Co-occurring disorders are simultaneous struggles, typically from both a mental health and addiction standpoint. Cooccurring disorders are also often referred to as dual diagnoses. Avedis Recovery provides Los Angeles residents with help for substance use disorder and the mental health issues often at the root of their dependency on drugs and alcohol. If you or someone you care about is suffering on multiple levels, they could benefit from the help of an addiction treatment center that incorporates a mental health treatment program. Reach out to the compassionate medical professionals at Avedis Recovery online or call 833.514.0579 today to discuss how treating co-occurring disorders at the same time can help you overcome, recover and live a happier, healthier life.
What Are The Most Common Co-Occurring Disorders?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that almost half of people with a serious mental illness have reported engaging in drug or alcohol abuse. This is because living with mental illness can push people to mask their suffering with drugs and/or alcohol, which can put them at a higher risk of developing a substance use disorder. In order to get clean, sober, and started on a path toward a complete recovery, both the mental health and addiction issues must be addressed.
From grief and guilt to anger and self-esteem, there are countless intense emotions that can lead to addiction issues. But when it comes to co-occurring disorders, the common diagnosed mental health issues that go hand-in-hand with addiction are:
Anxiety Disorder
A generalized anxiety disorder is often assigned to people who experience frequent and recurring anxiety, panic attacks, sleep issues, and restlessness. Attempting to live with this level of intense anxiety has the potential to cause you to rely on drugs, alcohol, and prescription medication as a way of coping with the pain and negative thoughts and as means of functioning socially.
Eating Disorder
Anorexia and bulimia are common co-occurring disorders found in people who also require treatment for addiction. If you have an unhealthy relationship with food, body dysmorphic issues, and develop an eating disorder, you may turn to stimulants or diet pills, along with alcohol, as a way of suppressing your appetite and increasing your confidence in social situations.
ADHD
It is usually kids and young adults who are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This disorder is identified by impulsive behavior, a lack of focus, as well as hyperactivity. Unfortunately, a co-occurring disorder emerges when young people begin to abuse their prescription medications and then turn to alcohol or other drugs to further self-medicate as a means of minimizing the symptoms and function socially.
Bipolar disorder
People suffering from bipolar disorder are particularly susceptible to alcohol and drug addiction because of the chemical imbalance in their brains. This imbalance causes uncontrollable episodes of depression and mania, which often leads to self-medicating with substances to minimize the swing from one extreme to the other. Unfortunately, this usually produces an increase in manic episodes and leads to severe addiction, which Avedis Recovery can treat as co-occurring disorders to help you regain control over your life.
PTSD
You may have experienced an event or series of moments, like being in a war or suffering a violent crime, that has caused you to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This extreme stress is, in some cases, life-threatening and too often sees people opting to reduce their PTSD symptoms with drugs or alcohol. Even if the substances temporarily mask the issues, an addiction can form, which can lead to a greater emotional imbalance. Treating mental health and addiction simultaneously as co-occurring disorders is one way to restore balance in your mental and physical well-being.
How Are Co-Occurring Disorders Treated?
While the treatment plan for your dual diagnosis in our Los Angeles office will be tailored to your specific situation and needs, there are common methods of treating mental health and addiction concurrently. As our skilled medical team works to provide you with a safe and sustainable plan to eliminate your alcohol or drug abuse while also treating the underlying causes of the addiction, the following approaches may be used:
- Detox
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Intensive outpatient program
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Group therapy
- Holistic treatments
- Life skills training
- Aftercare
Learn More at Avedis Detox
If you or someone you love is suffering from mental health and addiction, learn how treating the co-occurring issues together at Avedis Detox can start rebuilding a life. Contact us using our secure online form or call us confidentially at 833.514.0579 today.
