Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Denton, TX

A dual diagnosis is a medical disorder that encompasses two conditions: a substance abuse problem and a mental health disorder. This condition is very common, yet was historically under-recognized and under-treated by the medical community for many years. As more research has become available, treatment professionals now know treating both conditions simultaneously is associated with the best possible outcomes. Fortunately, dual diagnosis treatment in Denton focuses on treating both conditions that a person struggles with.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an estimated 33 percent of all people with a mental illness also suffer from substance abuse. This number goes up when severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, is a factor. Some groups of people are at greater risk for a dual diagnosis, including men, military veterans, those of socioeconomic status, and people with multiple chronic illnesses.

Dual Diagnosis and Addiction -- Why The Two Go Hand-in-Hand

A dual diagnosis can occur for many reasons. For example, a person may have a mental illness, and start abusing drugs and/or alcohol as a means of self-medication. They may not have access to medical care or may be unaware that prescription medications could treat their problem. As a result, they may use medications as a means to reduce or mask their symptoms. However, this is an ineffective treatment because it does not address the underlying illness. Also, abusing a substance or substances with a mental illness will likely eventually worsen the symptoms associated with the mental illness.

For others, a person may start abusing a substance and experience symptoms associated with mental illness. They may start to feel depressed or anxious due to the effects the drugs or alcohol have on them. Because drugs are by definition mood-altering substances, the mental health effects can be profound. According to NAMI, an estimated one-third of all people who abuse alcohol and one-half of all people who use illegal drugs struggle with mental illness. A dual diagnosis treatment center can help a person receive services, regardless of the drugs abused and mental illnesses experienced.

Dual diagnosis treatment in Denton often begins with medical detox in Denton. The person must stop using drugs altogether. They will likely experience symptoms that can worsen the effects of their mental illness. Some patients may even experience suicidal thoughts due to the withdrawals. This is why detoxification at a dual diagnosis treatment center is the safest approach to treatment because medical professionals are available 24 hours a day to support the person going through detoxification. While outpatient treatment is often available, NAMI does not recommend it for those with a dual diagnosis.

Those seeking dual diagnosis rehab may choose inpatient rehabilitation as a step after detox. This approach allows a person struggling with dual diagnosis to receive further counseling and participate in group therapies while they begin taking medications that will treat their mental illness. Through dual diagnosis treatment programs in Denton, over time they can start to lessen the symptoms associated with their mental illness.

Types of Mental Health Disorders

Dual diagnosis is a broad category because it encompasses many illnesses as well as substances abused. Even if a person's symptoms are mild, it is no less important they receive dual diagnosis treatment in Denton. Examples of mental illnesses that may affect a person struggling with dual diagnosis include:

• Bipolar disorder: This condition occurs when a person struggles with depression and mania, a condition that causes a highly elevated mood.

• Schizophrenia: This severe mental illness causes a person to experience psychosis, or loss of touch with reality. A person will hallucinate by hearing, seeing, and/or smelling things that aren't there. They may hear voices that tell them do things they otherwise wouldn't do.

• Panic disorder: Panic disorder and extreme anxiety cause an unnatural and elevated sense of fear. A person may experience panic so severe they have panic attacks, where they feel they cannot breathe and may experience chest pain.

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): This condition occurs when a person becomes fixated on certain thoughts or behaviors. They may have to have order or repeat behaviors, such as hand-washing. Otherwise, they will experience a strong sense of panic and anxiety.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): This condition occurs after a person has experienced a traumatic event, such as a military battle or surviving a natural disaster. This condition can cause a variety of emotions, from anxiety to depression.

When a person struggles with dual diagnosis, they should choose a dual diagnosis treatment center that is specific to their needs and that treats both conditions, not just substance abuse addiction individually. Call us now at (877) 804-1531.