Addiction and mental health are often connected. Depression, anxiety, trauma disorders, and other mental health conditions can drive many people to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs, and this dangerous cycle can spiral into an addiction When you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse as well as a co-occurring mental health disorder, reaching out to a dual diagnosis treatment center is essential.
Identifying a Dual Diagnosis
Mental health disorders can be debilitating, and the symptoms and effects can take over your life. Similarly, addiction has far-reaching consequences that impact you and the people around you. Getting the right dual diagnosis treatment program is key for maintaining your health.
For many people, addiction begins with self-medication. An individual struggling with mental health symptoms may self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. In time, they become reliant on substances in order to function. Without knowing it, the symptoms of their mental health disorder and reliance on drugs and alcohol have spiraled into addiction.
In fact, many people begin to struggle with drug and alcohol abuse before they receive a formal diagnosis. Identifying the signs of a mental health disorder and reaching out for help can be life-altering. Many people do not receive their diagnosis until they check in to rehab. For this reason, seeking help when you notice the warning signs of an issue is important.
At a mental health treatment center, you can begin treatment through intensive therapy programs. You will also have access to treatment professionals that can provide prescription medication when deemed clinically necessary.
Infographic via: Summit Estate Recovery Center
Reaching out to a Rehab Center
There are many reasons that may influence you to reach out for rehab help. Some men and women are able to realize the effect that addiction is having on their life and seek out treatment of their own accord. Others are pushed to attend rehab by family members or friends who have been affected by their addiction. Others seek treatment and criminal justice rehabilitation services when they have been accused or convicted of a criminal offense.
No matter what spurred you to reach out for help, taking the first step towards treatment can be life-changing. At the rehab center, you find an environment focused on healing. Many people begin with an inpatient rehab program, that provides around-the-clock care while you stay at the rehab center.
These programs usually last from 30 to 60 days. At the rehab center, you are safe and under medical supervision from trained professionals. You have access to clinicians and therapists who can help you examine your past and triggers so you can create your recovery.
Most importantly, you can receive a thorough mental health evaluation, and begin a treatment program that addresses your underlying mental health disorder as well as your substance abuse.
Getting Through Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal
While dual diagnosis treatment addresses your co-occurring disorders, you must also consider how to safely get through drug and alcohol withdrawal. Your withdrawal symptoms will depend on your substance of choice. Drugs like heroin and other opioids have severe withdrawal symptoms that are not life-threatening but are extremely uncomfortable. On the other hand, benzos and alcohol can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms that can even be fatal. Finding a treatment center that offers drug and alcohol detox programs can be crucial, especially while you are first beginning your recovery.
Another resource you can choose is medication assisted treatment programs. These treatment programs provide non-addictive medications that ease withdrawal symptoms, so you can stay sober and build the tools for recovery. The support from a medication assisted treatment program can be useful during dual diagnosis treatment, as they ease psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms so you can focus on mental, physical, and spiritual healing.
What Comes After Rehab?
Every individual who completes a rehab program will be provided with the right support to ensure they have the right resources for their recovery. Transitional living or sober housing ensures that you can move into an environment with other men and women focused on their own recovery.
Many people choose to enter an outpatient rehab program after a more intensive residential or inpatient treatment program. These programs involve individual and group therapy multiple times a week, and your therapists will help you continue working on the coping skills that will help you avoid relapse.
Recovery support groups can help you work on vocational training or help you find educational opportunities that will allow you to thrive in your recovery. The safety net provided by a treatment center means you will never be alone in your recovery, and you will always have a support system to reach out to when you are in need.
Content via: https://www.gaudenzia.org