Dual Diagnosis Symptoms for Addiction and Mental Health Problems

Until recently, substance abuse and mental health conditions were treated as separate problems. Patients with mental illness were not taken into therapy until they overcame addiction. As a result, many people didn’t get opportunity to recover.

A dual diagnosis of co-occurring mental illness and addiction allows patients to receive proper treatment and care. Good rehab centers treat co-occurring mental health ailments to help patients recover and achieve long term sobriety and optimal mental health.

Integrated therapy for dual diagnosis

Integrated therapy for dual diagnosis helps individuals recover more successfully and it also lowers costs of treatment.

Patients with prolonged substance abuse may experience co-occurring mental illness and vice-versa. This requires both addiction and mental health to be treated in an integrated manner.

Why do Mental Illness and Addiction Co-occur?

Several factors can lead to an overlap between mental health and substance dependence. For example, drug abuse early in their life can harm still-developing brains while mental disorders can push a person towards substance abuse. Other environmental factors that can trigger psychological disorders and / or abuse of drugs or alcohol, such as –

• Anxiety
• High pressure lifestyles
• Traumatic experiences
• Genetics

Diseases that co-occur with Addiction

Here are a few mental health disorders that can co-occur with addiction –

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• ADHD
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Eating Disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Signs of a Dual Diagnosis

Signs and symptoms of dual diagnosis will be different for different individuals, based on the specific mental health disorder and the substance the person is addicted to. The seriousness of chemical abuse will also affect the kind of symptoms a person will experience. However, common symptoms of a dual diagnosis include –

• Self-harming thoughts or behaviors
• Impulsive actions
• Poor personal hygiene
• Losing interest in personal and social activities the person previously enjoyed
• Disillusioned thinking or diminished thought
• Issues managing finances and professional life

Treatment for Dual Diagnosis

It is important to find a rehab or addiction treatment center that offers treatment and care for both mental illness and chemical abuse. Find a trusted, secure rehab center that provides individualized and structured care. To ensure long-term recovery, underlying mental health problems should not be ignored.

The best treatment for dual diagnosis involves an integrated approach, where both the mental disorder and the substance abuse are treated simultaneously. Treatment aims to –

• Develop coping skills and strategies to minimize or stop substance abuse
• Basic education on the mental disorder and related problems
• Learning decision-making process and strategies for change
• Identifying triggers to substance abuse
• Social skills training to strengthen your relationships

To learn more, call San Diego’s one of the most trusted prescription narcotic, dual diagnosis and drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers in San Diego, Pacific Bay Recovery at 858-263-9700 Today.

Pacific Bay Recovery offers inpatient and intensive outpatient treatment in San Diego for drug and alcohol rehabilitation and long-term success.