A Professional Discussion on Co-Occurring Disorders

The subject of mental health is getting importance across the world. Shane Ramer is an owner furthermore producer of T.S.G. Radio, made an appearance in our F.E. Shane Ramer then participated in the podcast show for “2016 Conference of Innovation Related to Behavioral Healthcare. The main goal of the podcast was to discuss the start of alcoholism to extreme addiction and then recovery from the addiction. This podcast provided the guests with a platform to share their experiences and thoughts about mental health issues in a precise and friendly format.

Two other essential guests were featured in the podcast. Dr Michael G. and Lisa Jane V. both from Sierra Tucson. “That Sober Guy Podcast” producer Shane Ramer interviewed them. Sierra Tucson is an RTF (addiction treatment centre) based in AZ, U.S.A. 

The unique thing that makes this podcast different is that the guests and the staff of the podcast have the ability to discuss mental health disorders like trauma, schizophrenia, A.D.D. or ADHD and pain etc., with the professional experience they have got after treating these kinds of conditions.

Dr Michael G. explained the chemistry behind the functioning of the brain, how mental health relates to brain functioning and how people become addicted? His starting point was that “education or knowledge” is the primary factor in the way of recovery. And then, the second step starts is providing “primary care” to the victim. He cottoned up that “solid scientific methods” should be involved in the primary care step. These scientific methods are proven in the care of mental health disorders for decades. The professional should ensure that not only the addiction is being treated, but he or she should consider the whole individual as a person in the recovery process. Doing so will ensure that the person gets recovered completely and no hole in the wall of treatment is left out there. And at the last step, the victim should be given complete access to after-care means and support. Discussing the health issues, Dr Michael further added that new methods of treating health disorders are prepared because the community for the treatment of addiction is willing to work together as a partner and has the ability to work on new and emerging psychological and mental health issues.

Dr Genovese mentions options for treating mental health challenges. This innovative therapies are possible because the dependency drug groups are exceptional in thier capacity and has the passion to function together as a team. Mental health professionals are always welcoming new addicts. They are ready 24/7 to start treatment in the most reliable feasible ways to recovery. Helpers to the professionals are also there to help the professionals and the victims on the go. We are optimistic and believe that the victims should be optimistic too. So, do not lose hope in any case.

Here in this discussion, many other relevant aspects related to Co-Occurring Disorders were discussed. Ramer, the podcast host, asked some frequently asked questions from both of the guests and the guests explained the situations related to each of the mental health issues related questions with a professional and intimate approach. Here is the summary of the questions which Mr Shane Ramer of T.S.G. Radio asked from the guests Dr Michael G. and Lisa Jane V.;

Co-Occurring Disorders – An Introduction

An individual with more than one disorder, like having mental health issues and addiction simultaneously, is said to suffer from a co-occurring disorder. This situation is additionally seldom called a dual-diagnosis. The disorders in dual-diagnosis can make each other severe with the passage of time. The co-occurring disorders can be from the same family of disorders, or one can be from one family and another, as an individual suffering from a mental health disorder like Schizophrenia and A.D.D. Another individual is suffering from A.D.D. and alcohol addiction. All these cases are called co-occurring mental health disorders. It is believed that an individual who is the victim of one of the mental health disorder will get at least one more disorder like an addiction (in many cases), low energy, A.D.D. or ADHD etc.

Why are These Disorders So Prevalent?

The Following Are Said to Be the Most Common Factors of These Co-Occurring Disorders, Mental Health Or Dual Diagnosis:

