Dual Diagnosis Treatment in North Bergen, NJ

Dual diagnosis treatment in North Bergen is designed to ensure patients receive the correct combination of treatments to address more than one disorder.

A dual diagnosis treatment center is designed to provide a safe environment for people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. Dual diagnosis treatment programs also provide specialized behavioral therapies that teach a recovering person new coping skills for managing the symptoms of their individual mental health disorder without the need for drugs or alcohol.

What is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis is the term used when a person has at least one psychiatric disorder or mental health problem at the same time as a co-occurring drug or alcohol addiction.

In some people, the symptoms of mental illness can be the trigger for self-medicating with drugs or alcohol to numb painful feelings or emotions. In other people, the symptoms of mental illness may have been triggered or worsened by substance abuse.

It's important that dual diagnosis treatment programs are integrated to take both conditions into consideration. Traditional treatment methods often required a person to seek drug rehab treatments first in order to be clean and sober before they qualified for psychiatric treatment to address the mental health issue.

By comparison, dual diagnosis treatment in North Bergen works to ensure both conditions are taken into account so the patient receives the correct therapies to reduce the risk of relapse.

Dual Diagnosis and Addiction

The National Institute on Drug Abuse released statistics that show a higher prevalence of mental disorders among patients with substance use disorders. People with mood disorders tend to have an increased vulnerability to drug abuse and addiction.

Struggling with improperly managed symptoms of a mental health disorder can lead a person to self-medicate. While drugs or alcohol may provide temporary relief from symptoms, it's important to note that many substances can make mental illness symptoms worse. The severity of a comorbid mental illness with an addiction requires a stay in our inpatient rehab in North Bergen.

The result can trigger a cycle of substance abuse that can spark addiction as the person becomes caught in a repeated attempt to improve mood, escape from painful emotions or numb negative feelings.

Types of Mental Health Disorders

Some types of mental health disorders are more commonly linked to co-occurring drug or alcohol use disorders. These include:

Anxiety disorders: Anxiety and panic disorders can cause significant mental distress for sufferers. Even when symptoms of anxiety aren't present, the person often lives in fear of having another panic attack, causing more distress and anxiety.

Self-medicating with drugs or alcohol can temporarily relieve the stress of anxiety disorders. However, psychoactive substances can actually intensify anxiety and make symptoms worse.

OCD: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder that causes people to experience irrational fears and feelings of anxiety that can lead them to repeating compulsive rituals. If the person doesn't complete those rituals, such as washing hands, checking that doors are locked, counting items, or organizing things, symptoms of anxiety worsen.

Statistics published by the Journal of Anxiety Disorders estimates that more than 25 percent of people seeking treatment for OCD also meet the criteria for a substance abuse disorder.

Depression: There has been a long-standing link between depression and alcohol addiction in North Bergen, as many people may turn to drinking in an effort to elevate their mood. However, alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that can make symptoms of depression even worse.

According to figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 10 percent of Americans suffer from symptoms of depression. PsychCentral estimates that up to 50% of people with alcoholism are also suffering from clinical depression.

PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an extremely debilitating mental disorder that causes intense anxiety and stress. Between 60 and 80 percent of people seeking treatment for PTSD also meet the criteria for a substance abuse disorder.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Options

Dual diagnosis treatment in North Bergen integrates the right combination of therapies and treatments to suit each individual person's unique needs. Each patient is assessed to identify and evaluate the type of drug being taken, the length of use and severity of the addiction, and the co-occurring mental health problem that needs to be addressed.

Addiction specialists can then determine the right psychopharmacological treatments required to effectively manage the symptoms of the mental health disorder. At the same time, drug detox in North Bergen begins the treatment process for substance addiction.

When the person's symptoms of withdrawal and the mental health condition have stabilized, specialized behavioral therapy begins to address the underlying triggers of addictive substance abuse.

Dual diagnosis treatment in North Bergen also works to teach recovering people effective ways to manage the symptoms of their mental health disorder without turning to drugs or alcohol. A crucial element of any dual diagnosis treatment includes our relapse prevention in North Bergen.

The recovering person is taught to identify their own unique addiction triggers. When warning signs are recognized the person is taught to implement new management skills for the mental health disorder and use newly-learned recovery tools to avoid returning to a pattern of self-destructive substance abuse.

The result is an increased chance of making a successful recovery and living a clean and sober lifestyle over the long term. Make the right choice and call us today at (877) 804-1531.