If you are struggling with a mental health concern alongside a co-occurring substance use disorder, this is known as having a dual diagnosis. We recommend selecting a treatment center that specializes in treating clients who have been dually diagnosed. Dual diagnosis therapy is vital for anyone that has co-occurring 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
Treating conditions simultaneously tends to offer the best outcomes; only treating one condition is not a sustainable treatment approach because concerns left untreated tend to derail therapeutic growth.
Dual Diagnosis Therapy for Anxiety and Addiction
Many people who struggle with addiction have undeveloped 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 with substances, including the following:
- Benzodiazepines
- Opioids
- Alcohol
- Tranquilizers
The problem is that since these substances only offer a short-term solution, they tend to prevent people from developing the coping and self-soothing skills they desperately need. Once the body and mind have developed a physical dependence on a particular drug or combination of drugs, it can be physically dangerous to stop using them without medical supervision.
Partial Hospitalization Offers a Higher Level of Care
For many, transitioning back into regular life after residential treatment is not the best choice, making a partial hospitalization program (PHP) an ideal step-down treatment option. In these instances, a PHP allows children to practice their learned skills at home on nights and weekends while receiving continued structured care during the weekdays. Further, it enables treatment providers to promptly provide feedback on issues that arise outside of the treatment environment.
Treating Emotion Dysregulation
In a dual diagnosis treatment program, you’ll work through different methods to begin retraining your brain to regulate emotions, think clearly, and manage responsibilities. Staying calm when you feel anxious is difficult, especially when you have become accustomed to escaping from reality by using drugs. Adjusting to life without harmful chemicals is difficult at first, but it is worth the effort. 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 experience different types of evidence-based therapy. The techniques learned in therapy will help your mind and body heal. 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.
