Dual Diagnosis
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Many individuals struggle with the challenging combination of a mental health disorder and addiction. This mixture of issues is called a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder. The specific combination is unique for each person, including the causes, symptoms, and treatment that is effective. Treatment at PCP – The Perry Clayman Project addresses each client with a combination of therapeutic interventions that help build a foundation for their recovery. This includes healing from the underlying causes of mental health disorders and addiction. With help, individuals can heal and take strides towards a new life free from the many difficulties of a dual diagnosis.
What Is a Dual Diagnosis?
A dual diagnosis is when an individual has both a mental health disorder and substance use disorder (SUD). The specific substance used will vary. However, they may include both drugs and alcohol. In addition, mental health disorders can include the following:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Personality disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Causes of a Dual Diagnosis
While an individual might have both a mental health disorder and SUD, one is not necessarily caused by the other. It is theorised that both mental health disorders and SUDs can be caused by common risk factors. These risk factors include genetic factors. However, they also include environmental aspects of their upbringing, trauma, and stress.
In addition, mental health disorders and SUDs can impact each other. Mental health disorders can lead to addiction. In contrast, addiction can be a contributing factor to mental health disorders. These interactions are complex and unique for each person.
Mental Health Disorders
When a person has a mental health disorder, their symptoms will vary. However, a person’s mental health impacts every aspect of their life. Their symptoms can make it challenging to connect with others, hold down a job, and get through stressful situations. As a result, many individuals are looking for a way to self-manage their symptoms.
Depending on the mental health disorders, individuals will look for a substance that helps them to manage their symptoms. For example, an individual struggling with depression will likely look for ways to feel more motivated and energetic. A person with anxiety will be looking for a way to feel calm and decrease anxiety symptoms.
However, long-term use of a substance causes changes in the brain that result in physical dependence. Individuals with a mental health disorder who continue to use a substance to manage their mental health symptoms will become dependent on the substance that they are using.
Addiction
There are many different types of addiction, including alcohol addiction, gambling addiction, and more. While each addiction is unique, addiction causes changes in the brain. The changes in the brain occur primarily in the pleasure-seeking part of the brain. However, they also occur throughout other parts of the brain.
Structural and functional changes in the brain caused by addiction play a role in co-occurring disorders. They put individuals at risk of developing a variety of mental health disorders, including both anxiety and depression.
Types of Co-Occurring Disorders
There are many different types of co-occurring disorders. The specifics of a co-occurring disorder, including the type of mental health disorder and the type and severity of addiction, are unique for each individual. Each type manifests in a unique way. Therefore, it is important that a co-occurring disorder is diagnosed by a mental health provider.
The type of co-occurring disorder impacts how their dual diagnosis affects their life. For example, an individual struggling with anxiety and alcohol addiction will struggle with symptoms vastly different from someone with depression and cocaine addiction. In addition, each person will experience a unique set of symptoms for both a mental health disorder and SUD, which means that there is not a singular way to experience a dual diagnosis.
Treatment for a Dual Diagnosis
Effective treatment for a dual diagnosis is unique to each person. At PCP – The Perry Clayman Project, treatment addresses both a client’s mental health and addiction. Clients work with the staff to understand how their mental health disorder and SUD impact each other and are provided with tools that help them to heal both.
The first step in treatment for addiction is often detox. During detox, an individual is monitored as they transition out of physical dependence. However, detox is only part of the process of healing from addiction. Behavioural therapy and support help provide clients with the ability to make changes to their choices that play a role in their substance abuse. This may include helping a client learn to manage stress, heal from trauma, and build new skills that support their recovery.
Mental health treatment varies for each client and the specific mental health challenges they are facing. However, behavioural therapy, medication, and lifestyle adjustments are commonly part of the process. This combination of treatments helps clients heal their mental health and learn long-term solutions to maintain their mental health. For clients with a dual diagnosis, effective treatment addresses both their mental health and substance abuse issues. The staff at PCP – The Perry Clayman Project understands that symptoms of each often have crossover. In addition, the effective treatment also has some overlay, making each client’s treatment journey unique to their needs.
Struggling with a dual diagnosis impacts every aspect of your life, both personally and professionally. To learn more about how PCP – The Perry Clayman Project can help you to heal from substance use disorder (SUD) and a mental health disorder, call us today at 08000 380 480.