For the millions of people in the world suffering from substance use disorders, many of them have mental health issues at the same time and don’t even realize it. In the past, each issue was treated separately, but in the last 30 years, it has become common practice to treat them together as co-occurring disorders, as recommended by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). At Solution Based Treatment, our treatment team is trained to help you with a plan for your dual diagnosis in order to address both mental health and substance use disorders at the same time.
What Is a Dual Diagnosis?
A dual diagnosis, or a co-occurring disorder, is when a person is dealing with a mental health issue and a substance use disorder at the same time. The signs and symptoms of a mental health condition and addiction dependence often occur at the same time and can overlap. Signs of substance use and addiction include avoidance, erratic behavior, poor coordination, bloodshot eyes, and dilated or constricted pupils. Signs of a mental health condition can be similar to those of addiction and include poor sleep and eating patterns, major mood swings, poor concentration, and suicidal thoughts.
Mental health and substance use disorders share similar risk factors. These include trauma, stress, and genetics. People can also fall into substance abuse because of a mental health condition that wasn’t treated correctly. Alternatively, people suffering from mental health disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and OCD tend to use drugs or alcohol to feel better. This self-medication leads right down a path to chemical dependence and addiction. It’s like a vicious cycle because this dependency can cause people to develop related psychological conditions.
Treatment For Co-Occurring Disorders
It’s not easy for people to admit that they’re addicted to drugs and alcohol or have a mental health condition. So, it’s not uncommon for people to try and forget their problems and hope they go away instead of seeking out help.
If you’re not sure whether you have a dual diagnosis or if this is the right treatment program for you, here are some signs to help you answer those questions. If these things describe you, then it’s time for you to seek help and get treatment.
- You have a family history of mental illness
- You suffer from a mental illness
- You use drugs to escape the problems of your mental illness
- You think the drugs make you feel more yourself
- You become angry, violent, or suicidal when you try to quit the drug
You may not realize it, but if you start to disconnect from your social life, then you may be struggling with a mental illness. If you layer on the battling of substance use, then you could be experiencing symptoms like major changes in your routines, erratic behavior, bad grades, and general disregard for your appearance. At SBT, we understand what you may be going through. Your first step is recognizing that you have a problem and asking for help. Our treatment team will work with you to develop an individualized plan for your treatment and recovery.
Solution Based Treatment Has Answers
If you are having difficulty navigating treatment for dual diagnosis, the Solution Based Treatment treatment team can help. We can work on crafting a treatment and recovery plan that works for you and your needs. In addition to our traditional treatment programs, we encourage you to take part in our unique activities like sober living, Rock to Recovery, and Building on the Rock during and after treatment.
Contact us today at 833.999.1941 to learn more about co-occurring disorders and how we work together to treat both your mental health and substance use disorders simultaneously.