When you are struggling with addiction, it can feel like you are the only person who has ever struggled to manage your alcohol or drug use. However, addiction is an illness that affects millions of people every year.
Even if you feel alone in your struggles, there are many resources available to help you get the treatment that you need. One type of treatment that many people do not know about but are helpful for many individuals is ‘Dual Diagnosis Treatment’.
Dual Diagnosis is the treatment of an individual with both a mental illness and a substance use disorder.
But what exactly is dual diagnosis treatment? And if you think that either you or someone you love might need it, what should you ask to find out?
This article will answer those questions and more so that you know exactly what to look for when considering dual diagnosis treatment centers near me.
1. What Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
A dual diagnosis is a situation in which an individual experiences more than one serious mental health condition at the same time. A dual diagnosis could be mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and other types of mental disorders that really affect how one feels in their daily life.
People who suffer from addiction are often dealing with mental health conditions as well. The most common dual diagnosis is a person who is struggling with addiction and also has a mental health condition like depression or anxiety.
In a situation like this, the co-occurring disorder will often influence the course of treatment for addiction recovery.
2. Why Might Someone Need Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
It is crucial to understand if you or someone you love needs dual diagnosis treatment, as the different types of help and support available depending on the specific needs of your situation.
Dual diagnosis treatment is a proven strategy for treating substance abuse with a co-occurring mental health disorder. Sometimes the two conditions can be independent, but often there is a connection between the two.
That said, it is important to understand that addiction is not a moral failing and that people with mental health disorders are not crazy or bad.
3. How Is Dual Diagnosis Different From Other Forms of Addiction Treatment?
When someone goes to treatment for addiction, they are usually treated for substance use disorder only. However, when someone has a dual diagnosis, their treatment team will take both disorders into account. This means that they will have a care team that is working together to address both problems.
4. What Are The Signs That You Might Need Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
Most people with dual diagnoses have never been diagnosed before, or if they have, they have not been connected to services. Nevertheless, if you experience the following symptoms, you might need dual diagnosis treatment:
- You experience more than one condition that is having a significant negative impact on your life.
- You have been diagnosed with one or more mental health disorders, and you have been unsuccessful in managing these.
- You have been using substances to cope with challenging emotions or experiences.
5. What Can I Expect From Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centres Near Me?
The treatment for a dual diagnosis will vary based on the individual and the specific issues that are being addressed. However, many treatment programs will include elements of both mental health and addiction treatment. This may include things like individual or group therapy, self-help groups, medication, referrals to occupational therapy, or other services as needed.
The Bottom line
It can be difficult to deal with a mental health disorder and an addiction. However, many people find that when they address both issues at once, they are able to get better more quickly.
So, if you are struggling with an addiction and a mental health disorder, you may want to look into dual-diagnosis treatment centers near me
Keep in mind that it might take longer to see positive results and treatment providers may need to adjust their strategies based on the presence of both issues.
