When someone struggles with an addiction, they often struggle with at least one other issue in another aspect of their life. Co-occurring addiction and mental health issues pose unique diagnostic challenges. One disorder can change the course of the other, so clients must take great care to find the correct treatment. Family and close friends are also likely to be suffering due to the individual’s behavior, so there is a greater sense of urgency to start treatment. If you or someone you love needs dual diagnosis treatment, please reach out to Red Oak Recovery® today at 866.457.7590.
What Are Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers?
Dual diagnosis is when a person is diagnosed with a drug or alcohol use disorder and a mental health condition. In suspected cases of a dual diagnosis, a professional must assess the patient to determine if an underlying psychological issue contributes to their addiction or vice versa. After a confirmed diagnosis, dual diagnosis treatment will be necessary to address the patient’s condition thoroughly. A dual diagnosis recovery plan may be more complicated and involved, as treatment success relies on properly treating both disorders. A single diagnosis may seem less daunting than a dual diagnosis, but the patient suffers from underdiagnosis.
At our dual diagnosis treatment program, we utilize a wide range of treatment modalities, including:
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Experiential therapy
- Wilderness therapy
Our dual diagnosis treatment center will develop individualized recovery plans for our patients that adequately address both conditions and monitor how they affect the other. Our treatment professionals realize that neglecting one aspect of rehabilitation will hinder a patient’s overall progress. Therefore, we aim to improve the lives of their patients by addressing both parts of their diagnosis to improve the odds of a successful recovery.
The Mental Health Benefits of Dual Diagnosis Treatment
When the sole focus is treating addiction, treatment often neglects essential aspects of the healing process. If someone is struggling with an undiagnosed mental health disorder, it’s like they’re missing a piece to the puzzle of their recovery. The most common mental-health issues diagnosed in men as part of a dual diagnosis are anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression. Treating these conditions is essential for addiction recovery. If an underlying disorder is never addressed, a relapse into addiction becomes almost inevitable.
Signs of a Dual Diagnosis
The warning signs of a dual diagnosis vary. Since countless combinations of drug addictions and mental disorders can exist, it’s not realistic to compile a comprehensive list of all dual diagnosis symptoms. Despite that, many symptoms of mental health disorders and drug addictions overlap. Therefore, we’ve listed indicators that raise the possibility of a co-occurring condition, such as:
- Before their drug or alcohol use began, they exhibited signs of anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder
- It is hard for them to stop using drugs because uncomfortable emotions grow worse when sober.
- They are alienating themselves or being secretive
- They’re experiencing periods of extreme emotional highs and lows
- They get drunk or high to gain a sense of control over their circumstances.
- They’ve repeatedly tried to quit using drugs, and they can’t stop
- They have panic attacks or sudden, unpredictable emotional outbursts.
- A history of addiction or mental illness runs in their family.
- They seem emotionally unstable, display reckless, erratic behavior.
- They regulate their emotions and moods with drugs or alcohol.
Many of the symptoms typical of addiction are also symptoms of a mental illness. Therefore, it can be difficult to pinpoint whether a loved one is suffering from the devastating side effects of addiction or substance abuse is their chosen way of coping with a mental illness. However, treating mental health helps to view healing from a whole-person perspective, and addicted individuals can begin doing the inner work to uncover issues driving their addiction.
Find Men’s Dual Diagnosis Treatment at Red Oak Recovery® Today
Although two diagnoses make treatment more complex, an incomplete diagnosis decreases the chance of recovery success. Mentally ill males are particularly susceptible to substance abuse from the ages of 18 to 44. Red Oak Recovery® is a mental health and addiction treatment facility specializing in men’s issues. We have a wide range of methods to treat mental health and addiction disorders, emphasizing family therapy. Please call 866.457.7590 today to speak to someone about enrollment options for you and your family.
