Co-occurring diagnosis treatment centers work to treat both the underlying cause of addiction as well as the addiction. For people who have a hard time with an addiction and also a mental health disorder, treatment is designed to treat both at the same time. People with mental health disorders are at a higher risk of substance abuse issues, as both issues can build upon one another. Treatment is focused on treating the whole person and does not require that your mental health needs be ignored while receiving addiction treatment.

Living Life Under the Veil of Addiction

For people struggling with addiction, day to day life can become overwhelming. Living under the veil of addiction is stressful. Without treatment, the addiction only gets worse and life becomes more unmanageable. Co-occurring diagnosis treatment centers help to provide support to individuals who need addiction treatment and also need to have their mental health needs met. This is common for many people in addiction treatment and most centers provide co-occurring diagnosis treatment for individuals within the program. If you are tired of struggling each day and you are looking for a way out, it's time to find a treatment program that will be able to meet your specific needs.

Talking to Your Family About Treatment

If you are considering a co-occurring diagnosis treatment center, you may find it hard to talk to your family. When you think you have been hiding your addiction from family members, the chances are high that your family and friends know about your addiction. The people closest to you are likely wishing you would seek treatment and will be happy that you made such an important decision. Your loved ones will probably be proud of you and just want you to live your best life. While starting the conversation will be hard, the outcome will be worth it. Talk to your loved ones about your need for treatment and you will soon be on your way to a program you need.

Preparing for Your Recovery

Your recovery is a process. You can't expect yourself to get it all right from the beginning. Know that relapse is common, and your job is to keep trying to move forward no matter what. You don't have to worry about the future if you focus on your addiction recovery day to day. As you make small changes in your life, you will see that your sobriety builds up one step at a time. The only way to prepare is to be open to making changes in your life. Pay attention to the advice offered to you. Don't be afraid to reach out to others for help. You can make it through the recovery process, and the journey begins with you.

What It Means to Have a Dual-diagnosis

A dual-diagnosis simply means that you have two or more diagnoses. Many people in addiction treatment centers have a dual-diagnosis, and you will discover most programs are co-occurring diagnosis treatment centers. If you have anxiety, depression, or another mental health diagnosis, it can be hard to manage an addiction at the same time. In fact, people who have mental health issues tend to struggle with problems with addiction. A dual-diagnosis is common, and programs for addiction have been developed to help manage people who have co-occurring diagnoses.

Peer Support Is Vital to Your Success

Throughout your recovery, you will hear about how important it is to build up a support network for yourself. Peers are the people who will understand what you are going through, even when your friends and family don't. In early recovery, you will be encouraged listen to the stories of others and build relationships with those you meet. While your friends and family may love you, it can be hard for them to understand what you are really dealing with when it comes to your addiction. You'll meet people in treatment programs, and out in the community at meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous. This is a peer support network that many people find success with. If you are struggling to meet peers and you feel like you need more support, find a local AA meeting and show up.

Is Alcohol a Problem for You?

When you consider yourself a social drinker, you might think that you don't have much of a problem with alcohol. For those that are true social drinkers, the ability to stop drinking comes easy. For people who are addicted to alcohol, being able to stop is much more difficult. While you may not believe you have a problem with alcohol, it's time to ask yourself the following questions:

Do you get angry if your plans to go out drinking are suddenly changed? Have you driven while intoxicated? Do you try to quit drinking but start back up over time? Does your partner complain about your drinking habits? Do you black out when you drink alcohol?

If you are able to answer yes to any of the above questions, you probably have an issue with alcohol. When you make bad decisions because of your alcohol use or your relationships are struggling, it's time to evaluate your use of alcohol.

Pay Attention to Your Relapse Triggers

Once you complete treatment at a co-occurring diagnosis treatment center, it's time to focus on relapse prevention. While in residential treatment, you will learn about the triggers that lead to your alcohol or drug abuse. Your relapse triggers could be anything that brings on stress or makes you feel uncomfortable. For some people, it is the simple sound of a can opening, while others are triggered by being in social situations where there is drinking. When you are able to successfully identify your triggers, you can work to change how the triggers affect you. While you may be able to avoid some situations that are a trigger for you, learning new coping skills are going to help you overcome your relapse triggers.

When It's Time to Get the Treatment You Need

If you are suffering because of your addiction to drugs or alcohol, it's time to look for a treatment program that can help you get your life on track. Making the decision to go to treatment isn't always easy, but the right time is when you feel tired of living the life you are living because of addiction and you want to change. It's not easy to change, but it is worth the work you will put in to become free from your addiction. No matter where you are in life, reaching out for help is always the first step. You may never feel fully ready to seek treatment, but when you want to make changes in your life it's time to ask for help.

When Pain Medication Gets Abused

Prescription pain medication has led to many people becoming addicted to opiates. Individuals who start using pain medication as prescribed can find that it is very difficult to stop taking the medication. Problems begin when a person can't stop the medication, or they begin using more to achieve the same effects. Opiates are a dangerous medication, and treatment providers are learning that they aren't always effective at managing pain as they once thought. Prescribing laws have changed regarding opiates, but this doesn't mean that they aren't abused. For those addicted to opiates, heroin often becomes the drug of choice because it is cheaper and often easier to obtain. Prescription pain medication has caused an opioid crisis that must be addressed throughout the United States.

The Recovery Process from Detox to Aftercare

The recovery process starts with a detox center to withdraw from the drugs or alcohol you are addicted to. Your time in a detox will depend on your withdrawal symptoms and how easily your recover from the process. You can expect to spend at least a few days, up to a week or more in a supervised detox center to safely withdraw. Once detox is done, many people move to a short-term rehabilitation program for a few weeks to learn about addiction and recovery options.

Once you complete short-term rehabilitation, you might be ready to return home. If you have a supportive home environment, you can go to a day program for a structured environment and go back home at night. Intensive Outpatient Programs can give you the support you need to work on your recovery while having the freedom to return home each night.

If you don't feel safe at home, a long-term rehabilitation program will be right for you. In such a program, you will continue the work you began in detox. You can remain in the program for six months or more until you are ready to move forward.

Getting into Treatment Today

As a person struggling with addiction, you have choices. All that you need to do is reach out for help and you will be able to find a program that works for you. Treatment options are there, although you may have to travel a bit to find a program that meets your specific needs.