The most effective types of substance abuse treatment are those which are tailored to meet the unique needs of the individual. But some people who struggle with an addiction to an illicit substance also have mental health issues that need to be taken into account while designing their recovery plan.
For these folks, dual diagnosis care is the best option. But what does that mean? What does it look like? And do you really need to find a treatment center that specializes in dual diagnosis?
We’ve put together this blog post to answer those questions. Keep reading to learn everything that you need to know about when it’s time to seek out dual diagnosis care and why it matters.
Understanding dual diagnosis
When someone receives a dual diagnosis, it means that they literally have two diagnoses. The first is a substance abuse disorder and the second is a mental health issue.
For example, someone can receive a dual diagnosis when they are addicted to:
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Methamphetamine
- Prescription painkillers
- Any other illicit substance
Common mental health issues in a dual diagnosis, include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- PTSD
- Schizophrenia
How dual diagnosis care differs from traditional treatment
Standard treatment for substance abuse revolves entirely around the person’s dependency on drugs or alcohol. Dual diagnosis care attempts to address both a person’s substance abuse problem and their mental health issues at the same time.
This necessitates a different approach. More specifically, the medical professionals who are leading the patient’s care need to start by figuring out how the patient’s two diagnoses interact with one another.
This is often done through therapy. The patient will explain their experiences to their therapist, who will then look at them as a whole and analyze them. This process is necessary to help the patient’s care team understand the best ways to help them.
Do you really need dual diagnosis treatment?
It’s important to seek out dual diagnosis treatment if you believe you have a mental health problem and a substance abuse issue. To understand why that’s the case, you need to understand how mental health problems and substance abuse problems interact with one another.
These two problems often create a negative feedback cycle that can drive a person farther and farther away from where they want to be.
For example, maybe your problems began with depression. And perhaps you turned to substances as a way to escape the way that your depression felt. Once that cycle is established, it can be very difficult to break without a trained professional guiding you.
The same is true of the opposite situation. For example, you might have become addicted to a substance and then developed a mental health issue like anxiety because of it. You may feel more anxious the more you use, but you might also continue using to escape your anxiety.
Standard substance abuse treatment doesn’t usually account for these types of complex relationships. You need the specialized care provided by dual diagnosis treatment to heal efficiently.
Choosing a place to get dual diagnosis treatment
People who have gotten a dual diagnosis need to think carefully about where they go to pursue treatment. Many addiction treatment centers will tell people that they can handle dual diagnosis care even if they don’t actually specialize in it.
These centers may be able to provide you with the baseline level of support that you need to reclaim your life. But if they don’t actually specialize in dual diagnosis treatment, then it’s very unlikely that you’re going to get the dedicated, personalized dual diagnosis care that you need to optimize your recovery timeline.
That’s why it’s usually a smart move to pick a treatment center that specializes in dual diagnosis treatment. Doing so will ensure that you get to work with doctors who know the ins and outs of dual diagnosis treatment so that they can help you heal as quickly and completely as possible.
Find the dual diagnosis care you need at the House of the Rising Son
If you need dual diagnosis treatment in Southern California, then you have to check out the House of the Rising. Our experienced staff specializes in providing dual diagnosis care. They can provide you with the dedicated, personalized treatment that you need to optimize your recovery timeline.
We also offer support at every level of care. So whether you need detox, residential rehab, or aftercare, The House of the Rising Son has you covered.
