Who Should Consider Treatment for Dual Diagnosis?

Mental health and substance use disorders are commonly interconnected conditions. When an individual experiences both simultaneously, it’s known as a dual diagnosis (or co-occurring disorder). Treating both conditions requires specialized care that addresses the unique challenges of managing two disorders at once. For those facing this situation, seeking dual diagnosis treatment is important for recovery.

At Delray Center for Recovery, we specialize in providing comprehensive care for individuals with dual diagnosis, integrating mental health and addiction treatment in a cohesive, effective way. But how do you know if dual diagnosis treatment is the right choice for you or a loved one? Here are some key factors to consider.

What Is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis occurs when someone has both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder at the same time. These conditions can feed into each other, making it difficult to treat one without addressing the other. Common mental health disorders associated with dual diagnosis include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Bipolar disorder
  • PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
  • Schizophrenia
  • Personality disorders

Substance use disorders may involve alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication misuse. The relationship between the two conditions is often complex, with substance use sometimes used as a coping mechanism for mental health issues or mental health issues exacerbated by substance use.

Signs You May Need Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Understanding when to seek dual diagnosis treatment can be challenging, as symptoms of mental health disorders and substance use often overlap. However, there are certain signs that indicate dual diagnosis treatment might be necessary.

You Struggle to Manage Mental Health Symptoms Without Substances

One of the primary indicators that dual diagnosis treatment is needed is when you rely on substances like drugs or alcohol to manage your mental health symptoms. For example, someone with anxiety might use alcohol to calm their nerves, or someone with depression might misuse prescription drugs to numb their emotions. When substance use becomes a way to cope with mental health issues, dual diagnosis treatment is essential to address both the underlying mental health disorder and the substance use disorder.

Substance Use Is Worsening Your Mental Health

If your substance use is making your mental health symptoms worse, it’s a strong sign that dual diagnosis treatment is necessary. For example, alcohol, while initially numbing, can lead to increased feelings of depression and anxiety over time. Drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine can cause or exacerbate paranoia, anxiety, or mood swings. If you notice that your mental health deteriorates when you use substances, professional treatment is important for breaking the cycle.

You’ve Tried to Quit, But Symptoms Return

Another key sign is when you’ve tried to stop using substances on your own but your mental health symptoms make it difficult to stay sober. Without addressing the underlying mental health disorder, it can be nearly impossible to maintain long-term recovery from substance use. If quitting substances causes your mental health symptoms to flare up, dual diagnosis treatment can help you stabilize both conditions simultaneously.

Frequent Mood Swings or Emotional Instability

Emotional instability is a hallmark of both mental health disorders and substance use disorders. Frequent mood swings, irritability, or feelings of being emotionally overwhelmed are signs that professional treatment is needed. When these symptoms persist despite attempts to manage them on your own, dual diagnosis treatment offers a structured approach to stabilize emotions while addressing both disorders.

Difficulty Functioning in Daily Life

If your mental health symptoms and substance use are interfering with your ability to function in daily life, it’s time to seek help. This might include problems maintaining relationships, holding down a job, or taking care of responsibilities at home. Dual diagnosis treatment helps individuals regain control over their lives by offering strategies to manage both mental health and substance use issues effectively.

Previous Treatment for One Condition Wasn’t Successful

Many people with dual diagnosis have tried seeking treatment for either their mental health disorder or their substance use disorder, only to relapse or continue struggling. This is because treating one condition in isolation often doesn’t address the root cause of both disorders. If you’ve previously sought treatment for one condition and it wasn’t successful, dual diagnosis treatment may provide the comprehensive care needed for long-term recovery.

Who Should Consider Dual Diagnosis Treatment?

Dual diagnosis treatment is designed for individuals who are facing both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. Here are specific groups of people who should consider dual diagnosis treatment:

Individuals With a History of Trauma

Many people who have experienced trauma are at a higher risk of developing both mental health and substance use disorders. Trauma can lead to conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression, which may be self-medicated with drugs or alcohol. If you have a history of trauma and find yourself using substances to cope, dual diagnosis treatment can help you heal from both the trauma and its effects.

Individuals With a Family History of Mental Health or Substance Use Disorders

If you have a family history of mental health disorders or substance use disorders, you may be more susceptible to developing these conditions yourself. Genetic factors can increase your vulnerability, making it more likely that you will experience co-occurring disorders. Seeking professional help early can help you manage both conditions before they escalate.

Individuals Experiencing Relapse Despite Previous Treatment

For those who have undergone treatment for either a mental health disorder or substance use disorder and continue to relapse, dual diagnosis treatment can provide the comprehensive care needed to address both issues simultaneously. By treating both conditions together, individuals have a better chance of achieving long-term recovery.

Individuals Struggling With Severe Emotional Distress

If your emotional distress is severe and you find yourself turning to substances for relief, dual diagnosis treatment may be necessary. Whether you’re experiencing intense depression, anxiety, or mood swings, professional treatment can help stabilize your mental health while guiding you toward sobriety.

