You may be wondering what dual diagnosis treatment is. Dual diagnosis treatment focuses on treating both the underlying cause of the addiction, which is often a mood disorder or mental health illness, as well as treating the addiction. The addiction may be to alcohol, drugs, or other substances of abuse. As many as 50 percent of those who suffer from addiction will also have a mental illness as well which is a contributing factor as to why they abused substances in the first place. In order to successfully overcome both the mental illness and the addiction, treatment at a dual diagnosis treatment facility is necessary.

After a comprehensive patient evaluation is conducted by a treatment advisor at the dual diagnosis center, a treatment plan and a prognosis can be made. This will help to lay a foundation for a treatment plan that can help you manage and overcome your struggles. It's important that the program in which aids in your recovery is designed uniquely for you so that you can have exactly what you need to make a full rebound from your struggles.

Dual diagnosis treatment facilities encompass a roster of professional therapists, counselors, and psychiatrists who work with patients in order to identify and tackle any psychological issues that may be present. By uncovering, locating, and treating any sort of mental health issue, the foundation of the addiction can be treated.

There are many types of mental illnesses and mood disorders that can be responsible for drug or alcohol addiction. Some of these are:

* Anxiety/panic attacks

* Depression

* ADHA

* Bipolar Disorder

* Dementia

* Schizophrenia

* Obsessive

* Compulsive Disorder

* PTSD

* Personality Disorders

* And more

It's important that if you feel as though you may be suffering from one of the above mentioned mental illnesses, that you seek help immediately from a dual diagnosis treatment facility, especially if you are also experimenting with drugs or alcohol. This is a very toxic combination and can result in harm to both you and those around you. You must get professional help for both of your disorders in order to help manage your everyday.

There is Hope and Help

It's important to understand that there are many dual diagnosis treatment facilities that are ready and able to help you tackle your mood disorder and addiction. You may be wondering why or how you came to where you are now; using drugs as a means to self-medicate although you may feel as though it is the wrong thing to do but you cannot help it. The professionals at the number of dual diagnosis treatment facilities can help you understand why and how this vicious cycle has happened so that you can begin to work toward treating it.

It is very important that the mood and mental disorder be treated as treating simply the addiction will not aid in the recovery of the mental illness. By taking the proper steps toward overcoming both of these disorders with success, patients can begin to live more constructive and productive lives that are no longer controlled by mental illness and addiction. When both of these major illness are treatment, patients can return to living normal lives which will be a feeling of pure happiness. Although the process is not instantaneous, over time, recovery is possible and the management of both disorders is possible.

What to Expect From Treatment

It's understandable that you may have anxious feelings about entering a dual diagnosis treatment facility and this is completely normal. Patients who attend treatment will first meet with several doctors in order for them to learn more about you as an individual and what sorts of illness you are suffering from. This will lay a detailed backdrop so that a treatment plan can be constructed. Dual diagnosis treatment facilities may use treatment methods such as counseling, and psychotherapy as well as support groups and individual counseling. Treatment for your drug or alcohol addiction may include attending AA groups, NA groups, 12-step meetings, and one-on-one counseling sessions.

Treatment will help you cope with any sort of mental illnesses that you may be struggling with and bring them to the forefront. Depending on the severity of both your mental and mood disorder as well as your addiction, inpatient treatment may be required. This sort of treatment involves the patient residing at the center of treatment for up to 90 days. During this time, they will endure intense treatment of various types in order to help them make a full recovery from addiction. In some cases, prescription medication may be prescribed to those who require it in order to manage their mental health disorder, depending on the severity of it. Sometimes, patients will have to attend outpatient treatment for their dual diagnosis treatment in where they will attend treatment for their mood disorder during the day and be able to go back home for the evening. This pattern of day treatment and care will go on for anywhere between 30 days to 90 days.

Dual diagnosis treatment is treated in a number of stages. Typically, the first stage will be detox in order to rid the body of any sort of toxic substances that are in the body. This process is under 24/7 care and can take up to one week to complete. After this, an addiction advisor will decide whether inpatient treatment is required or if outpatient treatment is required. Psychotherapy, medications, as well as group support therapy, are also integral parts of the treatment for dual diagnosis.

Dual diagnosis treatment is also considered a co-occurring disorder which affects nearly 8.9 million Americans across the nation every single year. The unfortunate thing is that many of these individuals fail to seek help at one of the dual diagnosis treatment facilities that are located throughout the country. You must get professional help for mental and mood disorders as they will not simply vanish on their own.

Oftentimes, mental illness will lead a person to substance abuse and addiction by virtue of the chemical makeup of the individual's brain. In some cases, the mental illness is present first, followed by the addiction and in other cases, the addiction is present first and the mental disorder follows. Some drugs are proven to induce mental disorders which become present after a prolonged time of abusing them. Through behavioral therapy, medication, and various support groups, those who are struggling can overcome these disorders.

Why are Mood Disorders Treated Differently?

There are several reasons as to why mood disorders are treated differently than substance abuse and addiction disorders. Many times, treatment will depend on factors such as genetics, how the brain responds, various triggers, and whether or not the patient was exposed to substances or trauma at a young age. Whatever the case may be, a tailor-made and individualized treatment program can help tackle both the mental illness and the addiction.

There are several warning signs that one may be suffering from a mood disorder and may have to seek help at a dual diagnosis treatment facility. Some of these include a sudden change in behavior, neglecting obligations such as work or school, and having trouble managing finances. If this sounds like you or someone close to you, treatment is needed in order to manage these mental disorders. Through therapy, patients can learn how to manage and overcome triggers that may influence them to use post-treatment. It's important to remember that recovery can last a lifetime and even though you may complete a treatment program, it's vital that you continue in your journey of recovery continuously.

A large issue with dual diagnosis treatment is that many people try to treat themselves by self-medicating with alcohol or drugs. This will not work as it takes the proper combination of prescriptions drugs to manage the mental disorder and treatment in order to overcome both issues. Integrated intervention, as dual diagnosis is referred to as, addresses both disorders so that the patient can get to a point of normalness.

Psychiatric and mood disorders are inherently dangerous to live with let alone having a substance abuse or addiction as well. By tackling both of these, individuals will be able to continue in building a life for themselves that they have always wanted. Without the proper treatment, patients will continue down a very dangerous and unknown path. This is risky and is a chance that no one should take.

Getting the Necessary Help

It takes courage to understand and admit that you have a problem. Although this is not easy, it is the largest and most important part of the recovery process. Dual diagnosis treatment will help you regain control of your life so that you can begin to live a life that you've always wanted for yourself. It's time to get help at a dual diagnosis treatment facility today. If you or someone close to you is struggling with managing their moods as well as addiction, it's time to get the necessary help. Not getting the appropriate help will lead you down a road that is not promising.