What is Dual Diagnosis Treatment and Why Does It Matter?

What is Dual Diagnosis Treatment and Why Does It Matter? Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment is an essential approach for individuals who are dealing with both substance use and mental health challenges. If you or a loved one are navigating both issues at once, seeking specialised Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment can make a significant difference in recovery.

Rehab is for recovery. Recovery from addiction. For many seeking help, Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment provides a comprehensive approach that addresses both substance use and underlying mental health concerns. In fact, Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment is recognised for effectively supporting individuals who face both addiction and mental health challenges.

The problem is that addiction, whilst a very serious illness itself, is a symptom of something else.

What is the link?

No one wakes up one morning and makes a conscious decision to become an addict. It is not a career choice. Something, somewhere has gone wrong in someone’s life and addiction provides a safety net of escape.

Depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, personality disorder. Just a few, very common, examples of the underlying reasons as to why people sink into the confines of addiction. Many clients find Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment offers solutions for these complex issues.

When someone is able to get the right help for an underlying problem, recovering from addiction becomes more focused. When your brain is free of drugs and alcohol, you can respond to therapy. Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment can help make this process more accessible.

Dual Diagnosis

Not everyone who goes into recovery will have a formal diagnosis. Sometimes they may not even know that there is an underlying mental health issue that needs dealing with.

People often turn to alcohol and drugs to deal with stress. In the short term, a glass or two of wine will take the edge of your stress, but not for long. In time, alcohol becomes a spring. The more you supress anxiety with alcohol the more severe it will become when you stop drinking. This becomes a vicious circle of having to drink to suppress it.

A definitive diagnosis of an underlying condition is very useful when going into rehab but not essential.

If you are able to provide a medical report for the rehab clinical staff/therapists that would be very advantageous. Be assured that your information will be treated in the upmost of confidence.

Does My GP Need to Know?

Yes and no.

It is always best practice for your GP to know you are having treatment. However, there can be circumstances where people may not want their GP to know.

Modern day NHS GP computer systems enable reception and admin staff to generate a medical summary at the touch of a button. Staff are not permitted to know why you want a copy and it is very common for people to have these printed out for medical insurance purposes.

There may be occasions where, depending on your circumstances, blood tests are required. If you don’t want to have these done at your GP surgery, private labs are available, throughout the country. The tests are not expensive.

Treatment for Dual Diagnosis in Rehab

A rehab centre is not a mental health clinic.

The focus of treatment in rehab is recovery from addiction. However, where there is an underlying condition, focused therapy will address it. Some conditions can be managed much better with the help of the therapy programme. If you can manage your underlying condition it makes recovery from addiction more straightforward.

Models of therapy in rehab

Every rehab, the world over, uses a group therapy model. Why? Because it works!

For nearly 100 years, group therapy has been the cornerstone of addiction recovery. SMART/12 STEP/eclectic. It really doesn’t matter which model is used.

To address specific underlying conditions, every centre offers a weekly session of individual therapy. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) , Motivational Engagement Therapy (MET) are just two examples of therapy that can help to alleviate the emotional pain and difficulty caused by underlying conditions.

Additional bolt on therapies can also be utilised such as art and music therapy as well as gentle exercise.

Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment :Detox and Therapy

Without a detox, your brain simply won’t respond to therapy.

Alcohol, drugs and behavioural addictions cause the brain to change it’s functioning. Trying to get your brain to respond to therapy while this is still happening will prevent you from making the most of your time in rehab.

Addiction offers respite from the stress and strains of life. Alcohol and drugs mask symptoms and suppress anxiety. When you are free of these substances, your anxiety and low mood can spike. This is why being in rehab is essential for your recovery.

You will learn how to manage difficult emotions, process negative thinking and make more positive choices. Furthermore, Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment can be tailored to help you develop these valuable coping skills.

Medication

You may be taking medication for an underlying condition. Sometimes, these medications are impinged by alcohol and drugs. Their effectiveness is drastically reduced or stopped altogether.

When you have detoxed they will start to work.

Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment : Therapy to Help You Cope

Whatever the underlying problem, being in rehab will help you. Let the therapy team know, during your therapy assessment on arrival and they will draw up a treatment plan around your needs.

Not every underlying condition is something that can be cured. Some are there for good but you can learn to manage them. Personality disorder is a perfect example. Learning how to identify triggers, how to deal with a crisis and how to reach out for help are essential skills: For life.

Get Free Advice From an Addictions Clinician

You can get free, independent and confidential advice from an experienced addictions clinician.

We can tell you what you need: and what you don’t.

Yoga with a miniature goat, gong baths and shakra realignment are all very nice but won’t add any real value. Also, you will be paying extra for it!

We only signpost to legally registered centres.

Our service is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

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