There’s a lot of talk about mental health disorders and addiction happening at the same time. Experts refer to this as co occurring disorders or a dual diagnosis. If you’re struggling with addiction right now, you may be a good candidate for a dual diagnosis assessment and treatment. First, however, you need to break the physiological hold that the drug has on your body.
Co Occurring Disorders are Common
Even so, few people entering detox have this formal diagnosis. The problem arises when you don’t realize that you have a diagnosable mental health disorder. You notice that something’s a little off. However, you figure that it’s your problem to fix.
Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps isn’t easy. You might try self-help books, ask friends for advice, or try to work around the issue. Before long, you notice that certain chemicals can help. You begin to self-medicate.
Over the course of time, the drug you’ve chosen becomes a crutch. You wouldn’t dream of giving it up. One day, you realize that you’ve developed a drug or alcohol addiction. You thought you could control it, but you can’t.
Typical Pairings of Addictions and Mental Health Conditions
Co occurring disorders are not difficult to predict. A case in point is an alcohol use disorder and social anxiety. You don’t feel comfortable around people. In fact, you avoid social interactions whenever possible. However, after a few drinks, you’re more comfortable around people. Your inhibitions drop. You feel relaxed. There’s still a sense of nervousness, but you can put it aside when you have a couple beverages.
Maybe you’re struggling with PTSD. Unwelcome thoughts, flashbacks, and intrusive feelings batter you daily. Opioids have a way of dulling them. Heroin, prescription painkillers, and codeine take the edge off. The PTSD is still there. However, you feel like you can keep it in check if you continue using.
Stimulant abuse and depression are also co occurring disorders. You’ve lost interest in previous engagements or hobbies. You have a difficult time getting out of bed. Stimulants give you the boost you need. They also stimulate dopamine gluts, which give you the euphoric high you’re now craving.
The Double-Whammy of Co Occurring Disorders
You intended for the drug use to be a crutch. Now, it’s taking over your life. You don’t dare let it go. This attitude creates problems in your personal life.
You don’t want to talk about it. Therefore, you isolate yourself from people who might be questioning your decisions. This step only makes the psychiatric disorder worse. You’re in a no-win situation, and you know it.
Detoxification is Your First Step on the Road to Sobriety
There has to be a better way of dealing with life. In fact, there is. Psychotherapy is the missing piece of the puzzle. Learning how to manage your mental health challenge eliminates a significant contributor to drug abuse.
But before you can focus on this therapy, you have to end the physiological addiction to the substance you’re using. If your body still believes that you need a drug to live, you can’t handle dual diagnosis treatment. Typical programs at a detox center include:
- Talk therapy that reinforces your decision to quit using a drug or alcohol
- The pharmacological support that helps you overcome the withdrawal symptoms if necessary
- Consistent progress monitoring to adapt treatments if necessary
- Meditation therapy for stress relief
- Targeted drug detoxification that alerts medical professionals of possible complications
When you deal with co occurring disorders at Serenity House Detox & Recovery, you also benefit from medication management. If you’ve received a diagnosis of a psychiatric problem, you may be taking medication for it. There, the experts help you manage the condition while undergoing detox. Call us at 866.516.8356 today feel better about your mental health and recover from addiction.
