Bayonne Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Substance abuse and addiction in itself is a chronic brain disease. Unfortunately, there are cases where people have co-occurring mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders. This is known as dual diagnosis. Approximately one in every three individuals living with a mental illness also suffers from a substance abuse problem. About half of all men and women with an alcohol or drug dependence also suffer from at least one mental health problem as well. The most common mental health issues related to dual diagnosis are depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and other personality disorders. These particular mental health disorders affect approximately 1 in 4 adults in the United States. If you or a loved one are in need of mental health and addiction treatment, know you are not alone. Treatment for dual diagnosis is more multifaceted, but with the proper medical intervention and recovery tools, recovery is in sight. Call Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers Bayonne for more information about treatment options. (877) 804-1531

Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia

About a quarter of the population is affected by a type of mental health illness, with depression and anxiety being the most common. It is normal for people to experience waves of depression or anxiety from time to time, but someone with a diagnosable mental illness experiences emotional challenges for consistent, prolonged periods of time due to a chemical imbalance. Someone who is clinically depressed suffers from such intense feelings of sadness, that functioning normally seems like an unobtainable goal.

Anxiety is the second most common mental health illness. Most of the population experiences spells of anxiety at times; this is usually a reaction to a stressful or frightening situation. When anxiety symptoms escalate into panic attacks, and this intense feeling of panic is not proportional, or unrelated to the true situation at hand, it may be an anxiety disorder.

Schizophrenia affects less than 2% of the population, but it is a serious brain disorder, and the most disabling of the major mental illnesses. People with schizophrenia have a completely distorted perception of reality. It can affect the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions and relates to others. If left untreated, this disease can cause sudden changes in personality or behavior. The individual loses touch with reality altogether.

Relationship between Substance Abuse and Mental Illness

Dual diagnosis may be a co-occurring disorder, but the close link between mental health disorders and substance abuse does not necessarily mean they are connected in any particular way. One does not directly cause the other. There are multiple ways to explain the links between the illnesses.

Alcohol or drugs can be used as a form of self-medication to manage thoughts of depression, anxiety, or mania.

Drug and alcohol abuse can increase an underlying risk for mental illness.

Substance abuse has the ability to make preexisting mental health problems worse.

Both those who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction and mental health illness have been known to complicate the issues through denial. Therefore, it can be difficult to diagnose a co-occurring substance abuse problem and mental illness. Admitting there is a problem is the first step to getting help.

Treatment Methods

When looking for a dual diagnosis treatment program you will find that medical professionals will recommend a variety of different treatment options due to the complexity of the illness. Every patient will need a program unique to their specific needs. The circumstances surrounding the addiction determine what needs to be treated first. The most common form of treatment for dual diagnosis is cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on observing the relationships between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It teaches you how to adjust your thoughts and behaviors depending on your particular condition. This form of rehab and mental health therapy also incorporates group therapy sessions, so patients are able to share experiences of their diagnosis and interact with others using behavioral management techniques. This is an additional form of therapy that focuses on the emotional challenges in regards to substance abuse. With these techniques, Bayonne drug rehab treatment centers explore your patterns of thinking in order to modify these thought patterns, improve coping, and prevent relapse. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a problem focused, goal oriented, active intervention, and it can change the lives of those who are committed to ending a life of mental and physical self-destruction.

If you or a loved one is suffering from substance abuse, coupled with a mental illness, call Bayonne Drug Rehab at (877) 804-1531 today to learn more about available dual diagnosis treatment programs.