Another pitfall of addiction is that abusing substances can cause mental health disorders and aggravate pre-existing ones. Having untreated mental health drug addiction increases your risk of abusing drugs, as substances can temporarily relieve symptoms. When you experience mental health symptoms while abusing drugs and alcohol, you may wonder do I need dual diagnosis treatment?
Addiction causes significant changes to your brain chemistry, cognition, and behavior that can make your life chaotic and unmanageable. As addiction progresses, symptoms become more severe. When drugs and alcohol become the priority in your daily life, it can damage your relationships, health, and career.
How Addiction Works
Addiction is a chronic mental health disease that causes you to compulsively abuse drugs and alcohol despite having a strong desire to quit and experiencing negative consequences as a result of your use. Addiction has no known cause or cure, meaning that anyone can develop a substance abuse disorder. Psychoactive substances, like alcohol, opiates, and benzodiazepines are neurotransmitter inhibitors that cause mood-altering effects.
Substances can be either central nervous system depressants or stimulants. Depressants create relaxing sensations and slow down your heart rate and breathing. Stimulants, like cocaine, produce energizing effects. Drugs and alcohol cause your brain to release more pleasurable neurotransmitters than it should. When this occurs, your brain associates the substance with pleasure and positively reinforces your substance use by controlling the release of neurotransmitters.
When intoxication ends, you’re left with an abrupt depletion of neurotransmitters, which eventually leads to significant imbalances. These changes can alter your thoughts and emotions, as well as aggravate underlying mental health disorders.
Substances can cause physical and psychological dependencies, with physical addictions resulting in painful withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop using. Withdrawal also exacerbates mental health symptoms, making mental health drug addiction treatment essential to your recovery.
Do I Need Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
If you’re struggling with mental health and substance abuse disorder symptoms, you may wonder do I need dual diagnosis treatment? The reason why completing a dual diagnosis treatment center program is beneficial when you have a co-occurring disorder is because you need to treat both conditions to fully recover. Drugs and alcohol destabilize mental health disorders, while mental health symptoms like depression can cause you to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol.
A dual diagnosis mental health treatment program provides immediate access to a psychiatrist, which ensures your medications are adjusted properly during recovery. Wondering do I need dual diagnosis treatment is usually a strong indication that a co-occurring disorders program is best for your needs.
A dual diagnosis program can offer:
- Inpatient and residential treatment options
- Medication management
- Detox services
- Evidence-based treatments
- Holistic therapies
An inpatient dual diagnosis treatment is best if you have a physical addiction, multiple attempts at recovery, or a lengthy addiction history. The increased supervision and support improves your ability to focus on your recovery and learn how to manage your symptoms. Most inpatient programs are for four weeks, although long-term residential programs can last for several months or longer.
A major goal of treatment is helping you understand how your mental health is connected with your substance abuse issues. Understanding how to cope with stressors, triggers, and cravings is another way dual diagnosis treatment helps you recover.
Finding the Best Dual Diagnosis Treatment Today
When you’re wondering do I need dual diagnosis treatment, chances are you are struggling to maintain control over your life. Addiction and mental health disorders can cause disabling symptoms that continue to progress until you get help. While a co-occurring disorder can make you feel trapped and overwhelmed, recovery is always possible. Reach out to us today at to find out more about our dual diagnosis treatment programs.
