Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis is when someone is suffering with both a substance abuse problem and a mental health disorder. It may also be referred to as a co-occurring condition. Dual diagnosis is very common in addiction treatment as about half of people with substance abuse also struggle with mental illness. The good news is that you can work on recovering from both conditions at a dual diagnosis treatment center like Compassion Behavioral Health.

Compassion Behavioral Health has a Substance Abuse Treatment Program and a Mental Health Treatment Program. Between these two programs, we’re able to address the symptoms of mental illness and substance abuse and treat both disorders simultaneously. This leads to improved outcomes, faster healing times and a reduced risk for relapse.

If you have questions about dual diagnosis treatment, please contact Compassion Behavioral Health today. Below you’ll find more information about the link between mental illness and substance abuse and why dual diagnosis treatment is essential to healing.

The Link Between Mental Health and Substance Abuse

When someone is suffering with both a substance abuse problem and a mental health disorder, both problems will interact with each other and create a vicious cycle of dependency. This is why we can’t just treat one problem – we must treat both.

It’s difficult to say what comes first – the substance abuse or the mental illness – but it’s believed that people often start self-medicating to manage the symptoms of mental illness. For example, if a person is struggling with depression, they may turn to drugs and alcohol to numb their feelings.

If the cycle of self-medication continues, the body and brain will become addicted. Eventually, the person will no longer use drugs and alcohol solely to numb their pain. Now they will use them to manage their day-to-day life. To make matters worse, the drugs and alcohol exacerbate the symptoms of depression.

Of course, mental illness doesn’t always come first. Sometimes a person starts experimenting with drugs and alcohol and experiences symptoms like anxiety and depression as a result of the drug use. It’s possible that these individuals were already at a heightened risk for developing a mental illness. As the drug and alcohol use worsen, so do the symptoms, making it harder to diagnose and treat the underlying problem.

What Types of Mental Health Problems Do You Treat?

Compassion Behavioral Health has experience treating a wide range of mental health problems such as:

  • Bipolar disorder
  • Schizophrenia
  • Schizoaffective disorder
  • Major depression
  • Generalized anxiety
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Borderline personality
  • Antisocial disorder

When you begin our treatment program, you will receive a full diagnosis. This will allow our treatment team to build a personalized care plan that addresses both the mental illness and the substance abuse.

If you’ve spent years dealing with severe mood swings, episodes of hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, flashbacks to traumatic memories, etc., know that this is not the way to live. Help is available, and Compassion Behavioral Health is comfortable treating even the most severe mental health disorders.


How Can I Tell if I Have a Dual Diagnosis?

Only a qualified mental health professional or addiction specialist can determine if you have a dual diagnosis. However, you don’t need to be a medical professional to know that something is wrong. Here are the most common signs and symptoms of a potential co-occurring condition:

  • Abandoning friends and family for a new crowd
  • Struggling to keep up with work or school
  • Staying up late and sleeping all day
  • Lying or stealing to keep up with your substance abuse
  • Engaging in high-risk activities (unprotected sex, reckless driving)
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit
  • Believing things that aren’t true


What’s Different About Dual Diagnosis Treatment?

Dual diagnosis recovery combines the positive aspects of mental health care and substance abuse treatment. Instead of treating these two conditions separately, they are treated as part of a continuum. This allows our staff to understand both mental health and substance use disorders and how to offer personalized recovery services to each individual.

Here are some of the ways that dual diagnosis treatment differs from our standard programs:

  • Clients receive integrated treatment that addresses all aspects of mental health and addiction in a single location
  • Mental health professionals and addiction rehab counselors work together to create a collaborative treatment plan
  • Treatment focuses on healing the total person – mind, body and spirit
  • Psychotherapeutic medications are used to treat co-occurring conditions
  • Treatment is supportive and reinforces self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Inclusive setting that brings together partners, spouses, children and other household members


What Can I Expect from Your Dual Diagnosis Program?

Compassion Behavioral Health has long treated co-occurring conditions. Our integrative treatment plan will address both your addiction and your mental illness using holistic and conventional treatments. Clients who have completed our program report a 76% reduction in PTSD symptoms, a 91% reduction in anxiety symptoms and a 90% reduction in depressive symptoms.

Here are some of the therapies that will be available to you as part of our dual diagnosis treatment:

  • Group therapy. Collaborative therapy allows you to address various concerns and reach your therapeutic goals. Advantages include mutual support, bonding and self-awareness in a non-judgemental environment.
  • Individual therapy. Individual therapy encourages you to explore your thinking and behavior in a safe and confidential environment. Two common approaches we use are cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).
  • Family therapy. In family therapy, you’ll learn how to break specific family patterns that can be harmful to your recovery. You’ll also strengthen the family bond, understand your differences and heal past wounds.
  • Medication education. Various medications are used in dual diagnosis treatment. Our staff will find the right combination of medicines to treat your mental illness while educating you on their risks and benefits.
  • EMDR therapy. EMDR therapy is an effective treatment for trauma and other mental health concerns. It requires you to use various eye movements to unblock your emotions and reprogram your brain.

Compassion Behavioral Health offers a well-rounded dual diagnosis treatment program that will address your addiction and mental health problems. Our clients have had tremendous success in our program, and we are confident that you will too. Contact us today to learn more.

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