7 Things You Need to Know About Dual Diagnosis
Dual Diagnosis refers the individual who has both a psychiatric illness and a chemical dependency at the same time. Treating the patient with a dual diagnosis is challenging, because the mental disorder can aggravate the drug addiction and vice-versa, making the individual hard to assess and treat properly. This is an important issue – over half of the 12 million people who suffer from psychiatric illnesses also have problems with drugs and alcohol.
Here are seven things that everyone needs to know about dual diagnosis.
Facts about Dual DiagnosisCovering Up Problems
One of the most insidious things about dual diagnosis is how hard it is discover the problem. Commonly alcohol and drug addiction mask mental illness (such as clinical depression and other problems) and vice-versa. This makes it hard to get people the help they need on all medical fronts.
Success Comes Only When BOTH Problems Are Fully Treated
To treat only one half of a dual diagnosis is to ignore the true nature of the problem. Treating mental illness without recognizing the chemical dependency is not going to work. And believing that a person with mental problems will respond to "mainstream" alcohol and drug rehab programs is naïve as well. Both issues must be treated at once in order to achieve success.
The Most Common Psychological Problems Associated with Dual Diagnosis
Although those with a dual diagnosis may be dependent on any number of substances (such as drugs or alcohol), there are four major psychological ailments most commonly associated with the issue: anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorders.
Higher Incidence of Violence
Those with a dual diagnosis are more prone to violent outbursts. Many of these individuals find themselves in the prison system, where the chance of getting appropriate medical help is even lower than in the outside world. Inside or out of prison, those who receive a dual diagnosis are likely to attempt suicide if the problem remains untreated.
Self-medication is Common in Dual Diagnosis Situations
Those who have a mental illness often medicate themselves with drugs and alcohol, as they are unable to cope properly with the limitations their psychological problems present. These types of "band-aid" solutions only serve to worsen the problem.
Traumatic Events May Lead to a Dual Diagnosis
Significant life traumas, such as sexual abuse, are thought to lead to dual diagnosis in many individuals. These individuals drink or take drugs to blunt the psychological pain they are experiencing because of the event in their past.
Not All Treatment Facilities Are Equipped to Deal with Dual Diagnosis Patients
Because of the complications brought about by dual diagnosis, many drug rehab facilities do not have the trained staff or programs to deal specifically with the issue. For someone to receive proper treatment for their dual diagnosis, it is very important that they seek out help from institutions such as Michael's House that have experts in treating chemical dependency and mental illness simultaneously.
Michael's House helps those individuals who are suffering from both mental illness and substance abuse issues. Contact Michael's House today at 1-877-345-8494, and get help you, or someone you love, desperately needs.
