A staggering number of people live with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. In the United States, experts estimate that approximately 9.2 million people struggle with these conditions at any given time. If you’ve been searching for professional help for co-occurring disorders, you may have asked yourself: “Do I need dual diagnosis treatment?” Though the answer to that question depends on a medical evaluation, you’ve probably encountered dual diagnosis in your research and wondered what it includes. Below, you’ll find more information on the treatment, as well as specific indications that you may require this type of therapy.

What Does Dual Diagnosis Treatment Entail?

Dual diagnosis treatment is a form of therapy for people who struggle with a substance abuse disorder and a co-occurring mental health disorder. For decades, the medical community treated the two conditions separately, but today, professionals recognize that dual treatment provides far better outcomes.

Because substance addiction is a disease, it can fundamentally alter your brain chemistry in favor of the substance(s). When you consume drugs or alcohol, they trigger a reward response in your brain, which causes you to feel pleasure or even euphoria. Even though you know these toxic substances are harmful and dangerous, you continue to seek out the feelings of pleasure you experience by consuming them.

When you live with a mental health disorder alongside your substance abuse problem, your brain may encourage you to continue consuming substances in an effort to numb negative emotions. Eventually, your brain can become deeply programmed to associate feelings of happiness with substance use. Therefore, you may continually feel the need to use drugs or alcohol to cope with the stresses of daily life. If you’ve been asking yourself: “Do I need dual diagnosis treatment?” you likely know the answer to that question deep down.

Do I Need Dual Diagnosis Treatment? Noticeable Warning Signs

Before you can receive an official diagnosis that you’re living with co-occurring disorders, you must undergo an evaluation with a mental health professional and an addiction specialist. That said, there are several red flags to keep an eye out for. Symptoms of co-occurring disorders can vary widely, but some of the most common ones, include:

Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Benefits of Therapy

If you’ve been wondering: “Do I need dual diagnosis treatment?” you’ll benefit from learning the potential outcomes of this form of therapy. When you participate in treatment for both disorders at the same time, long-term benefits include:

It’s important to note that when you live with co-occurring disorders, it’s extremely difficult to successfully treat one problem with addressing the other problem simultaneously. Dual diagnosis treatment often has a higher success rate than mental health counseling or substance abuse treatment alone.

Comprehensive Treatment Programs at Serenity Lake Recovery

At Serenity Lake Recovery, our dual diagnosis treatment program offers a multidisciplinary approach to therapy. For people who live with both a substance abuse disorder and a co-occurring mental health disorder, multiple types of therapy may be necessary. Therefore, we offer a wide variety of services designed to help you overcome damaging behaviors and release your addiction for good. Some of the treatment options we offer include:

Keep in mind that substance abuse detox and recovery can aggravate existing mental health issues or even trigger new behavioral problems. Therefore, if you suffer from co-occurring disorders, a dual-diagnosis treatment center offers you the best chance of long-term recovery success.

Do You Suffer From Co-Occurring Disorders? Find Freedom at Serenity Lake Recovery

If you’ve been wondering: “Do I need dual diagnosis treatment?” reaching out for the help you need is the first step on your journey toward recovery. At our dual diagnosis treatment center, you’ll have a compassionate support team with you every step of the way. We’ll help you learn healthy new coping mechanisms and new habits that you’ll carry with you after rehab. We truly believe you can overcome your substance abuse and conquer your mental health problems, and we’re ready to help you do it!

If you’re ready to take the first step and reach out for the professional help you need, please reach out to our team today at 855.658.6109. We’re more than happy to discuss your treatment options and get you started on the path to recovery.