Millions of people throughout the nation are living with undiagnosed and untreated mental health disorders. Sadly, many of these same individuals are attempting to self-treat their psychological discomfort by using illicit substances, abusing prescription medications, or consuming copious amounts of alcohol. Not only is this type of self-treatment ineffective, but it also sets the stage for addiction. When either substance use disorder (SUD) or alcohol use disorder (AUD) simultaneously occur with an underlying mental health issue, this is known as having a co-occurring disorder. Fortunately, many Ohio rehab centers have the skills, tools, and professionals on hand to safely and effectively treat both issues at once.
For people with co-occurring disorders, unmanaged psychological pain is a major catalyst for substance abuse. Until their mental health conditions are under control, their risk of relapsing in recovery is always high. By offering dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders, Ohio rehab centers help their patients establish solid foundations for long-term success in recovery.
What Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment and What Does It Entail?
When people use drugs or alcohol to self-treat co-occurring mental health disorders, they often wind up making the symptoms of their ailments worse. For instance, although drinking alcohol might initially help someone deal with severe and persistent depression, alcohol itself is a depressant. Over time, continuing to consume alcohol will no longer provide any positive changes in mood or behavior, and it will eventually cause the individual’s depression to spiral out of control.
People who enter rehab with co-occurring disorders are often at their wit’s end. They’re no longer able to successfully self-treat their ailments and the symptoms of their underlying conditions have become incredibly intense.
Dual diagnosis treatment in Ohio rehab centers aims to address a vast range of common co-occurring disorders including:
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Panic disorder
- General anxiety disorder
- Persistent depressive disorder
- Major depressive disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Dual diagnosis treatment can also diagnosis and address all of the personality disorders currently recognized in the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V).
In rehab, dual diagnosis treatment can start as early as a patient’s arrival. When people check in to addiction treatment centers, they immediately receive comprehensive medical examinations and mental health assessments. Any anxiety, panic, depression, or other mental angst that they’re experiencing can be accounted for in their detox plans, and within any medical and mental health interventions that these plans include.
People with co-occurring disorders receive private counseling sessions throughout the duration of their addiction treatment. During these these visits, they may receive various forms of behavioral therapy such as:
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
When needed, dual diagnosis treatment can also include the ongoing use of medications such as:
- Anti-depressants
- Anti-psychotic medications
- Anti-anxiety medications
- Mood stabilizing drugs
For recovering addicts, the best strategies for managing co-occurring disorders are always multi-pronged. Although patients are heavily encouraged to continue using the medications that their doctors have prescribed, they are also advised to have other ways for managing and promoting their mental health. Thus, patients are given stress management training, training in distress tolerance, and instruction in good general self-care.
Treatment for co-occurring disorders can also occur in a group setting. Given the high prevalence of co-occurring disorders among those battling addiction, most patients within rehab programs have valuable experiences and insights to share. Talking about co-occurring disorders within group therapy sessions often leads to the discovery of innovative strategies for anger management, avoidance, and relapse prevention among other things.
It’s important to note that not all Ohio rehab programs offer dual diagnosis treatment. Some locations simply aren’t equipped to deal with the additional challenges and needs that co-occurring disorders entail. Thus, if you’ve been using drugs or alcohol as a means for self-treating mental or emotional anguish that has not been evaluated by a medical doctor, you should find a facility that provides this support. If you want help locating a rehab center in Ohio with a top-rated dual diagnosis program, give us a call now at 833-820-2922.