Dual Diagnosis in South Texas, TX

Drug and alcohol addictions do not occur in isolation from other health problems and conditions. However, an addiction often becomes the central focus for the person with the addiction as well as the other people in their lives. The problem with this is that there may be other health issues going on that go unnoticed or untreated. And this, in turn, can prevent drug and alcohol addiction treatment from being as effective as it should be. If you are one of the more than 22 million people in the United States today that are suffering from drug and alcohol addictions, it is exceptionally important that you get to know more about dual diagnosis in South Texas as well as the importance of dual diagnosis treatment programs in general. Only then, can you know with any certainty whether you are in need of the care and assistance available to you through the help of a dual diagnosis treatment center is you do indeed have a dual diagnosis in South Texas.

When a physician or mental health professional uses the term dual diagnosis, it is a blanket term that applies to a person that is suffering from two health conditions at the same time. However, in terms of addiction specifically, dual diagnosis refers to a person suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction as well as another mental health condition.

While this may seem like a strange concept to you now, you will soon come to find that a great many people afflicted by drug or alcohol addictions also have some type of mental health condition. Though not everyone develops or has the same mental health issues along with addiction, dual diagnosis in South Texas is quite common and dual diagnosis treatment programs are becoming more and more popular to help people deal with those issues.

Many people that actually do have a dual diagnosis for addiction or that should have a dual diagnosis, are not aware of the fact. This is why honesty during any intake interviews for addiction treatment is important. These intake interviews and questionnaires/paperwork can help to reveal whether you are also struggling unknowingly with a mental health condition that needs to be addressed when you are going through your addiction treatment in South Texas.

Types of Mental Health Disorders (bipolar, high-anxiety, schizophrenia, OCD, depression, PTSD, etc.)

The number of mental health disorders that a person can suffer from is so astronomical that it literally fills a manual for mental health professionals (the DSM-5 is nearly 1,000 pages in length). However, when it comes to dual diagnosis treatment programs, there are some types of mental health disorders that are more commonly seen that others. And it is important to keep in mind, that mental health disorders and addictions can occur simultaneously but without one causing the other. Alternatively, a mental health disorder can lead to the development of an addiction or vice versa. Some of the most commonly treated mental health disorders in a dual diagnosis treatment center include:

PTSD

PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is one of the mental health disorders that often occurs alongside an addiction. This mental health issue stems from a trauma that a person experiences. There are many different types of traumas that can cause PTSD. It is commonly seen in combat veterans who have fought in warzones but can also occur with men and women that were abused as children or have been the victims of domestic abuse. People who have witnessed crimes, accidents, war, or who have been sexually assaulted may also experience PTSD. PTSD can occur because of an addiction (i.e. a woman gets sexually assaulted while under the influence of drugs and develops PTSD as a result) or may precede the addiction and cause a person to try to self-medicate (a combat veteran that abuses alcohol to try to numb their pain).

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is one of those mental health disorders that is often referenced and joked about but less often truly understood. This condition is also commonly referred to as manic depression and is characterized by extreme shifts in mood, from what is known as a manic state and what is known as a depressive state. In a manic state, the person is overly active, hyper, may have trouble sleeping and insomnia, delusions, and paranoia. In a depressive state, they may be extremely lethargic, sad, hopeless, and lose interest in people and activities that are important to them. Because bipolar disorder is such a painful rollercoaster ride for the person experiencing it, they may begin to abuse drugs or alcohol to try to block out their thoughts and feelings and try to cope with the extreme mood swings. Additionally, manic depression can develop when a person has become addicted to amphetamines (like Adderall, speed, or meth) or if they are addicted to sedatives (Xanax, alcohol, or other benzodiazepines).

Why Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment Necessary? What are the Benefits?

Dual diagnosis treatment programs are vitally important to any person that has a mental health disorder as well as a drug or alcohol addiction. Mental health disorders and addictions are closely linked. They both have a significant impact on a person's brain chemistry, throwing it out of balance and making it difficult for the brain and therefore, the body, to function properly.

Treating just one of these conditions will leave the person's brain chemistry out of balance and make it more likely that the person will relapse after the treatment for one condition is complete. In a dual diagnosis treatment center, on the other hand, both conditions will be addressed through individual and group therapy as well as expressive and other therapies to help the person recover from both conditions simultaneously. This is the only way to truly give yourself a chance at a relapse-free recovery if you do in fact have a dual diagnosis in South Texas Alcohol Rehab Centers. Call now for help (877) 804-1531.