People who have a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder are said to have a dual diagnosis. Having a co-occurring condition does complicate the recovery process, but it does not make it impossible. By choosing the right treatment center, building a strong support network and keeping your expectations realistic, you can treat both conditions and succeed in your recovery.
Let’s learn more about what a co-occurring disorder is and the ways that a dual diagnosis rehab in California can help.
Understanding Co-occurring Conditions
Co-occurring conditions are common among people with substance abuse issues. People who struggle with mental illness tend to use drugs and alcohol to manage their symptoms, a practice called self-medication. For example, a person with anxiety may drink to calm their obsessive thinking. However, drugs and alcohol do nothing to help the situation. They exacerbate symptoms of mental illness and create dependency problems.
The most common co-occurring disorders that are associated with substance abuse are:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Panic disorder
- Eating disorders
- Schizophrenia
Types of Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Agoura
In order for a person to recover from a dual diagnosis, they must have both the substance abuse and the co-occurring condition treated. This is why it’s important to choose a treatment center that specializes in dual diagnosis. If the underlying mental illness is not addressed, it will sabotage the addiction recovery process.
Behavioral therapies are most effective for people with a dual diagnosis. Here are just a few of the treatments that are used at our treatment center in Agoura Hills.
- Neurofeedback treatment is a type of biofeedback that retrains the brain to function more efficiently.
- Dialectical behavioral therapy. DBT is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy that teaches people how to live in the moment and cope with their emotions in a healthy manner.
- This form of individual counseling is a process where clients work one-on-one with a trained therapist to explore their feelings.
- Family therapy. Another form of counseling, family therapy focuses on solving problems within the family unit.
- Alpha-stim. Alpha stim is an FDA-approved device that stimulates alpha activity in the brain to reduce anxious and compulsive behaviors.
Awakenings Treatment Center successfully treats dual diagnoses. Contact us today to learn more about our innovative, science-backed therapies and which treatment program is right for you.
