Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Alamo, TX

A dual diagnosis is a medical condition that occurs when a person has both a substance abuse problem and a mental illness. Knowing a person has a dual diagnosis can impact their treatment plan because ideally a person will receive treatment for both conditions. Years of research have revealed that treating substance abuse alone does not equal as beneficial results as treating both conditions does. Fortunately, dual diagnosis treatment in Alamo can provide the treatments needed for both conditions.

Unfortunately, a dual diagnosis complicates almost every aspect of substance abuse addiction treatment. A person's mental state, such as anxiety or depression symptoms, may make it very difficult for a person to stop abusing drugs. However, through professional interventions at a drug and alcohol rehab in Alamo, a person can receive evidence-based treatments to help a person live a healthier life free from drug and alcohol abuse. While some people who seek drug addiction treatment may choose between outpatient and inpatient treatment, those with a dual diagnosis should generally use inpatient dual diagnosis treatment.

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

According to Dartmouth University, there may be a genetic component to those a dual diagnosis. For example, a person with a family history of mental illness and/or substance abuse is more vulnerable to having a dual diagnosis. Also, when the first condition occurs, a person is more at risk for the second one. In addition to genetic factors, the same triggers that can cause a person to turn to drug abuse can also lead to a mental health disorder. Examples include:

  • Stress
  • History of trauma, such as physical or sexual abuse
  • Early exposure to drugs and/or alcohol

Those at greatest risk for a dual diagnosis include men ages 18 to 44, adolescents with a history of behavior problems, and those of low socioeconomic status. However, anyone can experience a dual diagnosis, regardless of risk factors. An estimated 50 percent of people with a mental illness also suffer from a substance abuse disorder. As a general rule, the more severe the mental illness, the more likely it is a person will suffer from substance abuse.

Dual diagnosis treatment programs in Alamo can focus on helping a person detoxify from their addiction. Sometimes this involve administering medications that can reduce withdrawal symptoms so a person is more likely to complete the detoxification process.

Types of Mental Health Disorders

In many ways, drug addiction is also a mental illness. Substance abuse causes changes to a person's brain that can cause the person to compulsively seek out drugs and/or alcohol, even when it is at the expense of their health and well-being. This type of compulsive behavior is similar to other some other forms of mental illness, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Examples of mental health disorders that dual diagnosis treatment in Alamo includes:

  • Bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder is a severe mental illness where a person experiences personality fluctuations, such as depression and mania, usually for several weeks at a time. Those with bipolar disorder experiences the highest highs and lows of personality which can have damaging effects on their overall life.
  • Anxiety: Anxiety is a condition that causes a person to experience intense sensations of panic and fear, often at a level that doesn't match their current threats. The condition can cause a person to experience panic attacks, which are instances of anxiety so severe that a person may think they are dying.
  • Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness where a person loses touch with reality and experiences a condition known as psychosis. They may have hallucinations where they hear, see, or smell things that aren't there.
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Also known as OCD, this condition causes a person to become fixated on certain thoughts and behaviors.
  • Depression: Depression is a condition that causes a person to experience feelings of hopelessness and extreme sadness. Sometimes they may even feel as if life isn't living.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): PTSD is a condition that occurs after a person has been through a traumatic experience, such as a military battle or abuse.

There are many combinations of dual diagnosis conditions a person can suffer from. What matters is that a person seeks out a dual diagnosis treatment in Alamo that can help them learn to overcome their addiction. They can also receive counseling that helps them to learn how to live better with their mental illness as well. Call us now for help (877) 804-1531.

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