Dual diagnosis treatment incorporates two different focus points – addiction and mental health disorders. This makes it more involved than undergoing only addiction treatment or only mental health treatment. However, do not avoid dual diagnosis treatment simply because you believe it will be difficult or complicated. Dual diagnosis treatment can lead you towards a strong and successful recovery process from addiction and help you to manage the symptoms of your mental health disorder(s).
The Dual Diagnosis
A dual diagnosis is when a client has been diagnosed with both addiction and at least one accompanying mental health disorder. This is important information because the addiction can affect the mental health disorder and vice versa. An ideal treatment solution is to undergo dual diagnosis treatment because it works on the addiction and the mental health disorder so clients may achieve successful management of mental health symptoms while also entering stable addiction recovery processes.
How Does Dual Diagnosis Treatment Work?
Dual diagnosis treatment is concurrent treatment for addiction and mental health. The main treatment method for addiction and for most mental health disorders is psychotherapy. Psychotherapy allows clients to discover their personal, underlying reasons behind their addictions and mental health disorders. This gives valuable insights into the self that allow clients to build the necessary foundations to gain the upper hand against addiction and for managing the symptoms of mental health disorders ranging from depression to bipolar disorder.
Lifestyle counseling is important for clients to shape their lives in manners conducive to successful mental health and recovery from addiction. Stress is a major trigger for the symptoms of mental health disorders as well as for addiction so dual diagnosis treatment also encompasses stress management techniques.
Some clients of dual diagnosis treatment also benefit from the use of prescription medication. There are some mental health disorders and specific circumstances and criteria among clients that may call for the assistance of medication to work on the physical elements such as chemical imbalances of the brain. For example, dual diagnosis clients of schizophrenia may benefit from antipsychotic medications or dual diagnosis clients of bipolar disorder may benefit from medications such as lithium.
Why is Dual Diagnosis Treatment Necessary?
Proper mental health is needed for a successful recovery from addiction and a stable recovery process from substance abuse and addiction is necessary for proper mental health. Treating just addiction is like treating only one part of a diagnosis, and can hinder success. Treating only mental health puts a client at risk to experiencing worsened mental health as a result of his or her addiction.
If you or someone you love is suffering from the effects of alcohol abuse, substance addiction or any other type of addiction, please call us today. Our addiction treatment counselors can help you deal with physical, emotional and psychological consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. A substance abuse treatment program is effective, safe and has helped many men reclaim their lives. Destination Hope is a full service drug, alcohol and dual diagnosis treatment facility in Florida for men suffering from substance abuse and mental health issues.
