It’s extremely important that the addiction treatment facility you choose specializes in dual diagnosis therapy methods. Dual diagnosis therapy is vital for anyone that has co-occurring disorders of mental illness and addiction. When you’re dealing with a mental illness, it can be extremely difficult to stay sober. Some of the most common mental illnesses that people struggle with alongside addiction include the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- ADHD
Dual Diagnosis Therapy for Anxiety
Many people who struggle with addiction have poor coping skills when it comes to stress and anxiety. Anxiety is a natural human response to any type of potential danger. However, some individuals experience anxiety when no danger is present. These individuals often try to deal with their anxiety by self-medicating. The problem is that since these substances only offer a short-term solution, they tend to make anxiety worse, especially when coming down from them.
In dual diagnosis treatment, you’ll work through different methods to begin retraining your brain. In this way, you’ll learn how to calm your anxiety and start managing your emotions. When you acquire these skills, it’ll be easier to stay sober and deal with other issues in life.
Managing Depression
Depression is one of the most difficult mental health disorders to deal with because it can be debilitating. The symptoms vary, but you may feel numb, unmotivated, stuck in negative thoughts or alone in the world. Through treatment, you’ll begin to learn how to master your mind and overcome depressive moods. With these skills, you’ll begin to see that there’s an amazing life worth living.
One of the ways that therapists help clients overcome depression is to teach them how to jumpstart certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Different chemicals in the brain like serotonin, dopamine, endorphins and norepinephrine decrease depression. You’ll begin to learn how to activate these positive neurotransmitters in a healthy way to help you manage your depression. This is quite empowering because you realize that you’re the master of your own mind.
Addiction Treatment
While your symptoms of mental illness may play a big role in your drinking or using, you need to manage your addiction. In drug and alcohol addiction treatment, you’ll learn different types of evidence-based therapy. These techniques will help you to heal your brain so you realize that you no longer need to turn to substance abuse to deal with your mental health issues.
Crestview Recovery is here to help you with your mental illness and addiction. Call us today at 866.262.0531 to begin your road to recovery.