Tag Archives: Co-Occurring Disorders

How Does A Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program Work?

Mental illness in the U.S. is not as uncommon as you may think. According to data compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 42.5 million American adults (18.2 percent of the population) suffer from some form of mental health issue, which includes depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. SAMHSA compiled data which found that 6.8 million adults had a substance abuse disorder and a mental illness in 2011. Dual diagnosis treatment for a person in this situation must be performed by experts who have experience in this field, like us here at New Beginnings Recovery.

What Is A Dual Diagnosis?

Healing Through Dual Diagnosis Treatment - NewBeginningsRecoveryCenterA client is considered to have a dual diagnosis if he or she has a diagnosable mental illness as well as an addiction. Drug and alcohol issues occur together frequently, and tend to occur in clients who also have:

How Does A Dual Diagnosis Begin?

In some instances, the symptoms of the mental illness occur first. A person may start using drugs or alcohol because these substances help them feel better, temporarily. For other people, the substance abuse comes first. Over time, it can lead to emotional and mental problems.

How Is A Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program Structured?

Treating the addiction only, without addressing the mental health issue doesn’t get to the root of deeper issues and increases the chances of relapse.

Our dual diagnosis treatment is structured so that both conditions are dealt with concurrently, so that our clients can completely heal.

The first step is for a client to stop using drugs and/or alcohol (we help our clients safely and comfortably detox). While the addiction is active/ongoing, it’s difficult to make a clear diagnosis of the mental illness and to offer appropriate treatment for a client. Once a client is sober, the mental health issues can be addressed appropriately.

Outpatient Addiction And Mental Health Services

At New Beginnings Recovery Center, we offer outpatient addiction and mental health services. This treatment model was developed for clients who are interested in receiving dual diagnosis treatment but have work, school and/or family obligations. Our professional and caring mental health staff provides counseling and treatment on an individual basis

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Co-Occurring Disorders: Which Came First For You, Mental Illness Or Addiction?

People who have substance abuse issues are at higher risk of developing a mental health issue, and a significant number of people living with mental health concerns also struggle with addictions. When a person has a mental illness and an addiction, it is referred to as the client having a co-occurring disorder or dual-diagnosis.

When Mental Illness Symptoms Appear First

Which Came First For You, Mental Illness Or Addiction - NewBeginningsIn some situations, a person will develop symptoms of a mental illness and start using drugs and/or alcohol as a way to try to manage their symptoms. This type of self-medication may help to make them feel better temporarily, but it does nothing to treat the underlying illness.

A person who feels anxious may be drawn toward a downer like opiates or alcohol, since they have a sedating effect. Someone who is depressed may start using cocaine or amphetamines to boost his or her mood.

The substances may help the person to feel “better” for a time, but then end up making them feel worse and more anxious or depressed. Once he or she develops a tolerance for the substance, the problem becomes having to take more and more of the substance to get the desired effect. Drugs and alcohol can also interfere with the way the brain chemistry works and only ends up compounding a mental health concern.

When The Addiction Develops First

It is possible for some people to develop symptoms of a mental illness only after they start using drugs or alcohol. For example, chemical changes can occur in the brain in people who use. These changes could lead to episodes of a mental health issue that can last long after one stops using. Drugs and alcohol can also bring an underlying mental illness to the surface in some people.

The Right Help For Co-Occurring Disorders

No matter which came first for you, the mental illness or the addiction, a person living with co-occurring disorders needs expert treatment if he or she is going to move forward into a life of sobriety.

Here at New Beginnings Recovery Center, we offer top-notch mental health services including:

  • Co-Occurring Disorders Services
  • Psychiatric Services
  • Mental Health Counseling Services

Our caring, professional psychiatric and mental health team will perform a detailed evaluation to get an accurate diagnosis. We offer individualized treatment plans for each of our clients that includes group and individual one-on-one treatment sessions.

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How To Care For Your Recovery During Mental Wellness Month

January is Mental Wellness Month, and there is no better time than the present to start taking better care of your health. Developing a positive attitude is one of the foundations for a healthy life. Anyone can start to develop an “attitude of gratitude” for the things that are going well in their life, and for the positive, smaller, everyday things.

Seeking Help For A Mental Illness And Drug Addiction

How To Care For Your Recovery During Mental Wellness Month For clients who are seeking treatment for an addiction to drugs or alcohol, the idea of being good to themselves is even more important this January. Since many addicts have a long-established pattern of abuse that likely damaged their personal relationships as well as their self-esteem, seeking mental health services should be part of the overall treatment plan.

It doesn’t make sense to dwell on the past and hold onto old resentments, since no one can go back and change these events. If a client is diagnosed with a mental health concern as well as an addiction, dual diagnosis treatment is the right approach to address both. Trained professionals will be able to properly evaluate a person’s condition to determine the right way to approach the mental health issue as well as the addiction.

Tips For Developing Good Health Habits For A Positive Recovery

Often someone who has been abusing drugs and/or alcohol has been neglecting his or her physical health in favor of supporting his or her disease. Mental Wellness Month is a great time to decide to make the positive changes that will help to support the physical body as a person moves into a new life of sobriety.

  • Eating a balanced diet. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, good sources of fiber, and lean sources of protein can form a foundation for better health for people in recovery. Avoiding junk food should be on the list of rules to live by, since empty calories do not provide any lasting nourishment-which is very important to those in recovery.
  • Regular exercise not only provides a boost of energy, but is also a natural antidepressant. Going for a short walk on a regular basis can help to deal with stress and may be a valuable tool to fight off the urge to start using again.
  • Be sure to get enough sleep. People who are sleep-deprived have a much lower tolerance for stress, which can lead to a variety of poor choices.

If you are feeling that things are getting away from you, whether you are in recovery or not, ask for help. Part of looking after your mental health is being proactive about calling in experts when you need them. To get addiction help, contact New Beginnings Recovery Center today at 888-840-5189 to help you look after yourself well through 2014.

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