Co-occurring Disorders Treatment
As if trying to overcome a drug or alcohol addiction wasn't challenging enough, having do so while also struggling with mental illness makes the process much more difficult. These conditions, known as Co-occurring Disorders or Dual Diagnoses are complex and the more information you have on them, the better you will be able to help yourself, or someone you know, get the proper treatment.
10 Things You Should Know about Co-occurring Disorders Treatment
- Traditional addiction treatment won't cut it. Most rehabilitation facilities are not equipped to handle the psychiatric element of a co-occurring disorder. They may be able to treat the drug addiction element of the problem, but without address the mental illness of the individual, it is possible that this "single-track" treatment may do more harm than good.
- Those with a co-occurring disorder are high-risk individuals. Studies have found that those with a dual diagnosis are more prone to violence and have a high suicide rate.
- A co-occurring disorder can be made up of a variety of things. To be classified as having a co-occurring disorder, the individual must have an addiction (alcohol, cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs, etc.) and a mental illness (schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, etc.). The combinations of potential diagnoses are almost endless.
- Mental illness often leads to addiction. Those who suffer from bipolar disorder, anxiety or depression will often turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of dealing with their symptoms.
- Addiction often masks mental illness. Several studies and surveys have shown that those with a substance abuse problem have a pre-existing psychiatric condition. This makes treating the addiction more of a challenge, and requires the services of a treatment center that offer co-occurring disorders treatment.
- Co-occurring disorders are more common that you think. Recent studies have shown that 1 out of every 2 individuals with a mental disorder are also suffering with drug addiction.
- Integrated treatment is the answer. There is a much higher recovery success rate for those individuals who receive integrated treatment for their disorders, as opposed to treating each issue individually.
- Family members can play an important role in recovery. Those dealing with co-occurring disorders need their family for love and support. By reading all the available information on the subject, and attending support groups and workshops, families will be helping the individual in question, and themselves, get through this very difficult process.
- Recovery from co-occurring disorders may take time. Because of the multi-layered nature of co-occurring disorders, recovery may take longer than standard addiction treatment. Individuals and their families need to be patient, and move at their own pace, even if that means taking part in a program lasting several months or a year.
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers are co-occurring disorder specialists. At our treatment centers in Tennessee and California, we help those suffering from this complex and delicate illness get all the help they need. Our centers are warm, inviting places - staffed by people who have dedicated their lives to helping those with mental illness and addiction recover in full.
