Many people who are struggling with addiction are living with other mental health issues. For many, living with an undiagnosed or even diagnosed mental health issue can lead to the use of drugs and alcohol as a means to escape or numb the symptoms of mental health conditions. For others, mental health issues can develop as a result of drug or alcohol use. In any case, for people living with concurring mental health issues and substance use disorder, it’s important to seek help from a dual diagnosis program.

Understanding More About What Dual Diagnosis Is

So, what exactly is a dual diagnosis? Dual diagnosis is the term used to describe the instance that a person is living with concurring mental health issues, specifically substance use disorder and another mental illness. According to research, over 8 million adults living in the United States are living with dual diagnosis. For these individuals, it’s important that the help they receive is specifically geared toward identifying and addressing not only substance use disorders but concurring mental health issues as well. Without a dual diagnosis program, individuals who are living with a dual diagnosis have an increased risk of relapsing once treatment concludes.

Most Common Mental Health Issues That Occur With Substance Use Disorder

There are certain mental health diagnoses that are more commonly paired with substance use disorder than others. Some of the most common mental health issues that occur alongside substance use disorder include:

Depression: People who haven’t been diagnosed with depression yet or haven’t received treatment for a depression diagnosis may attempt to use drugs or alcohol as a way to numb symptoms of depressive disorders. This can lead to a dependence on drugs or alcohol and even increase the severity of symptoms associated with depressive disorders.

ADHD: People living with ADHD can be at a higher risk of developing addiction as they may use drugs or alcohol to deal with symptoms. Furthermore, dependence and addiction can develop as a result of misusing ADHD prescription medications.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: People living with the anxiety disorder Generalized Anxiety Disorder that isn’t diagnosed or don’t get the treatment they need may develop substance use disorder as the result of attempting to deal with symptoms of anxiety. For example, after a stressful day with lots of anxiety, people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder may drink alcohol to calm their nerves. But, this can become habit-forming and lead to addiction.

Getting Help for Dual Diagnosis With an Addiction Dual Diagnosis Program

If you think that you may be living with concurring mental health issues and substance use disorder, it’s best to consider a dual diagnosis program. In traditional addiction rehabilitation centers, programs only identify and address substance use disorder. This may leave out the addressing of underlying issues like concurring mental health disorders. However, with an addiction dual diagnosis program, individuals who are living with dual diagnosis have the opportunity to learn about and address both mental health issues they may be living with.

Delray Center for Recovery offers an outpatient approach to dual diagnosis treatment. Learn more about our addiction dual diagnosis program and our other services today on our website.

Delray Center for Recovery offers alcoholism treatment for people who are struggling with alcohol use disorder. As an alcohol recovery center, we aim to spread awareness of alcoholism and the effects it has on individual’s mental health, physical health, and their families. As April is Alcohol Awareness Month, we aim to spread information about alcoholism and its impacts so that more people are aware of this disease and have the information, motivation, and courage that it takes to get help through treatment.

The Importance of Raising Awareness of Alcohol’s Impact

Alcohol awareness month is a dedicated time to spread awareness about the impacts of alcohol and the dangers of alcohol addiction, or alcoholism. When more people spread awareness about alcohol and its impacts, more people become aware of the impacts of alcohol in their own lives. And, have the awareness that’s necessary to get help which can lead to preventing death caused by alcohol. Furthermore, when people come together to spread awareness of the impacts of alcohol, communities can gain knowledge in order to prevent alcohol abuse in generations to come.

Some Statistics About Alcohol Consumption

Understanding more about alcohol consumption statistics can spread awareness about the negative and even fatal impacts of alcohol. Some important statistics regarding alcohol consumption include:

• from 2015-2019, over 140 thousand people died of excessive alcohol consumption
• each year, over 3.6 million years of life are lost due to alcohol consumption
• 17% of adults report binge drinking
• 6% of adults report heavy drinking
• alcohol consumption increases risks of physical illness including heart disease, liver disease, cancer, injuries, and more
• 18% of emergency room hospital visits are due to alcohol consumption
• the economic cost of alcohol consumption is over $249 billion in the US alone

How Alcohol Awareness Helps Get People Help

Alcohol awareness spreads information to people living with alcohol use disorder so that they understand that treatment is available and effective. Furthermore, it helps gather information so that research can be conducted in order to apply this information to treatment platforms, improving the odds of treatment initiatives. So, awareness for alcohol and Alcohol Awareness Month is crucial to alcohol prevention and saving lives.

Getting Help for Alcoholism Through Alcoholism Treatment

If you think that you or a loved one needs help with alcohol use disorder, alcoholism treatment is available. There are a number of different types of alcohol addiction treatment options to consider. One type, outpatient treatment, is available at Delray Center for Recovery. Here, we provide individuals with both traditional and holistic approaches to treatment, working to treat a person as a whole. Find out more about our intensive outpatient program (IOP) and our partial hospitalization program (PHP) for alcoholism on our website to get help today.

Addiction to alcohol is commonly referred to as alcoholism. Alcoholism is a serious issue that, if left untreated, can lead to a lifetime of negative physical, mental, and social symptoms. According to alcohol abuse statistics, as of 2020, over 10% of people over the age of 12 are living with alcohol abuse disorder or alcoholism. This life-threatening disease takes over lives and can even lead to death in those who don’t get help. Fortunately, treatment for alcoholism is available and can help people learn vital techniques, utilize helpful information, and lean on supportive communities in order to obtain lasting recovery. But, it can be challenging to make the decision to get help for a person struggling with alcoholism. So, it can be helpful to understand what to expect during treatment for alcoholism in order for these people to feel more confident in getting the help they need and taking the first steps to healing.

