just focus on their recovery.
Food and accommodations are provided, so expect this type of treatment to be more expensive. However, the structured nature of inpatient rehab helps patients make significant progress without the distractions of the outside world.
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.
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