Common Mental Conditions Associated with Dual Diagnosis
A dual diagnosis can be comprised of any combination of mental illnesses and addiction types. There are, however, several mental conditions that appear most often in those with a dual diagnosis. Below is a closer look at these conditions, and the symptoms associated with them.
Mental illnesses commonly associated with dual diagnosis
Bipolar disorder. This mental condition causes severe mood swings, taking the individual from the highest high to the lowest low in a matter of moments. Bipolar manic episodes come on without warning and are greatly debilitating for the individual and his or her family.
Schizophrenia. A severe mental illness, schizophrenia is typified by an altered sense of reality and a breakdown of the connection between thoughts, feelings and actions. Symptoms include: hearing voices that do not exist, withdrawal from social settings and delusions of grandeur.
Depression. Depression is a persistent negative mood that can often lead to symptoms such as aches and pain, suicidal thoughts, trouble sleeping or withdrawal from social groups and situations. While many individuals suffer from occasional depression, those with clinical forms of the disease, sink into longer, more pronounced periods of the problem.
Borderline Personality Disorder. BPD refers to an individual who has unstable self-image, and is prone to mood swings, impulsive behavior and a difficulty maintaining interpersonal relationships.
Panic Anxiety Disorder. Repeated, severe panic attacks keep those suffering from panic anxiety disorder from finding "solid ground" in their lives. Physical symptoms include irregular heartbeat, nervousness, dizziness and paranoia.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD is characterized by tremendous anxiety caused by reoccurring irrational thoughts. Those with OCD experience feel powerless against the forces of life. To compensate for this helpless feeling, the individual will attempt to gain control through repeated behaviors that make them feel safe, such as hand-washing, counting and other behaviors.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Anxiety caused by a major, stressful life event such as engagement in battle during war, rape, physical abuse or other deeply distressing events. The individual with PTSD feels a lack of control over their own life, leading to feelings of significant anxiety and depression.
Life can be difficult for those individual suffering from any of these mental disorders AND a alcohol or drug addiction. Simply put, the mental conditions you see above, are all made much worse by the presence of drugs or alcohol. Those classified with a dual diagnosis have a propensity for violent behavior and high suicide rates as well. Many with the mental conditions listed above use drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication in an attempt to numb the pain and anxiety caused by their disease. Treating those with a dual diagnosis required expert, integrated care, when the individual receives treatment for both the mental illness and addiction treatment in the same location.
Michael's House is one of the top alcohol and drug rehab centers in California for those individuals who have been classified with a dual diagnosis. Michael's House understands the special needs of the dual diagnosis patient in ways many facilities do not. Providing customized, integrated care to the individual is what Michael's House does best.
