Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Los Angeles

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Los Angeles
When addiction is coupled with mental health disorders…

Individuals who struggle with substance abuse and chemical dependency often have other underlying psychological disorders that can go unidentified and, therefore, untreated: referred to as dual diagnosis. Frequently, substance abuse is a coping mechanism used by individuals to treat their undiagnosed underlying mental health disorders.

Primary diagnoses for individuals struggling with chemical dependency often include:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Depression
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder

Dual diagnosis cases are quite prominent, and individuals suffering from substance abuse and a co-occurring disorder have a significantly lower recovery prognosis. Nearly 9 million adults in the United States suffer from co-occurring disorders, and less than 8% of those receive treatment for both disorders. More than 50% of individuals suffering from co-occurring disorders receive absolutely no treatment whatsoever (SAMHSA, 2014). What can Muse do to help people with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders?

The stats show that addiction and mental illness are often interlinked. As a result, many people have turned to dual diagnosis treatment as a more effective long-term solution.

However, with only 7.4% of individuals receiving treatment for both conditions this leaves a large percentage who may be missing out on the benefits – maybe even including you.

In this short post, we will look at what you can expect from dual diagnosis treatment and how to get on the road to recovery.

What is dual-diagnosis?

Often known as concurring disorders, dual diagnosis is the condition of suffering from both a mental illness and substance addiction at the same time.

Causes:

No two cases are similar and often one condition leads to the other.

It is common for people who have a mental illness to self-medicate using drugs leading to an addiction. The opposite is also possible where substance abuse leads to mental health illness.

For the most part, it doesn’t matter which came first, what matters now is finding out treatment options and moving forward with them.

Original causes for a drug problem or mental illness can include things  like:

• Trauma.
• A recent loss.
• A medical diagnosis.
• Stress.
• Financial problems.
• Relationship problems.
• Unresolved conflict.

Often a cycle can develop rather quickly of using drugs to treat emotional/mental issues.

This is often the reason why many drug addicts who successfully go sober can relapse – because they haven’t dealt with the underlying mental and psychological issues or vice versa.

Common treatments methods for dual diagnosis

1. Detox

Usually, the first step is to detox from any addictive substances.

Primarily this is undergone in a detox program or center where an individual can be monitored by medical professionals along every step of the way.

Cutting off a drug that you have been using for a long time is an extremely difficult process, but it is an important first step that acts as a foundation for other treatments.

2. Therapy

As part of your dual-diagnosis treatment, you may be assigned multiple forms of therapy including:

• Art therapy – many people are surprised by how helpful they find art to express emotion, and process through situations. It’s also a great new hobby to pick up during the recovery process and beyond.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy – a tried and proven method that attempts to retrain negative thought patterns to break out of unhealthy cycles. A lot of addiction is in the mind and CBT helps address this.
• Counseling – talking with a trained professional to vocalize thoughts, feelings, frustrations and walk through things in your life that you may not have processed is a great way to improve your mental wellbeing.

For individuals with a dual diagnosis, navigating both mental health and addiction challenges, behavioral therapies can be a transformative and crucial component of their healing journey. These sessions offer insight, coping mechanisms, and strategies tailored to their unique needs, fostering both personal growth and sustainable recovery. For those contemplating such treatments and wondering, does anthem cover therapy?, it’s essential to reach out to Anthem directly or consult your policy documentation. Many insurance companies, including Anthem, have provisions for behavioral and therapeutic services, but the specifics and depth of coverage can vary based on individual policies.

3. Community

Often being cited as the best treatment, community certainly plays a key role in dual diagnosis treatment.

Community comes in all shapes and forms.

Group sessions are often very helpful for individuals with dual diagnosis to show that they are not alone, hear other people’s stories and even share their own.

This can be extremely encouraging and prove that recovery is possible and there are others striving for it as well.

Family/friends rallying behind someone with dual-diagnosis can make all the difference.

That’s why our programs offer ‘Family Weekends‘ Here at Muse, we strongly believe that addiction is a family disease.

