Sad man on the beach dealing with co-occurring disorders and addiction.It is common for those who struggle with addiction to have co-occurring disorders. Unfortunately, treating just one part of these disorders won’t be sufficient. At Serenity House Detox & Recovery, comprehensive and simultaneous addiction therapy for co-occurring disorders works toward true health and recovery.

Understanding Co-occurring Disorders

If a person has a co-occurring disorder, then they have two distinct but potentially related disorders at the same time. Typically, a co-occurring disorder includes some form of drug or alcohol addiction. It also typically includes some form of mental illness or a severe mental health condition.

By some estimates, there are nearly eight million Americans who have co-occurring disorders. Unfortunately, many of them don’t get the treatment they need. It is not enough to combat one disorder at a time. Instead, these patients require simultaneous treatment that can target addiction and mental health at once.

The biggest problem is often recognizing that a co-occurring disorder exists at all. It is easy to explain away mental health problems when addiction is present. It is even true that some symptoms of addiction are similar to those of depression, anxiety or schizophrenia. However, they are separate and unique disorders that deserve specific treatment.

Mental Health and Addiction

There is an undeniable link between mental health and addiction, and it is often overlooked. The two disorders can develop from the same underlying issues in many cases. In addition, addiction can cause mental illness, and mental illness can cause addiction.

A person with a mental illness is twice as likely as someone without a mental illness to develop a drug or alcohol addiction. Often, those with mental health issues don’t get the treatment or therapy they need for total wellness. As a result, they turn to addictive substances to self-medicate or serve as a distraction. This can quickly become a serious addiction.

This cause and effect connection works in reverse, too. A person who struggles with addiction will see major changes in the brain. This can often lead to periods of depression or paranoia. It can alter behavior and even personality, and it can lead to mental illness.

It is vital that these conditions are seen as related. Otherwise, patients will get stuck in a cycle of relapse. True recovery is only possible when both aspects of co-occurring disorders are treated appropriately.

The Need for Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual diagnosis treatment is simply acknowledging that there are two diagnoses at play and then treating both simultaneously. That often begins with an intake assessment where the health and history of patients can be evaluated. With the right information, it is easier to diagnose and then treat incoming patients. Dual diagnosis treatment can mean the difference between relapse and lifelong sobriety.

Addiction Therapies That Can Help

A wide range of detox therapies can be effective in treating co-occurring disorders. To start, detox and physiological therapies treat the physical dependence side of addiction. To address psychological disorders, a variety of talk and behavioral therapies can be beneficial.

A patient with a co-occurring disorder often needs to address the underlying issues. This could be something like a history of trauma, which can potentially lead to both a mental illness and a substance abuse disorder.

Starting Recovery at Serenity House Detox & Recovery

To address a co-occurring disorder, you have to start by breaking the chemical dependency completely. At Serenity House Detox & Recovery, you’ll begin the journey to recovery and lay the foundation for a lifetime of sobriety. Although most drug and alcohol detox centers in Florida focus on physical withdrawal symptoms, we believe that mental health symptoms should get just as much attention and treatment.

Patients ready to begin dual diagnosis treatment and detox can expect all of the following at Serenity House Detox & Recovery:

Co-occurring disorders require specific treatments for true recovery from addiction. Serenity House Detox & Recovery offers two detox locations in FloridaFort Lauderdale and Jupiter—where you can begin that journey to recovery. Find the health and happiness you deserve by calling 866-294-5306 today.