Addiction rehab centers have adapted their treatment programs to the most recent scientific research, a body of research that shows a close link between mental illness and drug addiction. Where there is one, about 50% of the time, you’ll find the other. Bipolar disorder is a very good example of the type of mental illness that often accompanies substance abuse disorders.
Bipolar disorder is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions in people who present with substance abuse disorders. The extreme ups and downs of bipolar disorder often cause patients to self-medicate to deal with those extreme mood swings and conditions. When someone with a mental health condition uses drugs or alcohol to cope with the symptoms of that illness, it’s called self-medicating. Substance abuse sufferers frequently self-medicate when they’re confronted with an untreated mental illness. The substance abuse somewhat dims the severely uncomfortable feeling that comes with the mental illness itself, but over time, the substance abuse condition becomes a problem entirely unto itself. When a person finally seeks treatment, they wonder if the substance abuse rehab center can also treat the mental illness.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
The majority of addiction rehab centers have stepped in with treatment procedures that address both the substance abuse disorder and the mental health condition. This is called dual diagnosis. While some people enter treatment already knowing that they suffer from bipolar disorder and need their medications and counseling while also receiving the benefits of inpatient drug rehab. Dual diagnosis treatment is usually standard in modern rehabs in all areas of the country, although every detox and treatment center uses its own approach to rehabilitation.
When you first enter rehab, it’s likely that you’ll experience symptoms of both bipolar disorder and substance abuse withdrawal at the same time, one of the reasons it’s so vital to get help in an inpatient center if your symptoms are very severe. Someone who is suffering from untreated bipolar disorder may have more severe withdrawal symptoms, especially psychological symptoms of withdrawal that are so pronounced in the first week or more of recovery. A few of the symptoms of drug withdrawal include:
- Mental fog
- Chills
- Sweating
- Anxiety
Dual Treatment Approaches
If you’re being treated only for drug withdrawal and the symptoms of drug addiction, it’s likely that your therapists and healthcare professionals will always keep a watchful eye on the symptoms of mental illness as well. Scientists have discovered that the strong link between mental illness and substance abuse disorder makes it crucial to keep a watchful eye out for symptoms of both of these ailments. If your healthcare providers suspect that you might suffer from bipolar disorder as well, they are able to provide medication and counseling for this problem as well.
Having two problems at once is never a pleasant situation, but when you are in the care of a compassionate, knowledgeable facility, you can get help much more easily than you can try to work through the problem on your own. While you go through drug rehabilitation programs, you’ll find that you’re able to talk to your counselors and healthcare workers about both problems. People with dual diagnosis situations are obviously going to have a greater variety of issues to address in therapy and in group meetings. Knowing that you’re supported in both recoveries is going to give you much greater peace of mind, and it’s going to allow your healthcare providers to give you a higher level of care. If you have already been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it’s vital that you tell your counselors and other professionals about your diagnosis so that they can treat both conditions at once.
It will make for a higher quality recovery for you. If you need dual diagnosis care, we can help. Our licensed, certified counselors are compassionate and knowledgeable in the science of dual diagnosis and treatment. When you’re ready to get help, you can call us at 800-411-8019. Inpatient treatment may be the best option for a patient who is suffering from both substance abuse and bipolar disorder. Instead of going it alone, you can always reach out to our helpful and caring professionals.