Dual-diagnosis treatment centers treat clients with dual diagnosis. Centers must be well-equipped and have various treatment options to deal with this condition. First, what is dual diagnosis? This post will discuss the meaning, common disorders, risk factors, how to treat them, and how to find dual diagnosis treatment centers in Arizona.
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What is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder is a term used for a client that suffers from a mental disorder and addiction. Addiction could be drug or alcohol. The person usually experiences both disorders simultaneously, although one may come before the other. According to NIDA, 7.7 million adults have dual diagnosis or comorbidity. Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorder, 37.9% also had a mental illness.
As mentioned, the two occur together, and one usually comes before the other. However, it doesn’t mean that one caused the other. Most times, it is difficult to determine which one came first. It’s like the proverbial chicken or the egg. What has been established is that the two correlate and can worsen symptoms of mental health problems. Doctors think of three possible reasons why they occur more frequently.
- Common risk factors like genetics, stress, and trauma may contribute to mental and substance use disorders.
- Sometimes, mental disorders contribute to substance abuse. People suffering from mental disorders usually indulge in self-medication to feel better. However, the effect is temporary and wears off after some time.
- Substance addiction can contribute to mental disorders. Substance use alters the brain’s composition in ways that will lead to the development of a mental illness.
What Disorders Are Commonly Co-Occuring?
Commonly co-occurring disorders are depression, anxiety, and drug or alcohol abuse. When these conditions happen simultaneously, the effects can be fatal. As mentioned, mental health issues increase the risk of being addicted to substances. And when substance abuse increases, your mental health worsens. This forms a vicious cycle.
Symptoms of dual diagnosis vary widely and depend on the substances and mental health disorders involved. Substance abuse and mental health disorders have symptoms, and their combination can give the healthcare practitioner a clue about whether the client has a dual diagnosis.
Symptoms of substance abuse include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Erratic changes in behavior
- Dependence on substances to function
- Withdrawing from your family and friends
- Shaky movements
- Messy appearance
Below are the symptoms of mental health disorders.
- Confusion
- Mood changes
- Problems focusing
- Suicidal thoughts
- Difficulty functioning at the optimum
Judging by the symptoms alone doesn’t give an accurate diagnosis. The healthcare provider uses several screening tools to evaluate the client for both disorders. clients need to be honest when speaking to their healthcare providers. The answers will tell if you have a dual diagnosis.
How to Find Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers in Arizona?
People with a dual diagnosis must treat both disorders to ensure a full recovery. Treatment options may include behavioral therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), medication, counseling, etc. CBT will teach you how to cope with your negative thinking patterns and how to change them, while DBT will reduce self-harm behaviors.
The treatment center will be in the best position to recommend the right option for you, but you have to work with them to understand how the disorders affect the other. But how can you find the best dual diagnosis treatment center in Arizona? NIDA revealed that 52.5% of people with co-occurring conditions received no mental health care or substance use treatment. Among these, 23.8% said they did not know where to go for treatment.
To recover from a dual diagnosis, you must stop using addictive substances. Our Arizona dual diagnosis treatment center is designed to help you wean off addiction and offer ways to lessen the withdrawal effects. The doctors monitor the client for up to a week to see how effective the treatment plan is. Our dual-diagnosis program follows an approach to give you everything you need to help your recovery.
Do you know a loved one with a dual diagnosis in Arizona? Helping someone with a co-occurring disorder is sometimes difficult as the person denies the problem. Although you can’t force the person to remain sober or go for treatment, you can encourage them to get help and assure them that you will always be there for them.
