Addiction and mental health issues are common all across America. Many people experience only one or the other. However, others experience the combined effects of serious substance problems and separate mental illnesses. If you fall into this second category, you’re affected by a condition known as co-occurring disorder. The presence of overlapping addiction and mental illness requires special attention during your recovery. You can get this specialized care in a dual diagnosis treatment program.
Co-Occurring Disorders: The Basics
Under more recent definitions, addiction is a form of mental illness. It belongs to a group of conditions known as substance use disorders or SUDs. You can also be diagnosed with a SUD if you have a dysfunctional pattern of non-addicted drug or alcohol abuse.
People with SUDs have increased risks for other mental illnesses. This is true for several reasons, including:
- Shared risk factors for addiction and other mental health issues
- The negative influence of addiction on your overall mental health
- The influence of existing mental illness on your substance use habits
Self-medication is a common issue among people affected by mental health conditions. This term refers to the practice of using drugs or alcohol to ease the symptoms of such conditions. Ultimately, attempts at self-medication will backfire. At best, you temporarily mask the effects of your illness. In addition, you boost the odds that you will develop a SUD.
How Common Are Co-Occurring Disorders?
Co-occurring disorders are not rare. If you have a SUD, your chances of also having a separate mental illness are about 50–50. The same odds apply to developing a SUD if you’re affected by another mental illness. For these reasons, mental health screenings are essential for people entering substance treatment. In addition, SUD screenings are essential for people entering mental illness treatment.
Impact of Combined Addiction and Mental Health Issues
As a rule, the impact of combined addiction and mental health issues is quite serious. Not only are you affected by drug or alcohol problems. In addition, you have symptoms of a serious illness such as:
- Depression
- An anxiety disorder
- A bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Anorexia or another eating disorder
What’s more, addiction and mental illness tend to have an additive effect when they occur together. In other words, they make each other worse than they otherwise would be.
Treating Addiction and Mental Illness
If you have co-occurring disorders, help for your substance problems is not enough. That’s true because untreated mental illness will hinder your recovery. It’s also not enough to focus solely on your separate mental illness. That’s true because your untreated SUD will hinder your recovery.
To get better, you need a specialized treatment plan. This plan must include effective options for both your SUD and your other illness. Medication and psychotherapy are common choices for SUD treatment. The same holds true for the treatment of other mental illnesses. The specific options that work best for you depend on the form of addiction affecting you. They also depend on the nature of your separate illness.
Get Help for Co-Occurring Disorders at Coalition Recovery
Are you or your loved one affected by co-occurring disorders? Talk to the professionals at Coalition Recovery. We specialize in the treatment of these kinds of overlapping conditions. That’s true regardless of the type of SUD affecting you. It’s also true regardless of the nature of your additional mental health concerns.
Remember that we fully customize all Coalition Recovery treatment plans. Our evidence-based approach ensures that you always benefit from the most effective options available. For more information on our specialized program, call us today at 888.707.2873. You can also reach us through our online form.
