Nearly one in five adults in the United States is living with a mental health condition. This accounts for more than 50 million people, 15 million of whom have a serious mental illness. Some of the most common include anxiety disorders, depression, and bipolar disorder.
To make matters worse, nearly 20 million people in the United States are living with a substance use disorder, and almost 100,000 people die every year as a result of a drug overdose. Some of the most common drugs used are alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, prescription drugs, and heroin.
While mental illnesses and substance use disorders are normally treatable – under the right circumstances – things are often complicated when the two conditions are co-occurring with one another. Unfortunately, this is the case for millions of people around the world today.
What is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis is the presence of both a mental illness and a drug or alcohol addiction – the two conditions must occur together to be dual diagnosis. Some studies suggest that nearly half of all mental health patients will suffer from a drug or alcohol addiction, and vice versa.
When these two conditions interact with one another, the patient’s symptoms – for both conditions – often worsen. Not only does this increase the amount of pain and suffering the patient experiences, but it makes treatment much more complex – though not impossible.
According to SAMHSA, dual diagnosis disorders impact nearly 10 million adults in the United States. While the two conditions are treatable – even when coinciding – many people either won’t seek treatment or won’t receive the right treatment.
Signs and Symptoms of Dual Diagnosis
The signs and symptoms of dual diagnosis will largely depend on the combination of disorders in question. Since dual diagnosis can refer to a wide range of different combinations, everyone’s experience will be unique. Still, there are some common symptoms to keep an eye out for.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common signs and symptoms of dual diagnosis:
- Using drugs to cope with psychological issues
- Having a history of mental illness (either yourself or in the family)
- Mood changes and mood swings when trying to quit drugs
- The only time you feel like yourself is when using drugs
- Having difficulty enjoying life without the use of harmful substances
- Using drugs to overcome personal trauma in your life
- Distancing oneself from friends, family members, and other loved ones
- Sudden changes in one’s behavior or habits
- Finding it difficult to function without drugs in one’s system
If you notice anything peculiar, strange, odd, different, or off-putting about someone’s behavior, consider confronting them about it – in a constructive way. You don’t want to scare them, make them feel awkward, or shame them. Instead, let them know you care and you just want to help.
What are the Benefits of Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
Treatment for dual diagnosis only works if both conditions are being treated simultaneously – if they coincide, they should be treated simultaneously. With detoxification, therapy, medication, counseling, housing, support groups, and rehab, patients can turn their life around.
Let’s take a look at some of the amazing benefits of dual diagnosis treatment centers:
- Patients can identify what’s causing the addiction
- Patients receive help working through trauma
- Patients learn how to change negative thought processes and habits
- Better understanding of their co-occurring conditions
- Patients learn how to cope with and prevent triggers
- Both the mind and body are treated, leading to whole-body improvement
Dual diagnosis rehab programs offer an integrative approach to ensuring both conditions are being treated equally. It doesn’t matter what drug you’re addicted to or what mental illness you’re suffering from; treatment for dual diagnosis can help you live a normal life once again.
Are There Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers in Southern California
Have you recently been diagnosed with a mental illness? Are you using drugs or other harmful substances to cope with your mental illness? Has your addiction resulted in issues with your mental health? Are you looking for dual diagnosis treatment centers in Southern California?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above, then Multi Concept Recovery wants to help. Providing anxiety, depression, and trauma treatment in Burbank, CA, Multi-Concept Recovery can help with all dual diagnosis needs. We understand that solving one condition means solving both conditions, and we’ll be with you every step of the way.
We offer a variety of Los Angeles treatment programs, including partial day treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and outpatient treatment to ensure every patient has access to the type of care they need.
Contact us today to learn more about our dual diagnosis rehab program or schedule a tour.
