If you suffer from both alcohol or drug addiction and mental illness, you have co-occurring disorders. It’s always more challenging to treat a dual diagnosis because it requires tackling both issues at the same time. To have the best chance of succeeding, it’s important to choose programs that offer the exact support you need. At Silver Sands Recovery, our program for dual diagnosis in Prescott can help.
What Is a Dual Diagnosis?
In simple terms, someone receives a dual diagnosis if they have a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder at the same time. In 2020, 17 million adults in the United States received a dual diagnosis.¹ Despite how common the problem is, there’s still a lack of understanding of why co-occurring conditions happen and why they can be a challenge to treat.
One of the first things to remember is that addiction and mental health issues impact the same areas of the brain. That’s why one condition might trigger the other. This is often the case in people who developed an addiction first and went on to experience mental illness. Substance misuse will make structural changes to the brain that could rapidly lead to conditions like depression and anxiety.²
Mental health disorders and addiction also have similar risk factors. If you have close family members with addiction or mental illness, you experienced trauma, or you live a high-stress life, you are more likely to develop either of these conditions.
It’s not always clear which illness is first, though the majority of people turn to substance misuse to manage symptoms of mental health conditions. The more that they use alcohol or drugs, the more their brain chemistry is affected, leading to worsening symptoms.²
Common Co-Occurring Disorders
Any mental health disorder can be connected with any substance, but there are some common combinations. Someone with depression, for example, may feel such low moods and lack of energy that they might try to self-medicate with uppers like cocaine or methamphetamine. That could be the only way they feel like they can function more normally.
People who suffer from anxiety often turn to sedatives, including alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines, to manage their overwhelming symptoms.
Because of the variability of bipolar disorder, some people may misuse alcohol or stimulants, depending on whether they’re going through a manic or depressive phase.
Often, people who are dealing with PTSD or phobias will rely on opioids to dull discomfort and numb feelings.
Treatment for Dual Diagnosis in Prescott
Treating either condition can be challenging, but tackling both at the same time can be overwhelming. That is why it’s vital to rely on mental health and substance abuse treatment programs that can guide you. Using evidence-based therapies, your care team can help you understand the cause of both issues.
It’s common for people to want to tackle one condition at a time, but that’s not the most effective option. You may stop using drugs or alcohol, but the reason you may have started in the first place is still there. Mental illness symptoms can quickly lead you to relapse.
With behavioral therapies, you and your therapist can get to the root problem. You can start making changes to your negative thinking patterns and address any trauma you may have tried to bury with drugs or alcohol.
Group therapy sessions are an essential part of dual-diagnosis treatment in Prescott. You can learn how to communicate with others and how to manage interpersonal issues that could impact your mental stability and lead you to rely on substances again.
Get Help for a Dual Diagnosis in Prescott
If you are struggling with a mental health condition and substance use disorder, finding a treatment center that can provide care for both conditions is vital. At Silver Sands Recovery, our addiction treatment programs offer the high level of support you need as you manage these conditions.
With individualized treatment plans and knowledgeable staff ready to help you, you can begin your recovery on the right foot. Contact us to learn more about our addiction and alcohol rehab programs.
Sources:
[1] https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt35325/NSDUHFFRPDFWHTMLFiles2020/2020NSDUHFFR1PDFW102121.pdf
[2] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/substance-use-and-mental-health
About the author:
Lisa Waknin is the Founder and Director of Silver Sands Recovery, located in Prescott, Arizona. Lisa started Silver Sands Recovery after immersing herself in the addiction treatment world for several years to figure out what could be done differently to help her daughter and others like her to overcome addiction and stay sober. She believes in a hands-on treatment approach, which includes taking someone out of their environment, providing a 90-day program in a structured environment. During treatment, clients not only recover physically but also learn to live their life again. Lisa is a sought-after expert speaker for recovery support groups, charities, schools, communities, and companies wanting to educate themselves on the explosion of opiate and heroin abuse in our country and the best way to understand, treat, and beat it.
