It is understandable a person facing a mental health concern might look to medications to alleviate their symptoms. But see, the problem arises when the body gets used to the medication and builds a tolerance. That’s when you need a higher dose to feel the soothing effect that you previously did with a smaller dose.
Over time, this becomes a vicious cycle to the point that you can’t function normally without the medications. If you try to lessen the dose, your symptoms get unbearable.
On the other hand, if you increase the dose, your body goes into withdrawal when you’re not on those medications. So, what you’re facing now is a co-occurring disorder, which is also a condition called dual diagnosis.
A survey, in 2021, found that 9.2 million adults in the U.S. face a co-occurring disorder. So, you’re not alone in this battle and the best way to recover is to seek Dual Diagnosis treatment. Ahead, are the benefits of dual diagnosis treatment and how they can help you live a happy healthy life with your condition.
What Is Dual Diagnosis And What Are Its Symptoms And Causes?
Dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorder, is when a mental health issue occurs side by side with an addiction or substance abuse. Above we explained how both conditions occurring at the same time can cause a vicious cycle. Now imagine the consequence if someone’s facing multiple addictions or health disorders – which isn’t uncommon in this condition either…
These conditions can be treated one at a time but the best results towards lasting recovery is to treat them simultaneously.
Some Typical Conditions Encountered In Dual Diagnosis
The typical mental health concerns encountered in dual diagnosis include:
- Depression,
- Stress,
- Anxiety,
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD),
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),
- Bipolar Disorder, And
- Schizophrenia.
Symptoms Of Mental Health Disorder
Someone facing any of the above conditions might depict the following symptoms, showing signs of a mental health disorder:
- Problems concentrating
- Totally unable to function at work or school
- Visible and frequent signs of confusion
- Presenting extreme mood changes
- Thinking of suicide
If you, or someone you know, is showing the above symptoms, they might be facing a mental health disorder. It’s crucial to seek help immediately before substance abuse starts developing.
Symptoms Of Substance Use Disorder
To dull or manage the symptoms of a mental health disorder, an individual might seek refuge in substance usage. This is often also seen without a mental health disorder. For instance, someone might indulge in weed or Cannabis to relieve some of the stress at work. The same goes for consuming drugs, alcohol, or other addictive substances.
In some scenarios, cocaine is also consumed to artificially boost brain performance to clutch tight deadlines. This just opens the door for an abundance of drugs to flood the streets, each more destructive than the previous. And it’s not like the shady people supplying these substances are maintaining any sort of quality or standard.
Here are some other symptoms someone under the influence of substance use might depict:
- Sudden behavioral changes
- Difficulty maintaining focus
- Risky behaviors
- Difficulty maintaining focus
- Withdrawing from friends and family
Top 3 Benefits Of Dual Diagnosis Treatment For Drug Rehab
The plan that works best for dual diagnosis is the one that recognizes the individual’s addiction symptoms while correctly diagnosing their mental health conditions. Afterwards, a tailored treatment plan is prepared that gives the following benefits:
An Improved Mental Health State
One of the two pillars of dual diagnosis treatment is addressing the person’s mental health. So, it’s obvious that the primary goal be to achieve an improved mental health state.
However, the tricky part is that many people try to hide their mental health disorder(s) due to anxiety, embarrassment, or stigma. During the dual diagnosis treatment, the mental health professional and the individual try to build a relationship of trust between each other. Once that’s achieved, and the anxiety around the suppression of mental health issue goes away, the treatment is halfway through.
The next is developing positive coping skills and addressing substance use.
Physical Health Starts To Improve
The toxins from substance use, whether short or long-term use, leave the body struggling to even move. When the physical aspects of substance use are addressed, the body starts to recover.
Mind you, the person facing addiction is not (and should not) be immediately withdrawn from their substance use. This opens them up to severe withdrawal symptoms that can prove to be fatal.
Instead, they are gradually weaned off in the presence of a medical professional. They are given alternatives or the dose is reduced in a controlled manner, so the withdrawal symptoms are minimal and the mental health condition is also addressed.
The alternatives may also include nutrition, rest, and exercise; all of which, drastically improve physical health. As an added benefit, mental health also improves – thanks to the feel-good hormones naturally produced from exercise.
An Effective Treatment With Higher Success Chances For Recovery
The dual diagnosis treatment addresses the symptoms as well as the underlying causes of the said symptoms. This leads to a long-lasting recovery; however, the secret lies in the ideology of dual diagnosis treatment.
Dual diagnosis treatment aims to address multiple issues at once, rather than treating them one at a time. This means you receive a multi-faceted approach that can produce the best results the quickest!
More Benefits Of Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Relapse Rates Are Minimal
By understanding the connection between a mental health issue and its link with substance usage, the relapse rate can be reduced. This happens thanks to addressing both conditions and motivation to stick to the recovery plan.
Motivation To Recover Is Increased
Along with you motivating yourself to stick to treatment, you have other fellows who also motivate you. For instance, your medical professional, therapist, or (if you are a part of it) your colleagues in group therapy.
An Everlasting Improvement
The programs at dual diagnosis can set you up for a journey of everlasting improvement. For instance, you may develop a habit of working out regularly, watching your diet, having a healthy sleep, and more. All of these are habits that improve your mental as well as physical health.
Furthermore, the aftercare program of dual diagnosis gives you access to 12-step programs and support groups. These keep you motivated to stick to your recovery plan and prevent chances of relapses. And still, if you do – how to cope, manage, and ensure that the pattern doesn’t repeat.
And Lastly, Improved Quality Of Life
First, you get an improved mental health (explained above), next, your physical health starts improving. Additionally, the dual diagnosis treatment targets multiple issues at once, so you get effective results rapidly.
To top it all off, you develop habits that set you on a path of everlasting improvement. There are several more benefits that are just add-ons with dual diagnosis treatment.
For instance, you’d get information about various conditions (prioritizing those that you face). You can use this info to manage, and recover, from your symptoms. You can also leverage this knowledge in various ways later, such as identifying and helping others who face similar symptoms.
If you’d like to get started on this journey, starting with dual diagnosis treatment, Forrest Behavioral Health is here at your convenience. We’d love – and are waiting – to hear from you!
Reach out by visiting Forrest Behavioral Health’s contact page, or call 781-570-5781 to talk to your medical professional right now.
