If you or someone you care about is battling an addiction and a mental health problem, you may consider whether dual diagnosis therapy is the best action for your situation. This therapy method is intended to address both the mental health issue and the addiction, and it has the potential to be a very efficient approach to recovering from addiction.
What Exactly Does “Dual Diagnosis” Mean?
When someone suffers from both a mental health illness and an addiction, they are said to have a dual diagnosis, also known as co-occurring disorders. This word is used to characterize the individual. Both disorders can become more severe if treatment is not received.
What does it mean to have a dual diagnosis, and how do the two conditions influence one another? Because engaging in substance use can provide momentary relief from the symptoms of mental illness, it is not unusual for a person who suffers from a mental health issue to turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with their symptoms. On the other hand, abusing drugs to cope with a mental health issue can swiftly progress to addiction or worsen an existing addiction.
Why Getting Treatment For Dual Diagnosis Is So Crucial
You must get help as quickly as possible if you or someone you care about is battling the effects of a dual diagnosis. Because addiction is a progressive condition, its symptoms will only become more severe with time. If treatment is not sought, the sickness may ultimately prove fatal.
The Advantages of Treating Two Diagnoses at Once
Treatment for dual disorders offers several advantages, including the following:
1. Improved Prospects For A Full Recuperation
It is more likely that an individual will be successful in recovery if treatment is provided for both the mental health issue and the addiction. This is because treatment is being provided for the underlying cause of the addiction and the symptoms of the mental health issue.
2. An Enhancement In Psychological Health
People with dual diagnoses frequently keep their mental health a secret from others around them, yet their pain is no less genuine because of this. Getting treatment for a dual diagnosis, as opposed to just individual treatment for mental health or substance use disorder, will enable you to break negative patterns and learn positive coping skills in therapy, improving your mental health. Treating a dual diagnosis is preferable to getting individual treatment for mental health or substance use disorder.
3. An Enhancement In One’s Physical Health
It is generally known that drug use disorder is detrimental to one’s physical health, whether the damage is caused by an overdose or by the cumulative effects of the poisons that the body is subjected to over time. However, mental illnesses may also hurt one’s physical health in the same way that drug abuse might. An individual suffering from anxiety and mood problems may feel exhausted, disoriented, and unable to concentrate on ways to improve their physical health. The therapy for dual diagnosis emphasizes the patient’s physical and mental requirements. This treatment will ensure that the patient receives adequate diet, rest, and exercise to begin healing.
4. An Overall Better Quality Of Life
Simply having more information about one’s health may frequently result in a marked improvement in one’s quality of life after receiving a diagnosis of a dual disease. Patients typically report feeling more in control of their lives and better prepared to face problems when they have gained a greater understanding of their bodies and minds and the interactions between drug abuse and mental diseases.
5. Enhanced Motivation To Make Progress Towards Recovery
It is far more probable that someone will be successful in recovery from addiction when they are driven to recover from both the addiction and the mental health problem. They are more likely to continue their treatment and make the required adjustments to recover.
What To Anticipate From Your Treatment For Dual Diagnosis
During treatment, you or someone you care about will collaborate with a group that includes mental health professionals and addiction specialists. To begin, you will get an explanation of your dual diagnosis. After that, we will devise a strategy to treat the addiction and mental health condition. In most cases, treatment will consist of the following:
- Cognitive-behavioral treatment (also known as CBT)
- Behavior modification using dialectical inquiry
- Psychotherapy for families
- Treatment in the wilderness
- Treatment through extreme sports