4 Signs You Need Dual Diagnosis Treatment

If you struggle with substance dependency and mental illness, or if someone you love does, a dual diagnosis treatment program may be the right choice.

Substance abuse and mental health conditions frequently go hand in hand. Sometimes one condition can cause or worsen the other. For instance, someone might start drinking excessively or using addictive drugs to handle depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress.

Our dual diagnosis treatment centers in West Virginia and Delaware address both substance use and mental illness, treating both conditions as clients work toward total recovery.

What Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?

When a client has two conditions occurring at the same time — excessive substance use and a diagnosed mental illness — their diagnosis is considered “dual.”

Our dual diagnosis treatment center in West Virginia gives clients a full range of support by treating both conditions as equally important. If mental health issues are ignored, clients have a higher risk of relapse even if they’ve received substance abuse treatment. Similarly, mental health treatment won’t be as effective if alcohol or drug abuse continues.

Here’s what to expect when you begin a dual diagnosis treatment program at our center:

We use an integrated intervention approach combining medical care and detoxification with psychological support.
Clients may receive supervised doses of medication as needed to treat symptoms of mental illness and to help curb substance cravings.
They’ll also participate in individual and group therapy sessions.
The goal is to avoid relapse, manage symptoms, and work towards a healthy life in recovery.

Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment Right for You?

How do you know if a dual diagnosis treatment center is right for you or your loved one? Here are some signs you may need to look out for.

1. You Use Substances to Escape Stress and Anxiety

Do you frequently find yourself reaching for substances to calm anxious, scared, or depressed feelings or to cope with a tough situation? You may be developing an unhealthy coping mechanism, sometimes known as “self-medicating.”

While substances might provide temporary relief from unwanted stress, they can become addictive and ultimately make mental health conditions worse.

Dual diagnosis treatment programs can help unpack the root causes of your anxiety and fear. Professional counseling gives you the chance to practice coping mechanisms that offer permanent, not temporary, benefit and healing.

If medication is part of your recovery plan, you’ll be supervised by trained professionals as you find a medicine and dosage that works.

2. You Have a Family History of Mental Illness

Mental health conditions tend to have a genetic component. A family history of diagnosed mental illness or related symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll develop a disorder. It does, however, indicate you’re at higher risk.

Even if you don’t inherit a biological condition, children sometimes learn unhealthy behavior patterns and ineffective coping skills from parents or guardians who have a mental health condition.

With dual diagnosis treatment, clients can achieve success breaking this cycle and learning new behavior patterns that will help them in the long term. Techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) encourage clients to reframe their thinking and develop healthy responses to stressful events.

3. Quitting Substances Makes You Feel Hopeless

Withdrawal symptoms, including distress and discomfort, are normal when you try to quit or cut back on addictive substance use.

But when this distress gets out of hand — for instance, if you feel hopeless, suicidal, angry, or violent without alcohol or drugs — it’s time to address both your mental health and substance use with a professional.

Our inpatient rehabilitation programs provide 24-hour support for clients who need a higher level of care. As you transition into a dual diagnosis treatment program, you’ll have a safe space to process the complex emotions of recovery.

4. You’ve Survived Trauma

People who experience trauma, whether they survive a single traumatic event or have a longer history, are particularly vulnerable to co-occurring mental health or substance use disorders.

Dual diagnosis treatment accommodates clients with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and others with trauma in their past and present. Trained doctors and therapists approach your treatment with compassion, and group therapy provides an extra level of support and encouragement.

Lotus Recovery Centers Can Help

At our dual diagnosis treatment centers, we recognize the uniqueness of every client’s needs. Whether you’re entering our depression treatment program or seeking help for another mental health diagnosis, our team will work with you to achieve sobriety and healing.

We offer multiple forms of counseling, including: