Many people who live with a mental health disorder may also engage in drug or alcohol use as a method of self-medicating. This self-medicating can be dangerous, as it can easily become an addiction. To properly treat both a mental health disorder and an addiction, dual diagnosis treatment is often the best solution. Dual diagnosis treatment is used to ease the severity of co-occurring disorders.
At Baltimore Detox Center, our outstanding team has years of experience with treating co-occurring disorders. However, if you believe that you may have both an addiction and mental health disorder that need treatment, it is crucial that you are able to identify indications that you may have co-occurring disorders.
What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?
The term “co-occurring disorders” refers to conditions in which an individual has a co-existing mental illness and substance use disorder. When an addiction and a psychiatric disorder co-occur, they may differ in severity, and the severity of each can change over time. Compared to individuals who have a single disorder, those with a combination of disorders may experience more severe medical and mental health challenges and may also require longer periods of treatment.
What Are Signs of Co-Occurring Disorders?
Some of the most common signs of co-occurring disorders include:
- You’ve been diagnosed with a mental health disorder and use a substance. – Since a co-occurring disorder involves both having a mental illness and a substance use disorder simultaneously, it’s safe to say you probably have a co-occurring disorder if the above statement is true. Even if you don’t think you use substances that much, just the fact that you have been diagnosed with a mental illness and are using, puts you on the path for risk of abusing the substance. This is a red flag that should be looked at further.
- You abuse drugs or alcohol to numb your emotional pain. – When you get hit by overwhelming stress, hurt, anger, or anxiety, do you turn to a substance, such as drugs or alcohol, to numb those feelings? If so, then you could be dealing with one of the co-occurring disorders.
- You are self-medicating. – Some people practice self-medicating when they are dealing with mental health disorders. These people may not even know that they have a mental health disorder. In fact, if they were to get proper mental health treatment, they might be given a prescription to assist with these “feelings.” This would eliminate or decrease their desire to use other substances.
- You need drugs or alcohol to feel “normal.” – Feeling abnormal without a substance can happen if the brain’s natural chemicals are off-balance, resulting in mental health disorders.
If you recognize these signs in your own behavior, it is in your best interests to contact our Baltimore Detox Center team today for compassionate treatment.
Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders at Baltimore Detox Center
At Baltimore Detox Center, you will be greeted by experienced master’s level clinicians. The treatment we provide will provide you or your loved one with a customized treatment program that addresses both substance abuse and mental health challenges. We understand that dealing with co-occurring disorders is challenging, and it may feel insurmountable, but with evidence-based programs, you can find a resolution. Through therapy and treatment, you can find peace. Some of the treatments we offer include:
- Trauma treatment
- Family therapy programs
- Group therapy programs
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Receive Excellent Treatment for Co-occurring Disorders from Our Team
Don’t let co-occurring disorders hold you back from living a full and happy life. With a dual diagnosis treatment program at a reputable rehab center, you can get the help you need to overcome these issues. Reach out to Baltimore Detox Center today by contacting us at [Direct]. We’ll help you through every step of the way.
