Understanding Dual Diagnosis and Treatment

In many cases, addiction and mental health disorders go hand in hand. This is what is referred to as a co-occurring disorder or a dual diagnosis. In other words, someone with this condition is struggling with a mental health disorder and substance use disorder simultaneously. Treating this kind of disorder can be complex and often more difficult than treating just a single diagnosis at a time.

At Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, our team recognizes that both addiction and mental health disorders affect people in different ways. We also recognize the complexities of treating a dual diagnosis. Our team makes it a priority to always view an individual before the disorders they may be experiencing. This is referred to as the whole-person approach to treatment and ensures that each of a person’s mental, emotional, and physical needs are met through treatment.

At our facility, we offer personalized treatment that is tailored to an individual’s specific needs and situation. Choosing to seek help for a mental health or substance use disorder is a courageous step. We are there to offer support and guidance for the rest of the way.

Understanding What a Dual Diagnosis Is

There are a variety of ways in which a dual diagnosis could occur. For example, an individual could be struggling with an alcohol addiction and a major depressive disorder simultaneously. Or a person could be struggling with an addiction to a stimulant like cocaine and an undiagnosed anxiety disorder at the same time. There are a lot of combinations in which this can occur, and the longer the disorders go unaddressed, the more dangerous they can become.

A complex relationship exists between substance use and mental health disorders. On one hand, misusing drugs and/or alcohol tends to make an individual’s mental health worse. For example, because alcohol is a depressant, it will typically make symptoms of depression worse. However, at the same time, someone struggling with depression may turn to alcohol to cope and find themselves in a vicious cycle as a result.

Treating a dual diagnosis looks different than treating a single diagnosis for several different reasons. A mental health professional cannot simply treat someone’s substance use disorder without also addressing their mental health disorder. Until that second disorder is also treated, the individual’s likelihood of turning back to substance misuse is very high. It is critical to get to the root cause of the individual’s addiction, which, in the case of a dual diagnosis, is likely an undiagnosed or untreated mental health disorder.

Thus, when treating someone with a dual diagnosis, a mental health professional must look at both disorders simultaneously. They must be careful about avoiding making one disorder worse as a result of treating the other. This is why an integrated treatment approach is often recommended when addressing a dual diagnosis. An integrated approach involves understanding how each disorder affects the other and responding accordingly.

Recognizing Why Addiction and Mental Health Disorders Often Co-Occur

There are several key reasons why addiction and mental health disorders often co-occur. They included shared risk factors between the two disorders, self-medication as a type of coping mechanism, trauma and life stressors, and social and environmental factors.

Shared Risk Factors

There are certain risk factors a person may be born with that make them face a heightened risk of experiencing addiction or a mental health disorder. Genetics, for example, is believed to play a role in one’s likelihood of developing both conditions. Thus, if someone’s parent or close relative struggled with anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders, they may be more likely to experience it as well. Additionally, if someone had a direct family member who struggled with addiction, they may have a higher predisposition for developing substance use disorder.

An individual’s brain chemistry can also contribute to this link. For example, some common mental health disorders like anxiety and depression are related to imbalances in neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. When a person engages in substance use, they may experience a temporary boost in these neurotransmitters. As a result, they may experience some short-term relief from the anxiety or depression they may be feeling.

However, any relief that is brought about through substance misuse is only temporary. In fact, in time, it will usually make a person’s mental health symptoms even worse.

The Dangers of Self-Medication

When a person is experiencing chronic mental health symptoms, they may feel desperate to do whatever they can to find relief. For those with co-occurring disorders, this involves turning to drugs or alcohol to cope as a form of self-medication. An example of this could be someone with social anxiety turning to alcohol to help them relax. It could also be a person with untreated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using certain substances to numb the mental anguish of traumatic memories.

Self-medication like this is dangerous and often leads to a vicious cycle. For example, an individual turns to substance use to ease their depression. However, their substance use only makes their symptoms worse. Thus, they may engage in even heavier or more frequent substance use to cope with their worsening symptoms. This can be a difficult cycle to get out of.

Trauma and Life Stressors

Life stressors and trauma can also play a role in the development of co-occurring disorders. Experiencing a traumatic event, especially during childhood, can make a person more likely to develop a mental health disorder later on in life. This could be anything from experiencing abuse to witnessing an act of violence, surviving an accident, or experiencing the loss of a loved one. Consequently, those who experience this kind of trauma may also be more likely to turn to substance misuse to cope later on in life.

Chronic stress and simply the day-to-day difficulties of life can also contribute to one’s likelihood of developing both a mental health disorder and substance use disorder. This could include things like financial struggles, relationship problems, or a difficult work environment. People who experience this chronic stress over some time are more likely to experience mental health deterioration or turn to substance use to cope.

Social and Environmental Factors

Finally, a combination of social and environmental factors can also contribute to one’s likelihood of developing both a mental health and substance use disorder. For example, consider someone who may be living in an environment where they are surrounded by substance misuse. They may also frequently experience peer pressure encouraging them to participate in drug or alcohol use. As a result, they would likely face a heightened risk of developing both a mental health and substance use disorder.

The Importance of a Thorough and Accurate Dual Diagnosis

When treating co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders, a very thorough and accurate dual diagnosis is critical. This diagnosis will set the foundation for the type of treatment the individual receives and how effective it may be. Without a full understanding of how both disorders interact, treatment efforts can fall short. This could lead to the risk of misdiagnosis, incomplete diagnosis, or even worsening symptoms.

