Signs of Dual Diagnosis in Drug Addiction
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photo credit: rfmphotography)
Uncovering a dual diagnosis can be a challenge. There are so many different patterns and levels of use associated with addictions and mental health. Some of the symptoms or problem from addiction can look like symptoms of a separate mental health diagnosis.
What Is Dual Diagnosis?
Here is an example to consider: a person who regularly binges on alcohol may alienate themselves from their friends. This person may then report increased loneliness and despair, showing a great deal of sadness because of their social loss. This can look like a depressed person who has isolated themselves because of the nature of depression symptoms (increased sadness, negativity, being snappy at others, etc). The root cause of each person’s sadness is different, but the outward appearance is similar.
It takes a skilled therapist to sort out the details of symptoms that seem to overlap. It may also take some time to fully understand whether a person has a dual diagnosis. History of mental illness in the family can be a good indicator, but it does not always manifest itself in every family member.
For some diagnoses, it may be easier to tell right away. For example, clearly defined panic attacks or psychotic episodes that do not seem directly associated with patterns of substance use can present a more clear picture. Also, if it seems a mental illness had begun before substance use started, a dual diagnosis can be easier to spot.
Which Comes First: Drug Addiction or Mental Illness?
Sometimes, a person with an addiction may be in denial of the problem and they have more trouble with their mental health situation. They may seek counseling for grief, anxiety, relationship problems, or depression first. Their addiction may reveal itself later on in the process.
Other times, someone’s addiction may be the more obvious problem. They get arrested for possession of an illegal substance, lose their driver’s license from a DUI, or something similar. They may get quite a ways through the legal and substance treatment process before the larger underlying problem becomes apparent.
What is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
No matter how a diagnosis is uncovered, the proper treatment and rehabilitation program is vitally important. An untreated mental illness can undermine the progress of a recovering addict. It can also become somewhat harder to treat with success if it continues for a long time without treatment.
The Canyon is well equipped to not only make or confirm your condition, but also effectively help with your dual diagnosis treatment. When you have more than just an addiction to deal with, you need specially trained professionals on your side. The experts at The Canyon literally wrote the book on proper dual diagnosis treatment. This can give you the best chance at a having a revitalized, peaceful, and sober life.
What’s been your experience with dual diagnoses? If you have been addicted, how challenging was it to figure out your entire set of diagnoses? If you are a mental health or addictions professional, what has been your greatest challenges making a dual diagnosis?
Tags: addiction, addiction treatment, Drug Addiction, Dual Diagnosis Treatment, Signs of Dual Diagnosis In Addiction
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