Overlapping mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs) are very common. Co-occurring disorders are best addressed in a dual diagnosis treatment center. You will receive evidence-based therapies from clinicians with training and experience using a coordinated approach to treat both disorders together. To learn about recognizing co-occurring conditions and what dual diagnosis treatment is like, reach out to Insight Recovery Center in Ashville.
The signs of co-occurring disorders can vary from person to person, but there are certain symptoms to look out for. Let the staff at Insight Recovery Center help you sort through your concerns about yourself or someone you care about. We can provide information about how to address co-occurring disorders in our dual diagnosis treatment center. To connect with us, simply call 828.826.1376.
Why Do Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Commonly Co-Occur?
The interconnections between mental health and substance misuse are many. Nearly half of those with a serious mental health condition also have a substance use disorder. Why are co-occurring disorders so prevalent?
- People with a mental health condition, whether diagnosed or not, will turn to substances to self-medicate their symptoms. For example, muting anxiety, quieting flashbacks, or temporarily lifting a depressed mood.
- Mental illness and addiction often share common ground as they can both be the result of severe or repeated trauma, brain defects, or genetics. A combination of any of those three will increase the risk of having two disorders, both mental health and substance use.
- Underlying mental health conditions that have been dormant can be triggered by substance abuse and addiction, resulting in co-occurring disorders that must be treated together.
If you are struggling with substance misuse, ask yourself if you are using drugs or alcohol to cope with difficult or painful emotions or if you are seeking to make sense of psychological struggles you don’t completely understand.
Commonly Co-Occurring Disorders
Addiction and mental illness are both chronic brain disorders that typically must be professionally managed throughout life. The overlap between the two is significant. Some of the mental health diagnoses that most often co-occur with an SUD are:
- Personality disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression disorders
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
If you or someone you care about has symptoms of any of the above mental health conditions and a history of substance abuse, seek help soon.
Recognizing Co-Occurring Conditions
There is no one way that co-occurring disorders manifest since signs and symptoms vary based on the substances being misused and the specific mental health condition. With an understanding that depression combined with meth abuse will look different from PTSD combined with alcohol abuse, there are some common signs of co-occurring disorders to watch for. Properly recognizing these signs is necessary to receive the proper dual diagnosis treatment that will address both disorders at the same time.
Some signs of co-occurring disorders include:
- Impulsive behavior
- Risk-taking
- Self-imposed isolation
- Poor concentration
- Mood swings
- Cognitive confusion
- Using substances despite the harm it causes
- Cravings and signs of withdrawal when the substance is withheld or not available
- Suicidal thoughts
Receiving the proper diagnosis is critical because it is easy to confuse mental health symptoms for addiction and overlook the dual nature of the problem. Without addressing the mental health aspects of a co-occurring disorder, recovery outcomes are less secure because the chance of relapse due to an untreated mental health condition is high.
Get Help With Dual Diagnosis Treatment – Call Insight Recovery Center Today
Insight Recovery Center provides wrap-around mental health and addiction treatment in our dual diagnosis program. We are ready to help you achieve a healthy recovery by coordinating a plan specifically tailored to your needs and circumstances. Reach out to learn how our dual diagnosis treatment best serves the needs of those with co-occurring disorders.
We are standing by—call us at 828.826.1376 or reach out online to connect.