Many people who suffer from drug addiction also suffer from a co-existing illness that affects their mental state – such as depression, bipolar disorder, mood disorder, anxiety, and many more. Some individuals may not even realize their underlying mental health disorder could be a large driving force to their substance use. If a person is searching for treatment and has co-occurring diseases, seeking out a dual diagnosis treatment facility – a facility that can focus on and treat both the mental and substance use disorders – could be the most successful path for recovery.

Dual diagnosis treatment focuses on the patient’s drug or alcohol addiction while also addressing the underlying mental health aspects that are operating in conjunction with the addiction. By attending a dual diagnosis treatment center like Lakeview Health, an individual can recover from both illnesses simultaneously.

How Do I Identify the Symptoms of a Dual Diagnosis?

There are many indications that an individual has one or more mental health issues underpinning their addiction issues. If you are worried that you may have a condition that merits a dual diagnosis, the following are some of the questions that you can ask yourself:

• Am I relying on drugs and alcohol to feel normal? Sometimes the substances we use are less of a way to escape the world or feel euphoric, and more a way to feel like ourselves. If this sounds like you, you may have an underlying mental issue that is driving your addiction.
• Do I have a history of mental illness in my family? Finding a genetic cause for mental illness is a complicated task. Multiple studies indicate, however, that the children of mentally ill parents are more likely to suffer from mental illness themselves. Common conditions include anxiety and depression, as well as trauma and PTSD.
• Have you been suffering from mood swings? When someone with a dual diagnosis adjusts the amount of a substance they are using, it often aggravates their underlying mental condition. If your mood has been erratic, especially when you have tried to cut back on the substance, you may need dual diagnosis treatment.
• Do you have trouble handling the responsibilities that seem to be no problem for the other people in your life? Patients with a dual diagnosis often have difficulty managing the responsibilities of work and family, as well as social obligations.

There are undoubtedly other behaviors that might go on this list. But if the above sounds like you or someone you care about, you should consider reaching out to a treatment center like Lakeview Health.

Help at Lakeview Health

A quality dual diagnosis treatment center like Lakeview Health will have certified addiction professionals with experience treating individuals who are dually diagnosed. When treating dually diagnosed patients, we must address both the disease of addiction and a person’s mental illness at the same time. Each condition needs an independent treatment plan that works in conjunction with the other in order to achieve long-term sobriety. Having to cope with alcohol and drug addiction is never easy, but dealing with a co-occurring disorder can be infinitely more difficult.

There is still hope – by getting the proper treatment through a dual diagnosis treatment center, it is possible to recover from the addiction while learning proper tools to manage the mental illness. A dual diagnosis treatment center provides the help, guidance, and support that are essential to recovering from the two simultaneously occurring conditions. Contact Lakeview Health online for more information about dual diagnosis treatment.