Dual Diagnosis and Alcoholism

When you’re struggling with substance use disorder and a mental health issue at the same time, it’s likely that you need to undergo dual-diagnosis treatment. Mental disorders really do take their toll, even more so when you have a mental health problem at the same time.

When you’ve received that dual diagnosis of compounded addictions, you need to act accordingly and take them both into account. It’s exceptionally difficult to quit drinking cold turkey if you have anxiety, depression, or any other mental health disorder. If you’re wondering why, prescription medications used to help you on your journey towards sobriety might make your mental health worse, or vice versa.

When you have a dual-diagnosis addiction, you need to treat both issues individually. This can be tricky since the two conditions are likely to feed off one another, but it is possible. Due to the difficulty of treating dual diagnoses, it’s crucial that you’re able to find the most suitable rehab centre to attend. Here at Verve Healthcare, we refer you to some of the best rehab centres in the country that are able to treat you for co-occurring disorders.

Whether you have one diagnosis or two, you can trust our reliable and dedicated team to find the most effective treatment plan for you. When you have a combination of drug addiction and mental health problems, it’s vital that you seek help before facing an array of negative consequences. Rehab provides you with tailored treatment programmes, emotional support, guidance, and the chance to attend one-on-one or group support groups.

Drug dependency is tedious to deal with as it is, and does often cause mental health disorders. If you’re struggling with drug abuse and mental illness, we encourage you to seek help today. Whether your drug use has just started or you’ve been an addict for some time, it’s vital that you consider rehabilitation.
 

What is Dual Diagnosis?

When it comes to addictions, many people suffer from more than just alcohol addiction or other substance abuse problems. When we encounter a single patient who’s suffering from more than one condition, we call this a dual diagnosis. We use it particularly when referring to a substance abuse or addiction problem since this is often co-occurring with other issues. Here at Verve Healthcare, we’re able to deal with an array of addictions.

For example,  alcohol and depression go hand in hand, but so do anxiety and depression. It’s likely that all these conditions are feeding each other inside the dual-diagnosis patient. Sometimes, a dual diagnosis might refer to multiple conditions all existing in the same person. It goes without saying that the more conditions you suffer from at once, the longer it’s going to take for you to go through rehab.

The term ‘dual diagnosis’ itself was first coined back in the 1980s. It originally referred to any condition that co-existed with substance abuse inside a patient. Back in 2015, a group of doctors got together to do some thorough research into the matter and found some fairly alarming figures.

The study set out to prove that 6–15% of people in rehabilitation for drug misuse or alcohol addiction in the UK were suffering from a dual diagnosis. Although we cannot officially answer the question of whether or not a dual diagnosis is common, we can surmise that roughly 1 in 4 people suffer from mental health issues in the UK.
 

Drug Addiction and Mental Health Problems

Unfortunately, drug addiction and mental health issues go hand in hand in most cases. Treating mental illnesses is just as important as treating substance misuse. When you have a mental disorder, it might seem more challenging to try and quit whatever it is you’re addicted to.

At Verve Healthcare, we connect you with trusted rehabilitation centres that are able to treat both mental health disorders, severe mental illness, and substance use disorders separately.

Whether you’re struggling with alcohol misuse or general substance addiction, there are many risk factors involved. The best solution for a dual diagnosis is to undergo a medical detox and attend therapy for your mental health problems. Withdrawal symptoms are bound to occur, but when you’re at a trusted rehab centre, you’ll have all the support and guidance you need around you during this time.
 

What Therapies Are Used to Treat a Dual Diagnosis?

Rehab clinics treat both conditions separately, using an extensive array of therapists and psychological staff. Often, they treat the root of your addiction using psychotherapy, while also being able to treat your family with sessions aimed at healing the rifts addiction can cause.

Additionally, suitable rehab clinics can take care of your mental health problems or emotional disorders using combined specialist therapies such as motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). On top of providing you with the tools you need to combat addiction, rehab uses similar therapies to treat any mental health or emotional disorders you may have.

They might tackle these individually, so you might be in treatment for a little longer than normal. During therapy, you’ll be able to talk openly about your issues, addressing your addiction and mental health disorders. To remain sober and overcome substance use and mental illness, it’s important that you give it your all throughout the duration of your treatment plan.

If all of this sounds like a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We have a highly dedicated team that’s ready and waiting to get you the help that you need. We work with you to find out your needs and requirements before finding the most suitable rehab clinic for you to visit.

Finding Treatment for a Dual Diagnosis at Verve Healthcare

Here at Verve Healthcare, we refer you to specialist rehabilitation centres that are able to treat drug addiction and mental health. Our trusted team is dedicated to finding the best-suited rehab centre for you to attend. Our referral services are second to none, and our team is here to help you kickstart your journey to overcome addiction. If you’d like to find out more about our services, please feel free to contact us.