What is Dual Diagnosis
If you have a loved one who needs addiction treatment, you might wonder “what is dual diagnosis?” It’s a term that’s used more and more often today. The term is more common because the link between mental illness and substance abuse is becoming clearer. It’s now believed that up to half of all people who suffer from addiction to alcohol and drugs also have a mental illness or mood disorder. With a percentage that high, it’s obvious that there’s a vital connection between a person’s mental health and an addiction. But what is dual diagnosis? It’s simply a term for a diagnosis of both an addiction and a mental disorder at the same time. Not everyone who is mentally ill also has an addiction, but around 30% do have substance abuse problems.
But what is dual diagnosis and why does the distinction matter? It matters because treating someone who’s addicted and who also has a mental or mood disorder is difficult. It’s more difficult than treating someone who suffers from only one of those problems. Someone who suffers from both needs a special kind of treatment. What is dual diagnosis treatment? It’s an integrated approach designed to make overcoming addiction and mental illness easier. Dual diagnosis treatment is a balanced treatment designed to deal with mental disorders and addiction at the same time. Only this integrated treatment can really give someone with a dual diagnosis a good chance at recovery. To give yourself or a suffering loved one that chance at healing, call Sunset Malibu at 1-800-332-9202.
What is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
What is dual diagnosis treatment and why is it so important? This treatment treats the whole person in an effort to alleviate the problems of addiction and mental illness together. This is crucial. Someone who is treated with a different program has a high chance of relapse. What is dual diagnosis treatment doing that regular addiction treatment isn’t? It’s the dual, integrated approach that makes all the difference. The mental disorder and the addiction must be treated at the same time. But they also must be treated in a compatible way. A joint, balanced effort that keeps one from flaring up just as the other is improving is necessary.
What is dual diagnosis treatment preventing from happening? It prevents an untreated problem from causing the treated problem to recur. If you have a mental illness and an addiction, and only one is treated properly, you can imagine what will happen. If the addiction is treated but the mental illness isn’t dealt with, then the mental illness will grow. Staying off drugs and alcohol will be almost impossible. As the mental symptoms get worse, the temptation to drink or use drugs to feel better will gain more power. What is dual diagnosis treatment in regards to helping mental illness? The mental illness is treated, but the addiction must also be treated. Otherwise, the continued substance abuse will almost surely undo the work of overcoming the mental disorder. Get this dual diagnosis treatment for yourself or a loved one. Call Sunset Malibu today at 1-800-332-9202 to experience our “what is dual diagnosis?” program for yourself.
Recognizing Mental Illness
What is dual diagnosis and how do you know if you need it? How do you know if your addicted loved one also has a mental disorder? This isn’t an easy question to answer. So many symptoms of mental illness mimic symptoms of alcoholism and drug addiction, that mental illness can go unrecognized. And when the person is mentally ill, a substance abuse problem can be hidden because the symptoms are so similar. If you have any doubt about a loved one, call Sunset Malibu today and talk to a trained counselor for help.
What is dual diagnosis doing for the patient? It allows them to be treated more as a whole person. When the mental illness and the addiction are treated jointly, the person becomes more than just alcoholism, drug addiction or a mental illness. It’s a balanced treatment approach that can make a dramatic difference in someone’s life. So what is dual diagnosis, essentially? It’s a much better chance for you or a loved one to get better. Call Sunset Malibu today at 1-800-332-9202.
What is Dual Diagnosis Risk?
What is dual diagnosis risk to someone with an addiction or mental illness? Since about 50% of addicts also suffer from a mental illness, the risk is pretty high. Mental health counseling can help anyone with an addiction. But this counseling is crucial for the person with a dual diagnosis. What is dual diagnosis treatment like at Sunset Malibu? The treatment starts with detox, and then an individualized treatment plan is created for you or your loved one. Alternative therapies are available along with the standard drug therapies, counseling and psychotherapy.
What is dual diagnosis in the scheme of treatments? Is it worse to have a dual diagnosis? What is dual diagnosis to the person who’s suffering? Does it matter what you call it? Dual diagnosis is harder to treat than a single addiction or mental disorder. And the rate of relapse is higher. But at a dual diagnosis treatment center like Sunset Malibu, we use advanced treatment techniques that are proven effective. Knowing that there’s a dual diagnosis might not matter to the person who is suffering. But knowing this makes all the difference when it comes to treatment. To overcome symptoms of a dual diagnosis, call us at 1-800-332-9202.
Beating Addiction and Mental Disorders
It’s hard to beat an addiction. And it’s a challenge to live with a mental disorder. When you have both, life can become an impossible struggle. If a loved one suffers with this combination, you might feel like all you can do is watch them spiral downward. But whether it’s you or a loved one who’s suffering, you can find hope at Sunset Malibu. Make the call today that can change all your lives by helping you or someone you care about overcome the devastating combination of addiction and mental illness.
For additional information on “what is dual diagnosis?”, please visit our main Dual Diagnosis page or call us at 1-800-332-9202 any time.