  • Coinciding Hazard Agents: Most professionals mention those coincidences in life, which occur many times in the life cycle, are the leading cause of these disorders. Especially when a person coincides with more than one hazardous accident, he or she is sure to develop one of the mental health conditions and then, over time, another. This is the process of getting co-occurring disorders. So, professionals suggest that if you come across some unfortunate events in your life, you should report to your family or friends and never ever get to isolation because isolation is the core where other mental health disorders develop.
  • Self-MedicationSelf-medication is an individual based activity in which a person self-administers himself or herself with medicines for disorders that affect him or her physically or psychologically using a drug or other intracellular force. Over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements are the most often self-medicated substances since they are intended to address general health conditions at home. As a means of dealing with symptoms, mental illness may lead to drug misuse. This concept is widely referred to as “self-medication.” However, that tag can indeed be deceptive;. At the same time, drug use might help because of mental health and illnesses, it may also worsen symptoms in both cases long and short term.
  • Changes in the Brain Chemistry due to Drugs: Extensive use of drugs, although which are prescribed for mental or physical health by physicians or mental health professionals, can cause changes in the chemistry of the brain if they are used for a more extended period of time regularly. Drugs can change those regions of our brain, which are already disturbed by psychological disorders. So, we can say that more extended use of some drugs can change the chemistry of our brain and also can make the individual addicted to it. The regions of the brain impaired by opioid use seem to be linked to areas linked to compulsion, behaviour, and mental health illnesses, and also schizophrenia.

Which Treatment Models for Co-Occurring Conditions Has Been Found to Be the Most Efficient?

Research in outpatient department help for individuals with co-occurring conditions and mental health in recent decades has revealed that comprehensive therapy has been the most common solution against these disorders.

What Exactly the Distinction Between a Dual Diagnosis and A Co-Occurring Mental Illness?

Today, “concurrent diagnosis therapy or dual diagnosis” is the most often used term that describes how people with both a psychiatric disorder (or mental health)and an addiction are treated. Co-occurring conditions refer to a group of illnesses that often occur repeatedly with opioid or alcohol dependence.

One of The Following Is by Far the Most Prevalent Co-Occurring Condition in Individuals Who’ve Been Traumatized and Identified with Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder

Major depression, opioid use mental health illnesses, and several other psychological conditions are the most prevalent bipolar disorder diagnoses. The coexistence between Post-traumatic stress disorder and mental issues is especially intriguing. According to some articles, these are the most likely diseases to co-occur with Post-traumatic stress disorder.

What Are Certain Borderline-Personality-Disorder Related Mental Health Disorders?

Limiting a mental condition is a disease that is characterized by a constant cycle of different moods, self-images and conduct. These signs also lead in contacts with other people to impulsive behaviour and difficulties. An individual with restricted personality or mental health disorder can suffer episodes that can last from several hours to days of wrath, anxiety and depression. For instance, an individual with a minor mental illness may experiences signs of severe distress, bipolar disorder, mental diseases, opioid addiction or disordered eating more frequently. These are some symptoms of BPD.

Examples of Co-Occurring Disorders Linked with Mental Health

There really is no specific arrangement of situations but a wide variety of conditions in length and severity. Common conditions include alcohol addiction and fear, severe depression, cocaine addiction and schizophrenia, cocaine addiction and anxiety mental health disorders, stress and drug dependence, self-hazard behaviour and drug abuse, eating disorders and heroin abuse. In conjunction with a drug abuse disease, any exceptional mental condition can also exist. In comparison to people with mental or psychological problem or drug misuse illness alone, individuals with co-occurring conditions see a deterioration in their everyday living and job interactions and living style.

These conditions can also make some people more likely to relapse. In addition, a loss of mental health will lead to increased opioid addiction and vice versa. Co-occurring conditions are signs specific to the specific disease of mental health and addiction to drugs or substances. 

Mostly observed co-occurring disorders are depression, addiction to many kinds like cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, opioids, addiction to pain killers like oxycodone, cannabis, morphine and a lot of other addictions, Schizophrenia Disorder, Stress Disorders, Behavioral Disorders, anorexia nervosa and trauma etc. and they leads to various mental health issues.

Keep in Mind There Are Two Types of Addiction

  1. The substance or Chemical Addiction: addiction to any kind of substance like alcohol, marijuana and pain killer tablets and pills
  2. Behavioral addiction: uncontrolled behaviors which are concurrent and occur more than one times a day. Like inactiveness, self-harming behavior etc.

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