Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Martins Ferry, OH
A dual diagnosis is a medical condition that occurs when a person suffers from both a substance abuse addiction and a mental illness. Examples of dual diagnoses could be, depression and alcohol abuse, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and benzodiazepine abuse. When a person has this medical condition, dual diagnosis treatment in Martins Ferry can help.
A dual diagnosis is a common occurrence. However, as little as one to two decades ago, drug rehabilitation treatment focused solely on stopping the abuse of drugs and alcohol, but not taking into consideration how a person's mental illness and overall health may affect their recovery. Having a dual diagnosis presents unique needs and opportunities for treatment programs in Martins Ferry. For example, dual diagnosis treatment centers often have to treat a person for a longer amount of time than usual because a dual diagnosis may require a bit more treatment in order to ensure a person's mental health is stable enough to return home.
Dual Diagnosis and Addiction -- Why the Two Go Hand-in-Hand
Mental health experts do not always know which came first, a mental illness or the substance abuse problem. Sometimes a person with a mental illness may experience symptoms they "self-medicate" by using illegal drugs and/or alcohol. An example is abusing Xanax, a benzodiazepine, when a person has high levels of anxiety. Other times, chronic substance abuse can trigger a mental illness. Examples include drinking alcohol, which is known to trigger anxiety and/or depression. Regardless of the combination of drugs and mental illness, using drugs will not improve a person's mental illness symptoms and will often worsen them.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an estimated 33 percent of people with any type of mental illness have a dual diagnosis. This number increases to one-half for those who have a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. Some patient populations are also more prone to dual diagnosis than others. Men are more likely than women to have a dual diagnosis, according to NAMI. Those of lower socioeconomic statuses, military veterans, or those with a chronic illness are also more likely to need dual diagnosis treatment in Martins Ferry. Whatever the potential cause and/or effect, a person can benefit from dual diagnosis rehab.
Types of Mental Health Disorders
There are a number of mental health disorders, and they can range in severity. Each may be impacted by substance abuse. Examples of these mental health disorders include:
- Bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder is a severe mental illness that results when a person experiences fluctuations between depression and mania, an elevated mood where a person may engage in dangerous and impulsive behaviors, such as going on a spending spree. According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, an estimated 50 percent of people with bipolar disorder or depression also struggle with drug or alcohol abuse in Martins Ferry.
- Generalized anxiety disorder: This condition occurs when a person experiences persistent feelings of worry, panic, and sometimes fear related to a particular situation or situations. These can include worrying about work, family, money, and/or health.
- Obsessive compulsive disorder: Also known as OCD, this condition causes a person to experience thoughts and behaviors they can't control. Their behaviors are often repetitive and can cause a great deal of anxiety in a person's life. Sometimes the thoughts can be aggressive toward themselves or others or create a fear of germs or need for perfect order. Examples of compulsive behaviors include counting, excessive cleaning, or repeatedly checking on something, such as checking if the stove is turned off countless times.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): PTSD is a condition that occurs after a person has gone through a scary, dangerous, or shocking event. Symptoms associated with PTSD include flashbacks, scary and/or vivid dreams, and frightening thoughts. A person may avoid certain places and/or situations for fear of experiencing triggers.
- Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia is a severe and long-term mental health disorder that can cause a person to experience delusions and hallucinations or seeing things that aren't there. The condition affects every aspect of a person's life, including how they feel, think, and behave.
Both a mental health disorder and a substance abuse problem are highly treatable. However, a medical specialist at a dual diagnosis treatment facility must determine if a patient's symptoms are due to drug abuse or the underlying mental disorder. Because a mental illness results in imbalances in neurotransmitters in the brain and substance abuse affects a person's neurotransmitters; helping to balance these neurotransmitters during withdrawal from drugs with medications to promote balance and treatment of symptoms is of high importance. Going through dual diagnosis treatment in Martins Ferry can turn your life around. Call us now at (877) 804-1531.