When you’re dealing with addiction, finding out you have a mental health issue on top of it can be a double whammy. Yet according to studies, this is the reality of plenty of people who are living with a co-occurring disorder.
A co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis refers to having a mental health disorder and substance use disorder simultaneously. This can make you feel overwhelmed and discouraged about getting started on treatment. However, with the right care and help from an addiction treatment center, you can overcome both and go on to lead a fulfilling, sober life.
The Connection Between Mental Health Problems And Addiction
In some cases, struggling with a mental health issue can drive an individual to use drugs or alcohol to try and cope with the symptoms. Maybe you started with bipolar disorder or depression and wanted to feel better, so you started drinking or taking drugs. This only made you feel worse over time.
Other times, the individual may have started out battling an addiction and this may have triggered a mental health problem. You may have noticed that you felt anxious every time you used benzodiazepines or felt depressed after taking opioids. This commonly happens when the high wears off and you start experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
It can become a vicious cycle where you try to manage the symptoms of a mental health disorder with an addiction only to end up feeling worse over time.
Tackling Dual Diagnosis in Addiction Therapy
While diagnosing co-occurring disorders may be challenging, we at Findlay Recovery Center have the right expertise, qualifications, and experience for treatment. Our addiction treatment experts will examine you and determine the severity of both conditions and you’ll work together to come up with an individualized treatment plan.
The first step in treatment is often detox. This is where you wean your body off the addictive substance and get ready to go into in-depth treatment. Our clients always undergo detox under medical supervision to manage any withdrawal symptoms they experience.
After detox, you may have medication prescribed for one or both conditions. This medicine has to be taken as you go through addiction treatment. depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may be advised to go into residential drug or alcohol treatment. this means you’ll reside at our rehab facility in Ohio for the duration of your treatment.
During your residency at the treatment center, you’ll go through cognitive behavioral therapy as well as individual and group therapy.
Start Your Recovery Today
If you or a loved one is struggling with a dual diagnosis, don’t lose hope. Help is available at the Findlay Recovery Center. We have addiction treatment programs that specifically cater to those with co-occurring disorders and would love to be a part of your recovery journey. Get in touch with us today and let us work together to rebuild your life.
