For many people, addiction is much more than a physical struggle with drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse issues are often accompanied by unresolved trauma or mental illness. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.”[1]
Dealing with a substance use disorder and a mental health condition at the same time can be very challenging. If you have a combination of addiction and a mental illness, you know how hard it can be to cope with everyday life. Unfortunately, the difficulties that arise when you suffer from co-occurring disorders carry into recovery, complicating the healing process.
Dual diagnosis rehab centers in New Jersey have licensed mental health therapists on staff who can address both your addiction and mental health condition, making the recovery process that much easier. Dual diagnosis treatment offers many advantages as it allows you to recover from both conditions at the same time as well as improve your overall quality of life.
The six main benefits of dual diagnosis treatment are:
1. Assessment of Psychiatric Health
When you suffer from co-occurring disorders, you may be completely unaware of what mental health condition you struggle with. While you know something is wrong due to the emotional and psychological symptoms you are dealing with, sometimes it is difficult to pinpoint the diagnosis that fits your situation.
Luckily, dual-diagnosis treatment programs can provide you with an accurate assessment of your psychiatric health to provide you with a diagnosis that explains your symptoms.
Being aware of your diagnosis can help you find proper coping mechanisms and tools to help you deal with the symptoms you face daily. Additionally, being diagnosed with a mental health condition will allow you to receive the proper treatments, medications, and therapies you need to recover.
Common conditions to occur with substance use disorder include:[2]
- Anxiety and mood disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Major depressive disorder
- Conduct disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
2. Individualized Treatment
When you attend a dual-diagnosis addiction treatment center in New Jersey, you will undergo a complete assessment of your medical, psychiatric, substance abuse, and social history. This will provide the staff members with information about your background, overall health, mental health, and history of substance abuse, allowing them to make an informed decision on what methods of treatment you will need to recover successfully.
After you complete the assessments, medical staff will create an individualized treatment plan that meets your unique needs. This provides you with effective and specific treatment tactics that are specific to your situation, ensuring that you do not waste any time during your stay at the facility.
3. A Wide Variety of Therapeutic Methods
Addiction and mental health affect everyone in different ways. For example, one person who struggles with depression may experience symptoms of insomnia and an inability to relax, while you may have a hard time getting out of bed and staying motivated. In the same way that co-occurring disorders affect everyone differently, each person may respond to specific types of therapy in a varied way.
Dual diagnosis rehab centers use a variety of therapeutic methods to determine which kind of treatment you respond to best. This ensures that the kind of therapy you are undergoing will provide you with symptom relief and an ability to cope with your co-occurring disorders.
Some of the therapeutic methods applied in dual diagnosis treatment programs include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)
- Contingency management (CM)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Family behavior therapy
4. Counseling Groups That Promote Healthy Communication
Dual diagnosis rehab centers emphasize the importance of group counseling. Group counseling is a form of therapy that includes a group of 5-15 patients and one or two licensed mental health providers who facilitate group discussions.
Counseling groups allow patients to experience therapy collaboratively, providing them with insight into how others experience co-occurring disorders and the recovery thereof.
Participating in a counseling group can allow you to develop healthy communication skills and gain support from your peers, helping you deal with the isolation and loneliness that is caused by experiencing co-occurring addiction and mental health issues.
Other benefits of counseling groups include peer support, unbiased feedback on current issues, motivation to continue treatment, and improved social skills.
5. Learning How to Cope Without Using Drugs or Alcohol
A key aspect of recovery from addiction and mental illness is learning how to cope with your feelings, emotions, and overall life without feeling the need to use drugs or alcohol. Oftentimes, when you struggle with co-occurring disorders the substance use disorder developed as a coping mechanism for your untreated mental health condition. Because of this, learning how to use healthy coping mechanisms is an integral aspect of dual diagnosis treatment.
Examples of healthy coping mechanisms you will learn in a dual diagnosis program include:
- Learning to identify triggers
- Using mindfulness techniques to stay in the present moment
- Journaling to organize your thoughts
- Using exercise, healthy sleeping patterns, and a balanced diet to manage emotions
- Having a list of people you can call in times of need
- Regular attendance to self-help support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery
- Regular attendance of individual and group therapy
- Continued medication management if needed
6. Recovery of the Mind, Body, and Soul
Many dual diagnosis treatment programs in New Jersey use a holistic approach to recovery from co-occurring disorders. Holistic treatment is a method of healing that focuses on the person as a whole, rather than treating a specific health condition. In other words, holistic treatment addresses the psychological, familial, societal, ethical, and spiritual as well as the biological dimensions of health and illness.
Examples of holistic treatments used to aid in the recovery of addiction and mental illness include:
- Yoga
- Tai chi
- Guided meditation
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Spiritual therapy
- Routine exercise
- Proper nutrition
- Counseling
- Art therapy
Get Connected With a Top-Rated Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in New Jersey
Suffering from a mental illness and a substance use disorder can be exhausting. More often than not, it is extremely difficult to recover from your symptoms without professional help. Attending a professional dual diagnosis program can provide you with the tools and support you need to recover from both of your co-occurring disorders.
Contact Blue Star Recovery Center today for more information on our dual diagnosis treatment program in New Jersey.
References:
