A person with a dual diagnosis should treat both conditions. For treatment to be effective, you need to stop using alcohol or drugs. Treatments may include behavioral therapies and medications. In addition, support groups can provide you with emotional and social support.
They are also a place where people can share tips on how to deal with day-to-day challenges. You can benefit from joining a self-help support group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. A support group gives you the opportunity to rely on other people who know exactly what you're going through and learn from their experiences. Dual diagnosis is a common term used to describe a person with a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder.
A dual diagnosis of substance abuse and another mental disorder brings with it many different challenges for the individual, their friends and their family. For example, a patient with stimulant use and bipolar disorder may need detoxification, inpatient rehabilitation, sober support, psychiatric treatment, and medication administration. Supportive housing, such as group homes or houses for sober people, are residential treatment centers that can help people who are recently sober or who are trying to avoid relapse. Often, the treatment center will conduct an initial evaluation to decide on the right care for each individual person.
In that case, you may be able to receive medical treatment diagnosed with a psychological disorder and a physical illness. Friends and family members of a person struggling with a dual diagnosis may find it difficult to stay close to their loved one. An interaction between both conditions can complicate a person's recovery, resulting in a less favorable treatment outlook and a combined risk of negative health consequences without adequate treatment. A person diagnosed with substance abuse and another mental disorder may be particularly challenged by the social difficulties of a dual diagnosis.
Ensure that the program is properly licensed and accredited, that treatment methods are backed by research, and that there is an aftercare program to prevent relapse. Each of these factors must be considered when evaluating an individual for a possible dual diagnosis. If you are suffering from mental illness and have substance abuse problems, you should consider seeking comprehensive treatment. Isolation, mood swings, depression, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and suicidal thoughts may worsen with a dual diagnosis.
Whether the client needs an eating disorder treatment center or group support meetings, there are the right options.
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