When addiction strikes, you may find yourself researching various types of treatment options. For example, you’ve heard about having a dual diagnosis but don’t know if this care option is right for you. As a result, you keep asking, “Do I need dual diagnosis treatment?” instead of just getting treatment. Thankfully, we are here to help. We can not only discuss your dual diagnosis with you but can provide it when you want addiction treatment.
Mental health issues and addiction have increased significantly in the United States and beyond. Fortunately, with treatment options like dual diagnosis treatment, it is possible to address both conditions. Crestview Recovery is proud to offer dual diagnosis treatment, as well as other treatment options. For more information about how this treatment can support your recovery, please reach out to our team today at 866.262.0531.
What Is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis treatment is an option that focuses on treating your addiction and mental health disorders at the same time. The central thesis behind this care is that psychological issues and addiction often influence each other in a myriad of ways. They can worsen each other and be triggered by each other in a way that makes addiction one of the most robust types of diseases to manage appropriately.
For example, anxiety and depression may trigger drug abuse in some individuals. Though they believe that the drugs help calm their nerves, they may worsen their symptoms. As a result, they may try to increase amounts of drugs in a dangerous cycle that often ends in death. If you suspect that you or someone you love has a dual diagnosis, you need to look for symptoms such as:
- Withdrawing from friends, family, and other loved ones when they offer support
- Displaying reckless, violent, or angry behaviors
- Having an inability to concentrate due to hopelessness, worries, or anxiety
- Experiencing hallucinations or delusions
- Changing their sleeping or eating habits
- Being unable to hold jobs or attend school due to continuous mental health challenges
- Displaying extreme changes in mood or behaviors
These symptoms can range from mild to severe, but when they lead to drug use, it’s time to seek immediate treatment. When asking, “Do I need dual diagnosis treatment?” you need to understand this fact and the benefits that this care option provides, as well.
What Are the Benefits of Dual Diagnosis?
Now that you understand more about dual diagnosis, you can take a look at the benefits that it provides you. As researchers learn more about addiction and its impact on the mind, they are finding that this care option is often by far the best way to manage substance use. That’s because dual diagnosis performs a variety of purposes, including:
- Teaches you about psychological issues – Learn about the deep-rooted emotions that cause your addictions.
- Handles behavioral concerns – Often, addiction becomes a cycle of abuse patterns of behavior that you must manage appropriately.
- Assesses how they are related – Discuss how your emotional problems impact your addiction and vice versa.
- Creates better personal understanding – Go through counseling and group sessions to better learn why you react to things the way that you do.
By now, you should have a pretty good idea of why dual diagnosis has become such a popular treatment option. But you may still be wondering, “Do I need dual diagnosis treatment?” and think that you may not. Sadly, we find that just about anybody with an addiction needs this type of care. So let’s examine why you probably do need this treatment for your recovery.
Do I Need Dual Diagnosis Treatment?
The massive impact of drug abuse on your emotional state is something that you can’t ignore. People often find themselves struggling to stay stable and functional when drug abuse takes over their life. But do you need dual diagnosis treatment? Ask yourself the following questions to gauge whether or not this addiction care option is right for you:
- Do you use drugs to control your emotional state? If so, you probably need dual diagnosis treatment.
- Does drug use make me feel more paranoid or emotional? If so, you probably need this care.
- When I quit using drugs or alcohol, do I have a panic attack? This symptom typically indicates a need for dual diagnosis treatment.
As you can see, dual diagnosis is a beneficial care option for just about any type of addiction. And as a growing number of people suffer addictions, they receive this type of care. As a result, the answer to the question, “Do I need dual diagnosis treatment?” is likely a very big, “Yes.” However, it would help if you talked to your addiction specialist first before you commit to any care option.
Help Is Available at Crestview Recovery
So, do you know the answer to the question, “Do I need dual diagnosis treatment?” If not, you should contact us at Crestview Recovery by calling 866.262.0531. Our experts can assess your situation and help you decide whether or not you need dual diagnosis treatment. Then, they can walk you through a variety of treatment options, including inpatient, outpatient, aftercare, and much more. Don’t let addiction control your life. When you contact us and verify your insurance, you can get back on the road to recovery for good.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
