A dual diagnosis is when someone suffers from both addiction issues and mental health issues at the same time. Unfortunately, this is very common as there is a strong and bidirectional relationship between mental health and addiction.
The road to addiction recovery is not easy but certainly achievable. When you couple addiction issues with mental health challenges such as anxiety, paranoia or depression, then the right type of treatment becomes even more important.
Usually, someone might be suffering from an addiction to either drugs or alcohol as a result of a mental health issue as they use addictive substances as a crutch.
Likewise, people who suffer from addiction issues might develop a mental health issue as a result of the chemical changes to their brain as they continue to use the addictive and harmful substances.
A dual diagnosis means that you need an appropriate approach and treatment plan when it comes to your recovery, which is why being diagnosed with a dual diagnosis is incredibly important.
This article discusses the overlap of mental health conditions when it comes to addiction issues and discusses the importance of being diagnosed with both when it comes to your recovery.
What is a Dual Diagnosis?
The formal definition of a dual diagnosis is when you suffer from both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder at the same time.
This is also sometimes commonly referred to as a co-occurring condition or co-occurring disorder. Some addictions are closely linked to certain mental health conditions.
For example, depression is closely linked to alcoholism and anxiety and paranoia is closely linked to excessive opioid use. Unfortunately, the statistics are shocking when it comes to a dual diagnosis.
According to a recent study, almost 65% of all adults who started treatment for alcohol or drug addiction in the UK also suffered from a mental health issue at the same time.
The rate sat at almost 60% for all opiate users and just over 70% for all alcohol related addictions.
As you can see, these statistics highlight how closely related alcohol and drug addictions are to mental health issues. The below discusses how and why these conditions are so closely linked.
A Deep Dive into the Connection Between Addiction and Mental Health Issues
Mental health disorders are closely linked to substance abuse disorders as people with mental health issues such as depression or anxiety try to ease their symptoms with drugs or alcohol.
Self-medicating with drugs or alcohol to ease your mental health issues can be incredibly dangerous and often lead your mental health conditions to get worse over time.
Likewise, those who suffer from substance use disorders are statistically more likely to develop a mental health issue over time due to the chemical changes in your brain. Substances such as alcohol, opioids or other stimulants affect the chemicals and circuits in your brain.
These include dopamine, which is responsible for feeling pleasure and reward, as well as serotonin which regulates your mood as well as cortisol which impacts how you respond to stress.
Over time, the chemicals within the drugs you are consuming and abusing will deregulate the receptors in your brain which have been proven to lead to depression, anxiety, psychosis and sleep disorders.
The key to a dual diagnosis is getting diagnosed early enough so that your mental health issues do not get worse. The worse your mental health issues get, the harder it is to understand why you need help and access to treatment.
As each condition gets worse, you are more likely to suffer from a lack of support, employment issues as suffering from an array of issues linked to the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health issues.
Challenges When it Comes to Treatment of a Dual Diagnosis
Unfortunately, getting treatment for a dual diagnosis brings with it some complexities, and whilst recovery is certainly possible, it does make it harder to achieve. This is especially the case when it comes to challenges in current treatment approaches for a dual diagnosis.
This is because a lot of people still struggle to accept and acknowledge the link between mental health issues and addictions.
Therefore, a lot of treatment centres still offer separate treatment programmes rather than treating for a dual diagnosis and offering a joined up approach.
Offering separate treatment has limitations, as it fails to understand that many of the symptoms overlap, and that there might be an underlying mental health condition that you are unaware of by simply focussing on the addiction concern.
Fragmented care like this means that people are less likely to make a full recovery and are more likely to relapse again in the future.
Whilst assessing both issues at the same time does bring with it some complexities, many professionals believe assessing for a dual diagnosis from the outset is the only way to ensure thorough treatment and care.
Unfortunately, there are a number of barriers when it comes to treatment for a dual diagnosis within the system.
These systematic challenges include a lack of resources and training providers for rehab treatment staff, as well as insurance and funding challenges laid out by the Government.
Unfortunately, there is also social stigma and a general lack of awareness surrounding mental health issues as well as addiction issues, which all contribute to a lack of appropriate and productive services.
Treatment for a Dual Diagnosis
If you or someone you know suffers from a dual diagnosis, then there are a range of approaches to treatment plans available to you. If you suffer from a physically addictive substance, such as alcohol, heroin or cocaine then you should first undergo a detox at home for alcoholism before anything else.
This medical detox will rid your body of the addictive substance(s) and allow your body to operate without them. You will no longer experience physical cravings.
Once you have undergone a medical detox, you will then be ready to receive therapy treatment for the psychological side of your addiction.
This therapy treatment will include a range of therapy options including cognitive behavioural therapy, group therapy, holistic therapy, motivational interviewing and other forms of one to one therapy.
Once you complete therapy, which could last for a few months or even years, then you will follow an aftercare plan. During your recovery and aftercare, you should join support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, as well as leaning on your friends and family members for support.
First Steps to Recovery
If you think that you or someone you know is suffering from a dual diagnosis, then you should start by speaking to your local GP or speaking to a local rehab facility. The best thing that you can do is tell your doctor or treatment specialist everything about your addiction and mental health issues, including how long you have been suffering and exactly what substances you are addicted to.
There are a number of ways you can increase your likelihood of gaining access to comprehensive treatment, including explaining how severe your systems are and whether or not your symptoms are getting worse.
Recovering from a dual diagnosis takes time and commitment, but it is more than achievable with the right care, support and treatment. Hopefully, over time society will overcome the stigma associated with mental health and addiction issues, and services across the board will include improved integrated treatment.
