Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Irvington, NJ

Dual diagnosis treatment in Irvington is an integrated treatment model designed to treat people with both a mental health condition and an addiction.

Traditionally treatment systems were kept completely separate. Patients were expected to seek treatment for drug or alcohol addiction first before being admitted to an opposing treatment structure to address the mental health condition.

As a result, many people who struggled with symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders, or other psychiatric problems didn't receive the treatment they needed for substance abuse. There were also many people who graduated from drug rehab treatments who never received the level of treatment they needed for underlying mental health problems.

Yet treating one condition without addressing the other significantly increases the risk of relapse. For many people with dual diagnosis, symptoms of mental illness could have been the initial trigger behind addictive substance abuse. For others, symptoms of mental health conditions may have been triggered by substance abuse.

Research into dual diagnosis treatment programs indicates that an integrated treatment model needs to address both conditions concurrently in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Dual diagnosis treatment in Irvington focuses on tailoring the right combination of therapies to ensure both conditions are addressed in the most effective manner to improve the chances of making a successful recovery.

What is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis is the term given when a person has at least one mental health condition and a co-occurring substance abuse disorder. Dual diagnosis treatment programs focus on building an integrated recovery plan for each person's individual needs.

Specialized dual diagnosis rehab facilities factor in the need to treat the underlying mental health condition with the correct psychotherapeutic medications. At the same time, individual counseling sessions are tailored to address each person's unique relapse triggers and create strong new coping skills for dealing with symptoms of mental health problems without the need to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol.

Links between Dual Diagnosis and Addiction

According to statistics published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately one-third of people with a mental health condition and around one-half of people with a severe mental illness also have a co-existing substance abuse disorder. Statistics also show that around one-third of people with an alcohol abuse disorder and one-half of drug abusers also had symptoms of mental illness.

Types of Mental Health Disorders

Some types of mental health disorders are more commonly linked to drug or alcohol abuse than others. These include:

Anxiety Disorders: Anxiety and panic disorders can be emotionally stressful, leading many sufferers to turn to drugs or alcohol in an effort to numb emotions or feelings.

Depression: The link between depression and alcohol abuse has been long-established. Many people struggling with depressive disorders may turn to alcohol in an effort to temporarily improve moods. However, alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that can trigger symptoms of depression and make the condition worse.

OCD: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a highly destructive type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurring thoughts and irrational fears that can be debilitating. The condition usually involves the person engaging in a range of compulsive rituals that offer a form of temporary relief while the person is performing them, but symptoms of anxiety return quickly after they've stopped. In an effort to escape from overwhelming feelings of anxiety, many sufferers will turn to drugs or alcohol, sparking a cycle of substance abuse.

PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that causes the sufferer intense anxiety. The condition is often characterized by disturbing or upsetting memories or flashbacks of traumatic events. In an effort to numb painful feelings or emotions, many people with PTSD turn to drugs or alcohol.

Bipolar Disorder: Once known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is characterized by intense mood swings. The person may be full of energy and positive behavior one day, only to shift into the depths of despair and depression the next. Statistics show that around 56% of people with bipolar disorder also struggled with a substance abuse disorder.

Why Seek Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Irvington?

Considering the high rate of substance abuse among people with mental health problems, it's important that anyone struggling with symptoms of both conditions need to seek treatment in a specific dual diagnosis rehab facility.

Dual diagnosis treatment in Irvington is specifically designed to meet the needs of people with co-existing psychiatric conditions. The objective of dual diagnosis treatment programs is to ensure both conditions are taken into account before the right course of treatment can be tailored to suit. This comprehensive approach minimizes the number of issues that can lead to the addict wanting to return to drug abuse.

Our relapse prevention programs in Irvington teach coping skills to addicts so that they can properly deal with all of life's inevitable challenges without having to seek alcohol and drugs to numb their senses. By utilizing these coping skills, an addict can learn to beat cravings and identify relapse triggers, thus resulting in creating a healthier ways to channel out negative thoughts.

Research conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that integrated dual diagnosis rehab treatments can actively reduce the relapse rate of recovering addicts and decrease the number of suicide attempts in people with mental health problems.

If you or your loved one is caught in the vicious cycle of addiction, then don't wait another minute. Pick up the phone and call Irvington Drug Rehab Centers today at (877) 804-1531.

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