Dual diagnosis is someone who is suffering from two different health issues at the same time; for example, substance addiction and mental illness such as depression.
Until recently, someone who suffered from substance addiction and a mental health illness we treated for each separately. This meant that, more often than not, the depression treatment did not begin until the patient was clean and sober. However, very often, the mental illness led them to the addiction. Treating one diagnosis at a time often left the patient on an uneven grounding for relapse into the habit, turning into a never-ending cycle.
Seeking treatment for dual diagnosis
If you are seeking treatment for addiction and a mental health disorder, there are specific things you need to look for in a treatment center.
Here are some questions you need to ask of the treatment center before deciding if they are right for you or your loved one.
- Are individualized treatment plans offered for all residents?
- Is therapy structured to treat dual diagnosis?
- Is there an evaluation by a licensed psychiatric professional or physician before admission?
- Are both disorders regarded as interconnected health issues, or as separate illnesses?
- If there is a relapse during rehab, how would we handle that?
- Does your center offer aftercare recommendations for services?
The point of treating both issues at once is that it is easier to help the patient have a great chance at success. Think of a bathroom with leaking issues; you would not address one and let the other continue to leak. Dual diagnosis is the same. You can treat the addiction, but without treating the cause, you are merely waiting for the damn to break and addiction to become worse.
If you have a dual diagnosis, your treatment plan should cover both addiction and mental disorders at the same time to achieve a full recovery. What should be in your program with a recovery center is:
- Specialized treatment plans and mental health workers so your treatment plans are running parallel to each other
- The recognition of the importance of medication for disorders such as depression or anxiety when in recovery
- A supportive approach instead of negativity
- The inclusion of family and partners
If the recovery center you are looking at does not offer these, move to another one. It is crucial for a full recovery that you or your loved one has those treatments in a safe environment that bolsters self-esteem and builds self-confidence.
At 449 Recovery, we provide a safe, clean atmosphere that promotes self-esteem and builds self-confidence while treating dual diagnosis patients. Call today (855) 435-7449 to learn more about our continuously monitored detox program, and the therapies we use to help with addiction and other mental health issues in a dual diagnosis. The goal of 449 Recovery is to provide the best psychotherapists with the best-proven addiction treatments so you can achieve and maintain real recovery.