If you or a loved one are living with a mental health issue and are addicted to drugs or alcohol, the term used to describe the situation is “dual diagnosis.” The good news is that the situation is far from hopeless. Recovery is possible, but each problem must be addressed appropriately at an addiction treatment center staffed by people with experience at dealing with this type of situation.
Mental Illness and Substance Abuse
Some people who are mentally ill start using drugs or alcohol to control how they feel. Drinking or using drugs may make them feel calmer or happier. Over time, the self-medication turns into an addiction to drugs or alcohol. In some instances, the addiction leads to symptoms of a mental illness, such as depression, suicidal thoughts, or hallucinations.
Trying to determine which came first is not all that helpful. If two issues are present, both of them need to be treated. It does take time to recover, but with the right help and support, this is a realistic goal.
Residential Treatment Centers for Dual Diagnosis
The first step in treating dual diagnosis is to break free from the hold of the drugs or alcohol. This process is known as going through detox. The advantage of going through it in a residential center for treatment drugs or alcohol is that a client’s condition can be carefully monitored throughout the process by qualified medical personnel.
This is the part of the program that you or your loved one may be most reluctant to undertake. You certainly don’t have to look very far to find terrifying accounts of what going through withdrawal is like. At a treatment facility offering a supervised medical detox program, every consideration is made to make clients feel comfortable during this initial phase of treatment.
After this phase is completed, clients at Above It All Treatment Center get help from a 12-Step program as well as supportive therapy for their mental health issues. This two-pronged approach to treatment is the best approach for dealing with a dual diagnosis. The substance abuse issue does not exist in a vacuum. Unless the mental health problem is treated appropriately, the same behaviors will repeat themselves.
The experts at the treatment center can diagnose and recommend a course of treatment that will address both issues. In the case of a dual diagnosis, it may include medication to treat the mental health issue so that you or your loved one don’t turn to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate to deal with feelings of anxiety, depression or other symptoms that can be treated more appropriately under a doctor’s care.
Don’t wait one more day to start on the road to recovery from a dual diagnosis when help is available now. To learn if affordable rehab is right for you, call for a free assessment today.