Dual Diagnosis: Mental Health and Addiction Treatment

One’s mental health can play a significant role in their ability to manage everyday life. Mental health can be adversely affected by organic chemical-imbalances and/or environmental factors.

At The Fullbrook Center, we work with every client to distinguish areas of struggle, how these struggles present themselves, and the appropriate options for adjustment and/or treatment.

Every woman is assessed and treated appropriately, based on her individual needs.

Between our medical and clinical staff, The Fullbrook Center is prepared to aide in the treatment of the following conditions:

• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Bipolar Disorders
• Personality Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress
• Disorder

What Does Dual Diagnosis Mean?

People who suffer from addiction are more likely than non-addicts to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder. People with mental health issues are more likely to develop addictions.

Dual diagnosis facilities aim to treat those ailments together. In dual diagnosis rehab, individuals will take part in an integrated treatment plan. That plan addresses and deems both disorders as interconnected mental health issues.

Dual diagnostic treatment centers focus on the “whole person.” That’s why treatment and the path to recovery are much more conscious and active.

Around 50% of individuals who suffer from mental disorders are also affected by drug or alcohol abuse.

More often than not, substance abuse disorder isn’t a stand-alone disease. Co-occurring mental health disorders are significant contributors to substance abuse disorders.

Dual diagnosis residential treatment seeks to help individuals overcome substance abuse disorder. It does so in conjunction with any mental illnesses.

Addiction and Common Mental Health Issues

Dual diagnosis rehab exists with the understanding that there is no single treatment option. Every case is unique, which is why the issues are better managed in long term treatment programs.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common mental health issues we see in those afflicted by addiction.

Anxiety Disorders

People with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are more likely than others to abuse alcohol and drugs. They do so to alleviate or manage their anxiety symptoms.

Many individuals diagnosed with anxiety also abuse benzodiazepines. They are incredibly addictive prescription medications.

Depression

More than 16 million adults have at least one depressive episode in a given year. Those who suffer from depression often self-medicate with alcohol or drugs, which, in turn, makes the problem worse.

For those who have a pre-existing depressive condition, the crash after a high can be devastating.

Bipolar Disorder

More than half of people with bipolar disorder also suffer from addiction. Some people in addiction recovery may have no idea that they have bipolar disorder as it’s often misdiagnosed and mistreated.

Many individuals with no idea they have bipolar disorder struggle to stay sober because of their untreated mood swings. It’s common for those people to continue to self-medicate. They medicate either bipolar depression or their high levels of irritability.

Drugs and alcohol may provide temporary relief but, in the long run, all they do is perpetuate unhealthy and destructive behavior.

Without proper diagnosis treatment, chronic relapse is much more likely.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

We rely on endorphins. Produced in the pituitary gland and central nervous system, endorphins help people deal with stress. They also reduce feelings of pain and help people feel pleasure.

People who develop PTSD produce fewer endorphins than an otherwise healthy brain. As a result, those who have PTSD often turn to alcohol and drugs to alleviate their pain and feel happy.

Warning Signs of Co-Occurring Disorders

If you’re worried about a loved one, the signs of a co-occurring disorder can be quite different from one individual to the next. Symptoms differ depending on the mental illness and the type and quantity of substances abused.

Here are some common dual diagnosis signs to look for:

• Difficulty managing responsibilities
• Avoiding events or activities that were once enjoyed
• Difficulty completing daily tasks
• Sudden behavioral changes
  Refusal to seek or agree to seek treatment
• Impulsive behaviors
• Issues managing finances
• Neglecting hygiene and health
• Poor performance at school
• Poor performance at work
• Erratic behavior

Dual diagnosis rehab is useful and beneficial. Many different combinations of mental illness and addiction require dual diagnosis rehab. An insomnia addict, for example, will have a completely different treatment plan than a bi-polar addict.

Don’t Wait on Dual Diagnosis Residential Treatment

Dual diagnosis residential treatment is an effective and safe way to treat individuals. It’s built for those who suffer from both addiction and mental illness.

You can’t put a bandaid on addiction.

You must get to the root cause and you can’t treat a mental illness without also treating the addiction to drugs or alcohol. Every path is unique, which is why it’s essential to work with your psychiatrist to create a treatment plan tailored precisely for you.

If you’ve tried treatment in the past but were unsuccessful, don’t let it turn you away. More often than not, treatment isn’t successful. It’s unsuccessful because people are misdiagnosed.

Treatment requires proper guidance and understanding along any path to recovery.

Do you want to learn how we build a plan for your recovery? Contact us with any questions or concerns. We are here to help!