Challenges of Diagnosing a Co-Occurring Disorder

When mental health and addiction symptoms overlap, it can be hard to determine which symptoms are associated with each disorder. For example, there may be questions about whether an individual’s dissociative thoughts are due to prolonged substance use or an undiagnosed mental health disorder. This can increase the risk of a misdiagnosis.

The Risks of Misdiagnosis or Partial Diagnosis

One of the main risks of a misdiagnosis or only partial diagnosis is ineffective treatment. This essentially means that the patient’s needs won’t be fully met. Unfortunately, this will make long-term recovery all the more difficult. The risk of the individual experiencing a relapse of one or both of their conditions is more likely.

What Treating a Dual Diagnosis Looks Like

Treating a dual diagnosis is a delicate process that requires careful planning and an integrated approach. The goal of this approach is to treat both disorders simultaneously. This will typically include a combination of personalized treatment methods including both traditional and more holistic options.

Why One-Size-Fits-All Treatment Is Ineffective in Treating a Dual Diagnosis

A one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to treatment is never a good idea for any kind of substance use or mental health disorder. However, it is particularly ineffective in treating those with a dual diagnosis. This is because everyone’s experience is different, and their needs are unique. There are a vast number of different factors that can play a role in the development of both disorders.

An individual’s treatment needs vary depending on things like their medical and substance use history, past trauma, and the unique underlying causes of their disorder. It is also important to note that people respond to treatment in different ways. The type of treatment that might be the most effective option for one person might not lead to the same results as someone else. This is why a more personalized and tailored treatment approach for dual diagnosis is considered most effective.

Another factor to consider is that many people are at different stages when it comes to how ready they are to receive treatment. There may be people who are just starting to begin to accept that they need professional help for their substance use. On the other hand, there could be those who have already committed themselves to their recovery journey and are prepared to move forward. This can certainly play a role in how people will respond differently to certain treatments.

The Advantages of a Personalized, Tailored Treatment Approach  for Dual Diagnosis

A personalized treatment plan that is created with all of an individual’s needs and unique circumstances in mind will typically have the best results. This can help ensure that when treating a dual diagnosis, both conditions are addressed fully and completely. As a result, an individual’s chances of enjoying long-lasting recovery are the best they can be.

What a Personalized Treatment Approach for a Dual Diagnosis Looks Like

So, what exactly does a personalized treatment approach for a dual diagnosis look like? Typically, it will involve a combination of both traditional and holistic treatment methods directed at addressing both disorders. It will also often involve some lifestyle changes and medication management if necessary. The following are some treatment options that could be expected to be incorporated into this approach.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment option for addressing both mental health and substance use disorders. It is an evidence-based therapy that helps the individual to identify negative thought patterns and behaviors. With this knowledge, they can then begin to learn healthier coping mechanisms. It can also help increase one’s awareness of the negative or unhealthy beliefs they have about themselves.

For example, consider someone who tends to turn to alcohol when their self-esteem is low, or they’re feeling discouraged with themselves. Once they are more aware of this pattern, they can come up with healthier ways to address those feelings without substance use. This could be by repeating positive affirmations about themselves. It could also be by spending time with their support system.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

This type of therapy can also be used to treat substance use and mental health disorders simultaneously. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) focuses on regulating emotion, especially for those who experience emotions very intensely. For example, consider someone who has a particularly hard time bouncing back from setbacks or disappointments in life. Perhaps they often use substance use to cope with the pain of disappointment. DBT can help them to regulate their emotions better while developing a greater sense of resiliency. This type of therapy also focuses on mindfulness and allowing an individual to become aware of their emotions without being controlled by them.

Somatic Experiencing (SE)

This treatment is a therapeutic approach that helps those who are struggling with chronic stress and deep-rooted trauma. We know that both stress and trauma often play central roles in the development of substance use disorders. They can also lead to major mental health deterioration. This type of treatment can help those struggling with these things to find both physical and mental relief.

Stress and trauma don’t just affect one’s mental health. These things can take a toll on physical health as well, leading to chronic pain, muscle tension, nervous system problems, and even digestive issues. Somatic experiencing (SE), which is guided by a mental health professional, helps an individual to determine where in their body they store they store their stress. This can also help with developing a greater mind-body connection, leading to better overall wellness.

Family, Individual, or Group Therapy

Finally, most people receiving treatment for a dual diagnosis will also undergo some form of traditional therapy. This could include family therapy, group therapy, individual therapy, or a combination of all three. Therapy is usually recommended as part of an individual’s continued treatment plan as they move forward with their recovery journey.

Profound Treatment’s Approach to Treating Dual Diagnosis

At Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, we pride ourselves on utilizing a highly personalized treatment approach for each client who enters our facility. We do this by first completing a comprehensive assessment of the individual to identify the specific nature of their disorders. From there, our dedicated team works together to come up with a treatment plan that will best fit the person’s unique individual needs.

We recognize each individual as a whole person, not just as symptoms of the disorder they are experiencing. Our goal is not only to help them enter recovery from substance use and/or mental health disorders. Rather, it is to provide them with important skills, greater overall well-being, and resiliency so they can tackle anything life throws at them.

Many people throughout the country experience co-occurring disorders throughout their lifetime. Unfortunately, many of these individuals may be misdiagnosed or not receive treatment that fully meets their needs. This can make avoiding relapse all the more difficult. At Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, we want each person who leaves our facility to have the greatest chance of enjoying long-term recovery. This is why we always utilize personalized treatment plans tailored to an individual’s specific needs. If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health disorder or substance use disorder, we are here to help. Reach out to (310) 340-2609 today, and a member of our team can help you determine the next steps towards treatment.