How Delray Center for Recovery Can Help

At Delray Center for Recovery, we offer a specialized program that integrates mental health and addiction care. Our comprehensive approach includes:

Psychiatric Evaluation & Medication Management: We conduct thorough psychiatric evaluations to diagnose and treat both mental health and substance use disorders. Medication management can also help stabilize mood and reduce cravings.

Individual & Group Therapy: Our therapy programs address both the emotional and behavioral aspects of dual diagnosis. Individual therapy helps you work through personal challenges, while group therapy offers support and connection with others facing similar struggles.

Holistic Therapies: We incorporate holistic therapies such as yoga, meditation, and acupuncture to support mental and physical healing. These practices help reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance overall well-being.

Family Education & Therapy: Dual diagnosis doesn’t just affect the diagnosed person—it impacts loved ones as well. We offer family therapy and education to help families understand dual diagnosis and support their loved ones in recovery.

Starting Your Recovery Journey at Delray Center for Recovery

If you or someone you care about is struggling with both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, seeking dual diagnosis treatment is a step toward healing. At Delray Center for Recovery, we provide the specialized care needed for individuals facing the challenges of dual diagnosis. Our expert team will guide you through every step of the recovery process, helping you achieve lasting wellness and sobriety. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you or a loved one.

Five Tips for Living with Dual Diagnosis

Living with a dual diagnosis – a substance abuse disorder and a mental illness – is tough. At 12-Step recovery support groups, you’ll be told that you can’t be sober and take antidepressants or other “mood altering” drugs. You’ll face twice as much stigma, since you’re both an addict and mentally ill. But you can’t recover from your substance abuse disorder unless you also receive treatment for your mental illness, and you can’t recover from your mental illness unless you also receive treatment for your substance abuse disorder. You need treatment for both. Even after you get treatment, living with a dual diagnosis can be much more difficult than living with a single diagnosis. The professionals at our dual diagnosis treatment center have put together these tips to help you cope.

1) Seek Treatment from an Accredited Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center

Substance abuse disorders and mental health problems are best treated together. When you seek help from a dual diagnosis treatment center, like the Delray Center for Healing, you’ll get integrated treatment from a team of professionals working together to care for you mentally, physically and emotionally. Your condition is best treated by a team consisting of a substance abuse specialist, a mental health clinician and a psychiatrist. Many mental health professionals don’t have experience treating addiction, and many addiction specialists don’t have experience treating other mental illnesses. A team of specialists working together in a dual diagnosis treatment center knows what you’re up against and how to best combat it.

2) Educate Yourself About Your Diagnoses

When you enter treatment for a substance abuse disorder, you need to educate yourself about addiction so you can understand what lies ahead in the treatment process and what challenges you’ll face. The same goes for your mental illness. The time you spend receiving treatment in a dual diagnosis treatment center is an excellent opportunity for you to learn everything there is to learn about your mental health problem, your substance abuse disorder, how each disorder is treated, how the two disorders play off of and exacerbate one another, how they influence your personality, beliefs and self-image, and what challenges you can expect moving forward.

3) Participate Fully in Your Treatment

The specialists at your dual diagnosis treatment center can’t help you if you won’t help yourself. Participate fully in your treatment program. Be honest about your readiness and willingness to change, so that your treatment team can design a plan that meets your needs. Attend group therapy – it’s a great opportunity to learn how to make healthy choices, practice your problem solving skills, learn to avoid the temptation to use or drink, and learn how you can avoid high-risk situations. Your group therapy experience can help you learn to trust others and can strengthen your social skills through the sharing of experiences and emotional support. The support you receive from other members of your therapy group is invaluable to your success in treatment.

4) Take Good Care of Yourself Physically

Poor nutrition, sleep deprivation and lack of exercise can have a profound effect on your mental health and mood. If you’ve been abusing drugs and alcohol heavily for a long time, you’re probably suffering from malnutrition and other physical problems. Your dual diagnosis treatment will involve an exercise regimen and nutritional therapy that could include the use of vitamins. If you’re not sleeping well, let your treatment team know – adequate sleep is important to your overall wellbeing, so if you’re sleeping poorly, you might need medication or other therapies to help, at least for a time. Make sure you follow your treatment team’s nutritional and other health guidelines. Even after you leave the treatment center, you need to stay vigilant when it comes to eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep.

5) Get Support

You may find that some 12-Step support groups frown on the use of medication in people who are recovering from a substance abuse disorder, even if those people need medication to manage the symptoms of a mental illness. If you find yourself in such a group, not to worry; attitudes vary from one group to the next, and you can always find another support group.

You should also educate your family and friends about what it means to have a dual diagnosis. Help them understand the challenges you face and let them know what they can do to help you meet those challenges. Surround yourself with people who support your recovery and encourage you to make healthy decisions.

If you need help for a dual diagnosis, a dual diagnosis treatment center is the best place to provide it.

Call the Delray Center for Healing today at 888-699-5679 to learn more about our programs.