While addiction is one of the most pressing issues affecting countless individuals and families across the country, it’s far from the only problem. People who develop issues with drug abuse, substance abuse, and addiction, often suffer from other disorders as well.
People who suffer from addiction and alcoholism can also struggle with issues such as depression or anxiety. If a person has mental health or psychiatric conditions and substance abuse issues, they are said to have a dual diagnosis. Common mental health disorders seen in dual diagnosis are schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It’s critical for people to get help with every issue, including substance abuse because they are often found with other mental health conditions.
What is a Dual Diagnosis?
Someone is said to have a dual diagnosis disorder if they have problems with addiction in addition to mental health-related issues. It’s incredibly common for people to have both a substance abuse disorder along with a mental health condition. A significant proportion of people who have one also have the other.
The reason is that many people who suffer from a mental health disorder, such as depression, often try to self-medicate themselves with recreational drugs and alcohol. Someone who is depressed might not find help from conventional treatment options. They also might not be able to afford it or feel comfortable opening up to someone. Instead of consulting with a doctor or trained professional, they drink alcohol to cope with the depression.
Many people with anxiety are prescribed benzodiazepines to help with panic attacks. Sadly, benzodiazepines such as Xanax are incredibly addictive and widely abused. Those who suffer from anxiety have a greater chance of becoming physically addicted to benzodiazepines which can lead to a substance abuse disorder.
What are the Benefits of a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Facility?
It can be a challenge to find appropriate treatment options for dual diagnosis disorders. Many facilities are able to provide someone with the counseling and treatment options they need to recover from addiction; however, they might not be able to provide resources to help someone with a mental health disorder. If the mental health disorder is left untreated, then the root cause of addiction is still present. People are prone to relapsing once they leave the treatment facility that isn’t equipped to handle dual diagnosis.
When someone seeks treatment for a dual diagnosis disorder, they have a much higher chance of making a full recovery. There is an intimate relationship between mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders. This relationship must be explored if someone wants to recover from both. Substance abuse and mental health go hand in hand. This is the ultimate goal and is the only way to make sure that someone is truly healthy when they complete their course of treatment.
How Do I Know if Dual Diagnosis Treatment Is Right for Me?
It’s important for everyone to make sure they find treatment options that are right for them. Not everyone is going to have a dual diagnosis disorder. If someone has a dual diagnosis disorder, then they need to seek out this type of treatment option.
The first step to assessing whether you need dual diagnosis treatment is looking for signs of a mental health disorder. One of the most common mental health disorders that manifests with addiction is depression. There are a few common signs of depression such as trouble sleeping, change in appetite, weight changes, overwhelming feelings of guilt, a loss of pleasure in activities that used to bring joy, and suicidal thoughts. Anyone who has these symptoms needs to seek the help of a trained mental health professional.
Anxiety is also common among those who suffer from addiction. Some of the most common signs of anxiety include changes in heart rate, sweating, difficulty breathing, and panic attacks. Because benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat anxiety, they’re also prone to lead to an addiction.
When substance abuse and mental health disorders are addressed together, people have a much higher chance of making a full recovery.
Let Us Help You!
At Rise in Malibu, we are a luxury drug rehab program located in Malibu, just off the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. We are able to provide dual-diagnosis treatment options to those who need it. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have while you figure out what treatment program is right for you.
We take a great deal of pride in caring for the whole person and our highly trained staff knows what you’re going through. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your recovery!