Some things you can expect from an alcohol treatment program may include:

What is Treatment for Alcoholism?

Treatment for alcoholism is often called other terms including alcohol rehab, alcohol rehabilitation, alcohol treatment, etc. All these terms refer to the treatment of alcohol addiction or alcoholism. The consumption of alcohol can lead to physical dependence which means the body begins to require the consumption of alcohol in order to function properly. This results in a person’s need to consume alcohol in order to avoid the consequences of withdrawal which can include nausea, cold sweats, vomiting, headaches, tremors, and even seizures.

Treatment for alcoholism can help people who have developed an addiction to alcohol get the help they need to become sober and relieve their dependence on alcohol. This way, individuals who struggle with alcoholism don’t have to experience the debilitating and life-altering effects of alcoholism any longer.

There are many forms of alcohol addiction treatment. First, depending on the severity of the addiction, it may be suggested that a person utilize detoxification services and residential treatment. After residential treatment, step-down methods like PHPs, IOPs, and outpatient treatment can help to improve the outcomes of treatment.

Who Should Consider Using Alcoholism Treatment?

People who are living with an addiction to alcohol can benefit from an alcoholism addiction program. Some signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction can include:

• drinking even though you have noticed and experienced negative consequences of drinking
• experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you’re not drinking
• drinking more than the average person to experience wanted results
• experiencing negative emotional symptoms like anxiety, depression, shame, and guilt
• spending much of your time thinking about, getting, and consuming alcohol

What Can I Expect When I First Get Help?

When you first get help for alcohol addiction, you can expect:

Evaluation: An initial assessment will help your addiction specialists and a team of doctors gain the information they need about your symptoms, previous history with addiction, and family history in order to make an informed decision about your care.

Treatment Planning: Once an initial assessment is concluded, you and your mental health advisors will determine the best course of action for your treatment which can include which programs you should utilize, the time you’ll spend in treatment, and any medications you may be suggested to use.

Treatment Management: After treatment planning, your treatment can begin. This can include a number of different types of traditional and holistic therapies such as prescription medications, dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and holistic therapies like yoga and meditation.

Get Help for Alcohol Addiction at Delray Center for Recovery

Ready to take the first step to take your life back from alcoholism? Delray Center for Recovery is here for you. Find out more about what you can expect from our alcoholism treatment program at our Delray Beach facility on our website and reach out today.

Most people think of summertime as a time to get with friends, have fun, and party. But, for people in recovery from addiction, the temptations of summertime can make this time of year seem overwhelming and complicated. However, people in recovery can have just as much fun as people who aren’t sober. But, they still have to keep in mind that their recovery comes first. Fortunately, there are lots of fun summertime activities that people in recovery from addiction can do to both have fun and keep their sobriety a priority this summer.

Give Your Life Some Organization

Feeling like it’s time to renew your mind? A great way to do so is by organizing your space! A great summertime task is to clear your home and organize your space in order to have a fresh and clean slate to tackle the summer and the upcoming year. For example, go through all of your cabinets and drawers to find things you know longer want and donate them, organize your closets, clean underneath furniture, and more. When you have a cleaner and more organized space, you’ll feel that you are more open to ideas and even feel better about yourself.

Find New Peer Support With Groups

Sober groups are available in almost every location. These groups can help you connect with peers who are also sober and looking for people to hang out with who are in recovery this summer. Plus, having more peers who understand what you’re dealing with can provide you with the extra support that’s always encouraged for one’s recovery journey. And, will give you some like-minded people to do sober activities with this summer.

Do Things Outside and Soak Up The Sun

Being out in nature and soaking in vitamin D from the sun is proven to be a mood booster and improve overall mental health. So, what better time of the year is it to go outside and in nature than the summer? There are many summertime, outdoor activities to consider including kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, gardening, sports, hiking, and more! When you choose an outdoor activity in the summertime, you’ll never regret the time you’ve spent in nature.

Throw a Sober Party

It can be hard facing the summertime when it seems like everyone gets together to drink alcohol and party. But, there’s no harm in having your own, alcohol-free party with your sober friends. Gatherings don’t have to revolve around alcohol. So, throw your own summertime gettogether with all of your friends and peers in recovery, and ask them to bring their favorite dish or game, and their favorite non-alcoholic beverage.

Join an Adult Sports League

There’s nothing better than some summertime competition. So, if you like sports, search your local area for any recreational adult sports leagues that go on during the summer months. Whatever sport you’re into, go to a field or recreation center near you to find out more about how to join a league so that you can get involved, meet some new people, and enjoy the competition.

Getting Help During the Summertime for Addiction

Are you struggling this summer with alcohol or drug use? If so, you’re not alone. Fortunately, treatment can help you to establish sobriety and live a life of recovery. You don’t have to live a life of addiction any longer. Take the step today to get the help you need to obtain lasting healing. At Delray Center for Recovery, we provide individuals who are suffering from addiction with treatment in order to help them overcome the effects of addiction in their lives. Find out more about our outpatient programs and services from our website.