Most people experience periods of extreme stress, low mood, anxious thoughts, and overwhelm at one time or another. When life brings you down, how do you handle it? Do you reach out to a trusted friend or therapist or reach for a pill or bottle? Alcohol or drug use is a typical response to emotional challenges. But what if your struggles are more than just temporary situations? Many people with anxiety or depressive disorders self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. How does this impact your mental health? Learn how addiction and mental health interact and how dual diagnosis treatment in Texas can help you overcome addiction and find emotional healing.
At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston, we understand that addiction and mental health must be treated concurrently for the best chance of lasting recovery. We have you covered with our comprehensive dual diagnosis treatment in Texas. Our treatment team will design an individualized plan to help you get through withdrawal, manage addiction triggers, and develop healthy coping skills to minimize symptoms of mental health disorders. Call us today at 866.516.8356 to learn more or enroll in treatment at our Houston-based facility.
How Addiction and Mental Health Affect One Another
Mental health conditions make a person more vulnerable to addiction. On that same note, using drugs or alcohol can make a person more susceptible to mental health issues. Many people fall into the following cycle:
- When you feel depressed or anxious, you may self-medicate to relieve your discomfort.
- When you use drugs or alcohol, your anxious or depressive symptoms get worse.
- The worse you feel, the more you want to numb your feelings with substances.
- You continue to self-medicate, causing harmful changes in the brain and leading to addiction.
Addiction and mental health disorders are familiar companions. When they are present together, this is referred to as having a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. Enrolling in a dual diagnosis treatment program is the best option for overcoming addiction and co-occurring disorders.
How Are Co-Occurring Disorders Treated?
If you have a substance use disorder accompanied by co-occurring disorders, you may wonder which should be treated first. The great thing about dual diagnosis treatment programs is that they address both your addiction and mental health at the same time. Treating them separately is not nearly as effective and puts you at a much greater risk for relapse. When you participate in a dual diagnosis treatment program, you can expect:
- Medication – A physician may prescribe medication to help you through withdrawal, if applicable. They may also start you on medication to treat your mental health disorder.
- Individual therapy – No treatment plan is complete without counseling to help you uncover the root causes of addiction. With your therapist, you can explore how addiction affects your mental health and vice versa. They will help you find healthier ways to manage your mental health without substances.
- Group therapy – Counselors lead sessions where you can discuss relevant recovery topics such as addiction triggers and relapse prevention.
- Holistic therapies – Some treatment centers offer yoga, meditation, chiropractic, and nutrition therapy to help alleviate symptoms of mental health disorders.
- Case management – Some treatment centers assign a case manager to you who ensures you are receiving aid from government programs, such as food, housing, or employment assistance if needed.
Since co-occurring disorders are so common with addiction, it is worthwhile to ask about dual diagnosis treatment when looking for help.
Overcome Addiction and Mental Health Disorders at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston
If you need dual diagnosis treatment in Texas, you can count on Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston. Our evidence-based treatment programs provide you with a customized regimen to help you stop the vicious cycle of self-medication and worsening mental health conditions. Call us today at 866.516.8356 to learn more about how we treat addiction and co-occurring disorders.
