Struggling with both mental health challenges and substance use?
Dual diagnosis is more common than you think – and getting the right help matters. Today’s article will guide you all about comprehensive treatment options in Bedford, MA, and how Forrest Behavioral Health can help you get right back on track in no time.
Without further ado, let’s get started
What Is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis refers to the presence of both substance use disorder and an underlying mental health condition in an individual. Therefore, any individual with dual diagnosis needs to be treated for two distinct conditions.
For carrying out a dual diagnosis treatment, it is crucial to understand that dual disorders can manifest in various ways such as substance use in order to alleviate depression symptoms or vice versa.
How Dual Disorders Develop
There are several ways dual disorders can develop. The treatment for each varies, of course.
- Self-medication for Mental Health Symptoms: Some people may take drugs to cope with unresolved psychological pain. Conditions like PTSD, depression, or anxiety can influence individuals to try and use drugs as a temporary escape. But unfortunately, over time, this behavior turns into an addiction.
- Substance Use Triggering Mental Illness: In many cases, substance use increases the risk of developing a mental illness disorder. Prolonged use of opioids and hallucinogens can alter brain chemistry and cause lasting psychological issues such as mood instability, paranoia, and depression.
- Genetic Vulnerabilities: For some individuals, both substance use disorders and mental illnesses can stem from common underlying issues such as chronic stress, childhood trauma, or environmental instability.
Why Integrated Treatment Is Critical
When an individual is living with dual diagnosis, treating just one of the conditions is not effective. In fact, ignoring one while focusing on the other can lead to relapse or stalled progress which does more harm than good. The problem with traditional treatment models is that they separate mental health care from addiction recovery – not realizing how deeply intertwined these issues are.
At Forrest Behavioral Health, though, we understand and target the situation with our dual diagnosis treatment. Before we get into it, let’s first discuss the signs and symptoms of these disorders.
Signs and Symptoms of Dual Disorder
Identifying dual disorders can be tricky because the symptoms of substance use disorder and mental illnesses often overlap. However, recognizing early warning signs is highly crucial to seeking effective, early dual diagnosis treatment.
Signs of a Substance Use Disorder
Recognizing signs of substance use disorder often involves observing behavioral and physical symptoms since individuals with substance use disorder often exhibit compulsive behaviors. This may include:
- Loss of control.
- Legal or financial problems.
- Neglect of responsibilities.
- Increased withdrawal symptoms.
The effect of substance usage varies significantly from one person to another. Early intervention can actually help in addressing these issues and prompting quicker recovery.
Signs of a Mental Health Disorder
Signs of mental illness vary from individual to individual, according to their circumstances. Some common signs and symptoms include:
- Feeling sad / down consistently
- Struggling to concentrate
- Extreme mood swings
- Significant tiredness
- Suicidal thinking
- Withdrawal from reality
These symptoms may present themselves alone or as a combination, depending on the specific disorder. Early intervention can mitigate the risks and help individuals facing mental challenges.
Our Dual Diagnosis Treatment Approach
At Forrest Behavioral Health, we offer dual diagnosis treatment through an integrated approach which addresses both substance use and mental health aspects simultaneously. This may include medication management, therapy, lifestyle changes, and other interventions which are tailored to the individual’s unique requirements.
In order to treat dual disorders effectively, we collaborate with mental health professionals and addiction specialists to formulate optimized treatment plans that offer comprehensive care and support to individuals.
Key Features of Our Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Bedford, MA
Our healthcare team at Forresthub adopts a multi-faceted approach towards dual diagnosis treatment. Our program is designed to offer compassionate, evidence-based care which includes:
Customized Treatment Plans
At Forrest Behavioral Health, we understand that while the disorder may come with the same label, its impact on every individual varies depending on their lifestyle, environment, and childhood, etc. Therefore, we create personalized plans for each individual when taking into account of their medical history.
Multidisciplinary Treatment Team
Our healthcare team consists of full-stack medical practitioners including psychiatrists, addiction specialists, licensed therapists, counselors, case managers, and wellness coordinators, who collaborate to create treatment plans for dual diagnosis treatment that benefit our patients through a well-rounded, clinically informed support system.
Evidence-Based Therapies
We take pride in building dual diagnosis treatment plans on evidence-based therapies. Some of the treatments include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Group and family therapy
Holistic Approach
Our healthcare team takes pride in the fact that our dual diagnosis treatment is based on a holistic approach, which simply means that we incorporate holistic elements that help support long-term wellness. Some of these elements include:
- Life skills training
- Relapse prevention strategies
- Stress management techniques
- Physical wellness support
Flexible Levels of Care
Whether an individual requires outpatient support or more intensive residential treatment, we offer flexibility in levels of care that align with their stage in recovery.
Outpatient Treatment:
The outpatient treatment allows individuals to attend therapy sessions, receive medical management, and maintain their daily routines alongside. These programs are a pretty common form of dual diagnosis treatment as they offer flexibility and accessibility to individuals so they can access support while also managing their own responsibilities.
Inpatient Treatment:
Residential, or inpatient, treatment is recommended for individuals who require more intensive support – in a structured environment. At Forrest Behavioral Health, our residential treatment programs use a holistic approach to address both mental and substance use disorders simultaneously through 24-hour supervision, support services, and therapeutic activities. The end goal is to assist individuals in developing coping mechanisms while ensuring relapse prevention.
Take the First Step Toward Recovery
In Bedford, MA, pretty much every center for dual diagnosis treatment aims to offer excellent evidence-based treatment to support individuals.
But, at Forrest Behavioral Health, you are more than just a patient. You are an individual navigating the complex realities of both mental health and substance use challenges, struggling with dual disorder. Our team takes the time to understand YOU and then builds customized treatment plans that address your physical, emotional, and psychological needs.
With us, your care is not another one-fits-all; it is compassionate and deeply personalized to address you.
So, if you or a loved one is struggling with a dual disorder, contact us at info@forrestbh.com or call us at (781) 570 – 5781 to take the first step towards a healthier, balanced life.
