You know something’s going on. Whether it’s a struggle you’re dealing with personally or you’re seeing it in a loved one, the situation is complex. Yet it needs to be addressed. If you’re experiencing co-occurring disorders, professional help is necessary to getting healthy. With all available options out there, it’s important to find integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders to achieve the true long-term healing you deserve. But what is this kind of treatment, and how can you recognize whether it’s something you specifically need?
What is a Co-Occurring Disorder?
Dealing with a mental health disorder or an addiction can happen to anyone. But sometimes, people can struggle with BOTH at the same time. When this takes place, both conditions together are called co-occurring disorders. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines co-occurring disorders officially as a combination of at least one substance use disorder and one or more mental health disorders.
Believe it or not, about 21.5 million American adults have co-occurring disorders, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Often, co-occurring disorders arise when people with a mental health disorder seek alcohol or drugs to self-medicate for their condition, leading to a substance addiction. And the more severe the mental health disorder, the more likely a substance use disorder will follow.
So if you’re in the grip of two or more conditions like this, what can you do to find an escape? Enter integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders.
Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders: Why It’s Important
Alcohol Research: Current Reviews defines integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders as treatment that addresses both disorders simultaneously with the same provider or treatment team. Also known as dual diagnosis treatment, this treatment approach allows you to get all the help you need in one place. But why is this important? While addressing one issue at a time may give you more treatment options, your other untreated issue will only get worse. And both co-occurring disorders usually exacerbate each other, so even if you make progress on one condition, the other untreated condition will likely eventually erase the progress you’ve made.
With integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders, you get a variety of therapies working together to address the big picture. This often includes cognitive behavioral therapy to increase interpersonal and coping skills, as well as approaches that support your motivation and functional recovery. Detox and withdrawal management services combined with medication-assisted treatment can also be part of your overall dual diagnosis treatment regimen.
With all of these services under one roof, integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders has been found to be consistently superior to separate treatment for each individual condition, shares the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Alcohol Research even goes on to report that studies have shown that integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders has led to clinically significant improvement in people with depression and alcohol use, as well as people with PTSD and substance use disorders.
Signs You May Need Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders
With integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders so beneficial to people struggling with multiple disorders, how can you determine if it’s right for you or your loved one? It all starts with recognizing the signs and symptoms of co-occurring disorders. Often, the symptoms of co-occurring disorders will overlap, so you’ll need a physician or mental health professional to officially diagnose any co-occurring disorders. However, there are some common warning signs you can look for that may indicate you should talk to a professional about your concerns, including:
- Sudden changes in behavior or personality
- Risky, aggressive, or erratic behaviors
- Mood swings
- Isolation from others
- Excessive anxiety
- Using alcohol or drugs to cope with feelings of anger or sadness
- Having trouble sleeping
- Confused thinking
- Experiencing delusions or hallucinations
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Bad hygiene
- Difficulty in managing personal responsibilities, including the inability to keep your job
- Legal and financial problems
- Difficulty focusing
- Loss of control in how often you use a substance (or how much you consume)
- Needing a substance to function
- Intense cravings for drugs or alcohol
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms after quitting a substance
According to SAMHSA, people diagnosed with depression, an anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, or a personality disorder more often will deal with substance abuse problems. A family history of mental health disorders or addiction, as well as struggling with your self-image or self-esteem are other factors that can make you more susceptible to co-occurring disorders.
When left untreated, co-occurring disorders will often increase in severity over time. As they continue on, you’re at greater risk for both mental and physical decline. Devastating consequences like damaged relationships, job loss, homelessness, and trouble with law enforcement are all potential realities for people with co-occurring disorders, not to mention the possibility of self-harm and suicidal ideation.
Discover World-Class Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders in Vermont
The longer you wait to get help, the harder it gets to find healing. That’s why it’s important to make integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders a priority if you have concerns for yourself or a loved one.
At Sana at Stowe, we provide world-class integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders in Vermont—right in the heart of the beautiful New England countryside. Offering one of the best dual diagnosis treatment centers in the US, our dual diagnosis treatment program addresses the root causes of your co-occurring disorders, putting you in an ideal position to achieve long-term healing.
Personalizing our treatment to meet your unique needs, our Vermont-based treatment center incorporates individual and group therapy, holistic and evidence-based practices, medically-supervised withdrawal management, and medication management into one comprehensive recovery plan. If you’re ready to fully reclaim your life, contact our team today to get started.
