What happens when you have a substance abuse problem? You get professional help, of course. But what happens if you’re also dealing with an underlying mental health disorder? In this case, your healing depends on good-quality dual diagnosis treatment.
The Need for Dual Diagnosis Treatment is More Common than You Think
Estimates suggest that about 50 percent of people in need of help for chemical dependency also require dual diagnosis treatment. Depression and anxiety disorders are among the most common conditions. Getting a good understanding of the problem is difficult because many people don’t have a formal diagnosis. Case in point is the individual who feels anxious in social situations.
To loosen up a little, she or he has a few drinks before going out. The alcohol initially triggers a dopamine release, which creates a stimulant effect. Before it depresses the central nervous system, it helps with making the person livelier. Rather than seeking help for the anxiety, the individual figures that’s just the way to deal with social anxiety.
There are plenty of other examples just like this one. Eventually, they result in chemical dependency. In the past, you would first seek out addiction treatment. Then, people unafraid of the stigma would seek out mental health treatment.
Combining Both Treatment Approaches
The flaw with this setup is evident. Individuals who didn’t get help for the co-occurring disorders soon relapsed. Unable to cope with anxieties or intrusive thoughts, they reached for the drug that gave them comfort. Now, you have better options open to you.
Combined treatment starts as early as detoxification. At the detox center, skilled intake counselors assess you for the possibility of a co-occurring mental health disorder. Even if you haven’t received a formal diagnosis before, you may be suffering from one or more of these conditions. In this situation, experts customize your detox with dual diagnosis treatment in mind.
Examples of therapies include:
- Medical detox for withdrawal for a pain-free and safe experience
- Pharmacological support for any disorder that your decision to quit using drugs now aggravates
- Psychotherapy that helps you understand why you used drugs and then provides tools for changing dysfunctional patterns
- Addiction counseling for your mental health disorder and follow-up as well as discharge planning to continuing treatment
- Group therapy sessions that allow for peer support and communal drug abuse education
Getting Help for a Chemical Dependency Today
You don’t have to fear withdrawal symptoms. If you’ve tried to stop using in the past, you may have encountered worsening depression or anxiety. Now, there’s help for these issues with dual diagnosis treatment. You don’t have to wait until you are further along in recovery to start dealing with a co-occurring mental health disorder.
When you’re ready to get well, the expert counselors at Serenity House Detox & Recovery want to help. They routinely work with people like you who need a little assistance to get started on the path to recovery. With or without underlying mental health challenges, there’s hope with dual diagnosis treatment. Call 866-294-5306 today to begin your healing process.