Many people who suffer from mental illness, are also combating substance abuse. More often than not, the two tend to go hand in hand.
Any combination of mental illness (including anxiety disorder, depression, etc.) and addiction (alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc.) can qualify an individual as a dual diagnosis patient. With so many possible issues, the combinations are endless.
At New Roads Behavioral Health, we specialize in mental disorders and substance abuse disorders. Having both disorders treated simultaneously is crucial to recovery.
Dual Diagnosis Explained
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than half of individuals who are battling drug addiction are also struggling with a diagnosed mental illness of some form.
Although researchers have been unable to determine the exact reasons behind this harsh probability, they’ve created several possible reasons. To be able to navigate the available treatments created to help the individuals struggling with these types of Dual Diagnosis conditions, it’s better to first understand why they tend to be found together.
The first theory is saying that substance abuse can lead to mental illness developing over extended periods of use. When stimulants and depressants are continuously being abused, it can over time alter one’s permanent mental state. Causing things such as depression and mood disorders.
Another, more popular theory, is that those who are already struggling with mental illness are more likely to abuse substances. Most of these individuals struggling with mental illness take substances to feel better.
What most don’t realize is that it only worsens mental health issues while creating an unstable mindset and creating substance abuse tendencies. It can be dangerous while imbalancing already at risk mental states.
The last theory we’ve also seen occur with individuals who suffer from both mental illness and substance abuse is that they both show similar risk factors for becoming prevalent in someone’s life. As an example, those who have suffered physical or sexual traumas early in life are at higher risk for developing mental illness, but also for developing substance abuse issues.
With so many contributing factors and possible triggers, it’s hard to say what causes a dual diagnosis to occur in patients.
At New Roads Behavioral Health, we want to help those struggling with dual diagnosis get to the root of their cause and create a perfect treatment plan to help them overcome mental illness and substance abuse.
Treatment Options for Dual Diagnosis
First one must understand that dual diagnosis in individuals is not a simple treatment. It’s difficult to understand which area symptoms are coming from. Say, someone is struggling with depression, how do you know what’s causing it?
Whether it’s a mental health disorder that needs to be treated, or if the patient’s drug addiction is causing the depressive symptoms. That should be the treatment center’s first step to creating a treatment plan. Finding the root of the symptoms and diagnosing where they’re coming from.
Determining the Diagnosis
The treatment plans created for those suffering from mental illness seem to also be effective for those who are suffering from a dual diagnosis with substance abuse. While at the same time, the treatments created for individuals with substance abuse problems, are also highly effective for the treatment of having a mental illness present.
So, which treatment options are helpful to individuals with a dual diagnosis? The answer can be quite complicated and vary by person. Depending on their specific diagnosis and needs.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has reiterated that the treatment programs with the best outcome have varying treatment plans that can adjust to each individual and their needs. Conforming the treatment option to the individual, instead of the other way around. At New Roads Behavioral Health, this is our speciality.
Depending on which substance the individual is abusing, determines the impact on their mental state. When creating a treatment option for those with dual diagnosis, you have to tailor to both cohabitating disorders.
Different mood and personality disorders change anyone’s mental state drastically. They all must be addressed separately and differently. Also varying by individual, no disorder affects anyone the same.
Integrated Treatment Programs
No matter the diagnosis of which mental disorder that is working alongside any substance addiction, treating both things you’re struggling with at the same time is imperative.
Individuals who are already treating diagnosed mental disorders with prescriptions can lead to substance addiction.
For example, someone using adderall to treat diagnosed ADHD, can lead to overuse, substance abuse and addiction to substance options. When promoting their mental state temporarily, they may seek other options to nurse their mental disorder.
Let’s say that individual then seeks professional treatment for the addiction and stops using the prescribed medication. After inevitable release from said facility, the untreated ADHD will become prominent again and possibly cause them to re-engage in those self medicating tendencies they were taking part in before reaching out for treatment.
If the individual had both gotten professional treatment for their substance addiction and their ADHD they may find themselves avoiding relapse and recovering from their dual diagnosis.
Dual treatment prohibits the high possibility of a relapse into substance abuse and helps them cope with their mental disorder, simultaneously.
In order to receive proper dual diagnosis treatment, the correct diagnosis is crucial. When seeking out a treatment facility, be sure to find a treatment program that specializes in all three. Dual diagnosis, mental disorders and substance abuse disorders.
Facts You Should Know About Dual Diagnosis and Treatment
Dealing with a mental illness is already difficult on it’s own. When you mix substance abuse and addiction with it, it can become highly dangerous.
Those with dual diagnosis have a high suicide rate and extremely violent tendencies. Creating very high-risk patients who are seeking treatment for their dual diagnosis.
As an individual struggling with a dual diagnosis, it’s important to understand that there is no quick-fix. Seeking a successful treatment option and overcoming both disorders will take extended amounts of time and dedication. In order to progressively get better, the patient has to want to get better.
At New Roads Behavioral Health, our mission is to foster the development of happy individuals by treating our clients as whole and complex people who want to get better.
Moving at a healthy treatment pace will vary by individual. It’s important to move at a rate that keeps the patient comfortable and open to continuing their treatment for dual diagnosis.
Dual Diagnosis treatment is quite new in the area of addiction recovery and mental health disorder recovery. Until about the 1990s, patients experiencing mental illness related symptoms were always treated away from the ones who were suffering with substance abuse related issues.
It wasn’t until the last couple decades that patients weren’t denied treatment for their mental disorders when they were also struggling with substance abuse. Now seeing the disorders feeding off one another, integrated and updated treatment programs have been created to treat both issues at the same time.
Seek Dual Diagnosis Treatment Today
If you’ve been struggling with mental illness disorders/symptoms, alongside substance abuse disorders and haven’t been able to reach tangible help, seek out a treatment facility that specializes in dual diagnosis and treatment options.
Getting dual diagnosed may become a huge relief for those individuals who may not realize they could have cohabitating disorders. When left undiagnosed, it may feel like you’re on a never ending road to recovery.
At New Roads Behavioral Health, our researched-based treatment models combine the latest in addiction science with a cultivated community atmosphere, allowing us to guide clients through the recovery process with both efficiency and compassion.
Don’t let you or a loved one suffer any longer. The treatment options for dual diagnosis are extensive and can tailor to whichever disorders an individual is struggling with.
Contact New Roads Behavioral Health today and get started on your personalized diagnosis and treatment options.