Understanding the Difficult World of Dual Diagnosis
- Jun 20, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
The world of dual diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but understanding the intricate connection between substance abuse and mental health is the first step toward a healthier life. This comprehensive guide will provide you with the insights and tools you need to navigate this journey with confidence.
What is the core definition of a dual diagnosis?
A dual diagnosis is when an individual has been officially diagnosed with both a substance abuse disorder and a mental health disorder. It is not a single type of diagnosis, but rather a combination of two co-occurring conditions that affect the person simultaneously.
This is just the beginning. To truly understand the personalized nature of dual diagnosis and the path to recovery, keep reading. We will explore various symptoms and the cyclical relationship between these conditions to help you on your journey.
How Does Dual Diagnosis Complicate Recovery and What Is the Best Approach?
Suffering from addiction or a mental health disorder is a very complicated and nuanced ordeal. A number of personalized coping strategies are needed for each individual’s unique situation.
Dual diagnosis can further complicate one’s circumstances. It can prompt the need to further personalize and address one’s specific symptoms, mindset, and the interplay between addiction and mental health disorders.
However, a dual diagnosis can still be effectively addressed and overcome despite being a complicated situation. It is necessary to take a personalized approach to best understand one’s unique diagnoses, needs, and hurdles when creating a plan for a healthier and transformed lifestyle.
What Is Dual Diagnosis?
Understanding dual diagnosis is essential in grasping the complex nature of co-occurring disorders. Dual diagnosis is not a single kind of diagnosis. Rather, it implies that an individual has been officially diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder or addiction as well as a mental health disorder.
Each of one’s diagnoses affects them simultaneously. This means that one’s dual diagnosis may not reflect the same situation as their peers. However, it does not mean that any single instance of dual diagnosis is better or worse than another’s. All require intricate and personalized attention to address each situation.
For some, dual diagnosis may manifest as an addiction to heroin while also being clinically diagnosed with depression or anxiety. Others may suffer from an alcohol addiction alongside the development of bipolar disorder. In some cases, individuals can experience dual diagnosis as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder and an addiction to opiates used as a coping strategy.
Any kind of mental health disorder—from anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, panic, bipolar disorder, and more—can be affected by one’s substance use. One’s substance use can continue to augment the effects of a mental health disorder. Without professional recovery, this can create a difficult cycle to address.
Identifying Various Symptoms
Dual diagnosis is a very personal combination of unique symptoms, making it can be difficult to determine specific symptoms that apply to all circumstances. However, being vigilant to identify overall changes can indicate there is a need to seek professional help, or that an individual may be coping with multiple stressors simultaneously. Some things to look for include:
Sudden changes in social outings, resulting in isolation or disinterest in previous hobby groups
Difficulty maintaining employment or inconsistent attendance at work
Pervasive and consistent feelings of worry, panic, or confusion
An increase in risky behaviors
Sudden changes in overall mood
Inability to maintain daily responsibilities
Compromised hygiene routine or eating schedule
Difficulty maintaining meaningful relationships
These are only a few ways in which an individual may present multiple complications at once. An individual’s unique combination of diagnoses can make it difficult to determine how many diagnoses they may be suffering from without the trained eye of a professional to guide them. Educating oneself about a loved one’s diagnosis can help determine if their symptoms are the result of a diagnosis, or if there may be additional hurdles in their recovery.
The Cyclic Nature of Dual Diagnosis
Suffering from a dual diagnosis of any kind can create a complicated recovery path. However, recovery is always possible, even if an individual may need to plan their recovery journey in a unique way.
Those suffering from a dual diagnosis will need to address their recovery on all fronts in order to create the best approach to a sustained and effective recovery.
Those suffering from dual diagnosis may find that their substance abuse disorders and mental health disorders can continue to impact each other. For example, one’s anxiety disorder can make it very difficult to manage their coping strategies when dealing with urges to reengage with cocaine. This may make it easier to begin using the addictive substance again. Likewise, one’s use of a drug can also increase one’s debilitating feelings of anxiety.
Addressing one’s use of drugs without addressing one’s anxiety disorder can lead to a very difficult and fragile recovery if there are no strategies in place to quell feelings of anxiety. This can increase the chances of relapse, just as addressing one’s anxiety without confronting the role that drug use has played can make many coping strategies difficult to employ. Anxiety then may continue to affect one’s life.
Taking the First Step
Creating a comprehensive approach to addressing all aspects of one’s dual diagnosis is paramount in effectively developing a sustainable recovery plan. The use of specialized, personalized programs can help an individual address all of their diagnoses simultaneously. It can also educate them on the unique way in which their diagnoses affect each other in their daily life.
Finding the right program and peers is necessary to address dual diagnosis effectively. Having professionals who are prepared to explain and educate about the interplay of one’s situation is necessary for sustained sobriety and a transformed lifestyle. Acknowledging one’s additional needs and making a call is the first step in exercising agency and taking control of one’s own life in addressing the difficult world of dual diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
• What is a dual diagnosis?
A dual diagnosis is when a person is diagnosed with both a substance abuse disorder or addiction and a mental health disorder.
• How can I identify the symptoms of a dual diagnosis?
While symptoms are unique to each person, some signs to look for include sudden changes in social habits, difficulty maintaining employment, persistent feelings of worry, and an increase in risky behaviors.
• What kind of mental health disorders can be part of a dual diagnosis?
Any mental health disorder, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder, can be affected by substance use.
• How do a substance abuse disorder and a mental health disorder affect each other?
They can impact each other in a cycle. For example, anxiety can make it harder to manage cravings, and substance use can worsen feelings of anxiety.
• What is the first step in addressing a dual diagnosis?
The first step is to create a comprehensive approach that addresses all aspects of the dual diagnosis simultaneously, often through specialized, personalized programs.
Navigating a dual diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to do it alone. At Chateau Health and Wellness Treatment Center, we understand the complex interplay between addiction and mental health. Our dedicated team is ready to create a personalized recovery plan tailored to your unique needs. We believe in a collaborative approach, and we are here to walk alongside you on your journey to a healthier, transformed life. Let us be your partner in recovery; contact us today at (435) 222-5225 to take the first step toward a brighter future.
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About The Author
Austin Pederson, Executive Director of Chateau Health and Wellness
Brings over eight years of experience revolutionizing mental health and substance abuse treatment through compassionate care and innovative business strategies. Inspired by his own recovery journey, Austin has developed impactful programs tailored to individuals facing trauma and stress while fostering comprehensive support systems that prioritize holistic wellness. His empathetic leadership extends to educating and assisting families, ensuring lasting recovery for clients and their loved ones.
Danny Warner, CEO of Chateau Health and Wellness
Brings a wealth of experience in business operations, strategic alliances, and turnaround management, with prior leadership roles at Mediconnect Global, Klever Marketing, and WO Investing, Inc. A graduate of Brigham Young University in Economics and History, Danny has a proven track record of delivering results across diverse industries. His most transformative role, however, was as a trail walker and counselor for troubled teens at the Anasazi Foundation, where he directly impacted young lives, a personal commitment to transformation that now drives his leadership at Chateau.
Ben Pearson, LCSW - Clinical Director
With 19 years of experience, Ben Pearson specializes in adolescent and family therapy, de-escalation, and high-risk interventions. As a former Clinical Director of an intensive outpatient program, he played a key role in clinical interventions and group therapy. With 15+ years in wilderness treatment and over a decade as a clinician, Ben has helped countless individuals and families navigate mental health and recovery challenges.