In cases where substance abuse counselors are addressing addiction issues, it’s essential to recognize the contagious nature of this behavioral and cognitive illness. The impact can extend beyond the individual struggling with addiction to affect their loved ones. Often, family members become classically conditioned to worry, experience heightened anxiety, and face broken levels of trust in their relationship with the affected family member.

As part of our approach, substance abuse counselors proactively reach out to the families of clients immediately following their initial session. We request their contact information, including email addresses, to establish communication. Subsequently, we send an introduction to the resources we’ve created, which are provided by our clinical director and licensed therapist. Our goal is to engage loved ones and encourage them to request additional resources throughout their journey to educate themselves and make necessary changes within the familial system. This process runs parallel to the client’s recovery journey, ultimately aiming for family restructuring and healing.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction and seeking help, consider reaching out to an outpatient drug rehab Costa Mesa. Such programs provide essential support and treatment to facilitate the recovery process and work towards healthier family dynamics.

4. Medication

In some cases, medication can be an appropriate part of treatment for dual diagnosis.

Different meds can be prescribed to address both the mental illness and the drug addiction. Tackling both of these issues with medication at the same time can make a huge impact.

A medical professional will prescribe the appropriate types and dosage of medication that is best suited to treat your specific case.

5. Diet, exercise, routine and sleep

Nailing these basics is often the secret weapon to recovery.

Cleaning up your diet will help balance out hormones and chemicals in your body allowing you to detox from the drugs and is even good for your brain.

Exercise can act as a great release for frustration and restlessness during recovery. Not only will you be training your body to improve your fitness, but you will also be retraining your body to produce endorphins, allowing you to experience a naturally high instead of an artificial one.

Routine can help establish control and healthy, consistent patterns in your life.

All of the above will help you enjoy a great night sleep, the building block of a healthy body and mind.

6. Joining a program.

Implementing all of these treatments would be extremely burdensome and in some cases even dangerous to do on your own.

That’s why we suggest joining a program with professionals who can see to your needs so that you can focus on getting better.

What to expect from dual diagnosis treatment.

It’s no secret that this is going to be a long and difficult process.

There is no magic medication prescribed to ‘cure’ dual diagnosis overnight. That’s why it’s important to expect the following:

• It will take a lot of effort.
• It will take time.
• This will be completely worth it.

As challenging as the process is, it is without a doubt a journey worth taking to get you back on the path to a healthy, happy and satisfying drug-free life.

What’s next?

From here the rest is up to you.

We have shown you what you should expect from dual diagnosis treatment but only you can make the first step towards recovery.

If you would like more information about our mental health center in Los Angeles for you or a loved one, be sure to contact us today – it may be the most important phone call you ever make.

Thanks so much for reading this post on ‘what to expect from addiction and mental illness dual diagnosis treatment.’ We hope that you found it helpful and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

At Muse Los Angeles, we specialize in treating those who suffer from substance abuse and co-occurring disorders…

A dual diagnosis of chemical dependency with a co-occurring disorder is not a death sentence. There is hope. We recognize that individuals who suffer from co-occurring disorders spend more time hospitalized and institutionalized than those who do not and we understand the symbiotic affect and cyclical nature of these diagnoses. At Muse, we employ an integrated treatment approach with intricate and complex screening assessments in order to properly identify the specific needs of each dual diagnosis client. This process gives our dual diagnosis treatment team the necessary information in order to address all issues, both short-term and long-term challenges our clients may face.

One of the most critical aspects of treating individuals with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders is a rigorous, honest and transparent relationship between patient and clinician. Great care is taken in matching the most appropriate therapist with each individual patient, resulting in a relationship that fosters healing, growth, trust and recovery.

Muse understands that a dual diagnosis can feel like an inescapable black hole. We, too, recognize the data all too well—that people with comorbid disorders are more likely to be homeless, commit suicide, or contract serious medical problems. We at Muse provide guidance, support and a therapeutic environment in which an individual will become more than just a diagnosis.