Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Laredo, TX
A dual diagnosis occurs when a person has both a mental illness and struggles with drug or alcohol addiction. While these two conditions commonly occur with each other, only in more recent years have researchers concluded how medical experts can most effectively treat a dual diagnosis. When a person who suffers from a dual diagnosis wishes to get clean, dual diagnosis treatment in Laredo can help.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an estimated one-third of people with mental illness and one-half of all people with a severe mental illness also abuse drugs. Those who are at a greater risk for dual diagnosis include those of a lower socioeconomic status, those who have served in military combat, and people with several chronic medical illnesses. Men are also more likely than women to experience a dual diagnosis. The term "dual diagnosis" can be a broad category because it encompasses a number of medical conditions, such as mild anxiety and benzodiazepine abuse to bipolar disorder and alcohol addiction.
Whatever the co-occurring disorders, dual diagnosis treatment in Laredo involves treating the whole person, not just a person's addiction. By acknowledging that a person's mental illness affects their drug abuse, and vice-versa, a person can receive dual diagnosis treatment programs in Laredo help achieve a better balance in their daily life.
Dual Diagnosis and Addiction Correlation
A person's experience with a dual diagnosis can differ based on their health history. Some people may struggle with mental illness first, and instead of taking medications to feel better, they turn to drugs and alcohol. This form of self-medication is not effective and almost always causes a person's symptoms to get worse.
In some instances, a person may start to abuse drugs and/or alcohol, then start experiencing symptoms of a mental health disorder. This could be a side effect of using the drug, such as experiencing depressive symptoms, or as a side effect of withdrawal when a person hasn't used a substance in some time.
Regardless of the timeline for experiencing a dual diagnosis, using drugs while experiencing a mental illness can be a deadly combination. Also, because drugs have properties that affect the brain, using them can worsen a person's mental illness symptoms. Because a person is addicted to drugs, they may forego their regular medications they take for their mental illness because they are so preoccupied with using drugs.
Types of Mental Health Disorders
A person may seek dual diagnosis treatment in Laredo after suffering from a number of different types of mental health conditions. These can be serious enough to require a stay at our inpatient rehab in Laredo. Examples include the following mental illnesses:
- Bipolar disorder: This condition causes a person to alternate between episodes of depression (feelings of intense sadness and hopelessness) and mania (a highly elevated mood where a person's behavior is dangerously erratic and impulsive).
- Anxiety: Anxiety is experiencing a high level of stress and fear such that a person will create a state of stress in their body. They may have a rapid heart rate and feel the effects of adrenaline running through their body.
- Schizophrenia: This severe mental illness causes a person to lose touch with reality. They may see, hear, or smell things that aren't there. A person may also experience problems with concentration and memory.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Also known as OCD, this disorder occurs when a person becomes obsessed with certain thoughts and/or behaviors. They may wish to stop these behaviors, but their anxiety and stress isn't relieved until they complete their task.
- Depression: This condition causes a person to experience intense and long-lasting feelings of sadness and hopelessness. Those who experience depression may even feel life is no longer worth living and contemplate suicide.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder: This condition occurs after a person has experienced a traumatic event or events. Examples include a military battle, abuse, or natural disaster.
These and other health conditions can severely impact a person's quality of life. Using drugs along with these mental illnesses can require dual diagnosis addiction treatment. At our dual diagnosis treatment program, a person can receive drug detox in Laredo while also receiving support and counseling to treat their mental illness. This is known as integrated intervention. While dual diagnosis addiction treatment may be different for each person, seeking inpatient treatment is usually the best place to start because a person can receive around-the-clock support. By treating the person for all the conditions they experience, instead of just substance abuse, a person is more likely to experience success in dual diagnosis treatment.