Approximately 21.5 million adults in the United States have co-occurring mental health concerns and substance use disorders.[1] Despite the prevalence of co-occurring conditions, many people assume that treating both simultaneously isn’t necessary. At our drug rehab in Montana, we know just how vital dual-diagnosis treatment programs are.
Bear Creek Wellness offers programs that provide the robust, comprehensive care you need to address these conditions. Learn more about treating co-occurring conditions and what you can expect when you choose a dual-diagnosis program.
Understanding Co-Occurring Disorders: Why Are They So Common?
People who experience mental health disorders at the same time as substance use disorders have co-occurring conditions. These disorders interact, worsening each other’s symptoms and making recovery much more difficult.
But why do these conditions so often co-occur? One of the reasons is that they have common risk factors. Adverse social environments, inherited characteristics, trauma, and stress can all contribute to the development of a mental illness or substance use disorder.
Crucially, addiction and mental illness impact the same areas of the brain. These regions are the ones that govern emotions, memory, decision-making, and impulse control. Dysregulation of chemical messengers, like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, is linked to both types of disorders, too.[2]
Often, mental disorders lead to the development of an addiction. You can suffer such severe symptoms that you may look for anything that brings a bit of relief, including drugs and alcohol.
At first, you may even feel some of the symptoms ease. But don’t forget that substance misuse works on the same brain regions as mental illness. Drugs and alcohol continue to cause chemical imbalances that can worsen mental health.
For the same reason, substance misuse might also jumpstart a mental illness, especially if you have other risk factors.
Why Treating Both Conditions at the Same Time During Drug Rehab in Montana Is Necessary
When dealing with co-occurring conditions, addiction is typically the one that causes the most obvious symptoms. That often means that people attempt addiction recovery without bringing comorbidities into the equation. Some people may not even realize they have a mental illness that has prompted their use of drugs or alcohol.
If you begin treatment that only focuses on addiction, you will soon realize that even though you’re sober, your mental health continues to deteriorate. You’ll start to see that substance misuse was a coping mechanism for the underlying problem. Without addressing that, your recovery will rest on a very fragile foundation.
Inversely, if you only focus on treating the mental health concern and ignore the addiction, hoping it will disappear when your mental health improves, you can be setting yourself up for failure. Once substance use has progressed to addiction, it doesn’t fade away on its own. Cravings can lead you to use again, and that could trigger the original mental health concerns.
Integrated treatment is the best option for anyone who has a dual diagnosis. Tackling both problems simultaneously teaches you the right coping strategies to avoid relapsing.
The Key Components of Dual-Diagnosis Treatment Programs
Dual-diagnosis treatment programs are crafted to offer the comprehensive help you need to address both conditions.
Diagnosis
Perhaps one of the most crucial steps in beginning care is the intake assessment. This will allow your care team to hear about the symptoms you’ve been experiencing and get a sense of your mental and physical health. Treatment facilities will take time during this step to ensure that they diagnose you accurately.
The diagnosis will allow them to structure the care you will receive. If you have symptoms of a mental health concern, even if you’ve never been officially diagnosed, your care team may recommend a dual-diagnosis program.
Detoxification During Drug Rehab in Montana
Before it’s possible to begin mental health treatment, you will have to go through the detox process. Medical professionals will supervise you to ensure you remain comfortable and safe and don’t experience the worst withdrawal symptoms.
Individual Therapy Sessions
Recovery centers provide individual therapy sessions that will help you understand why you’re struggling with mental health concerns and addiction. If you’ve been diagnosed already, or if you have lived through a traumatic experience, you may already know the answer. Still, individual sessions incorporating behavioral therapy techniques can make it easier to begin giving voice to what you’re battling.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is beneficial. It teaches you how to identify negative thoughts leading to mood issues. By identifying these negative patterns, you can start making essential changes to how you see the world and think of yourself.
Group Therapy Sessions
Mental health and addiction treatment programs also offer group therapy. Having a dual diagnosis can leave you struggling with disconnection. These feelings of isolation can worsen your symptoms, so learning how to build a support system and communicate effectively with others is essential.
Group therapy allows you to express yourself and to hear about others’ experiences. You can learn just how vital support groups are and will continue to be throughout your recovery.
Drug Rehab in Montana: How Bear Creek Wellness Can Help
At Bear Creek Wellness, we offer a unique take on dual-diagnosis treatment programs. We provide evidence-based, traditional therapies to help you address mental health and addiction issues, but we do so within nature’s healing spaces. We offer a sanctuary enveloped by Montana’s natural beauty where you can begin your recovery.
No two journeys are alike, so we offer individualized treatment programs to help you face your unique challenges. Whether you prefer an inpatient or outpatient program, our team can help. Contact us at Bear Creek Wellness and get the guidance you deserve.
Sources:
[1] https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/co-occurring-disorders
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK571451/
Andrea was born and raised in Spokane Washington, she moved to Montana with her husband in 2015. Andrea has been in the field of counseling since 2009. As a licensed addiction counselor, she worked primarily in addiction until 2018 when she completed her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and became a license clinical professional counselor and a licensed marriage and family therapist. Andrea has worked with diverse populations and found her calling working with individuals and couples struggling with substance use and its relational
impact. With a passion for recovery and healing families, Andrea has built a private practice in Missoula, MT and serves various populations. Andrea’s love for people and her desire to engage with, and promote, internal healing has fostered a truly unique role aiding individualized journeys in recovery. In her spare time, she enjoys her beautiful property west of Missoula with nature at her front and back doors. Her greatest joy in life is spending time with her granddaughter and breaking the cycle of addiction in her own family.
