“What If I Have Both Conditions?”
“How will treatment be different for me?”
“What’s my outcome like?”
The Overlap :
There are several possible relationships that exist between substance use disorders and other mental health conditions. Some people have been diagnosed with one condition or the other. Many people live with both a substance use disorder and another mental health condition. These individuals have what we call a “dual diagnosis.”
Challenges in Making a Correct Diagnosis
Substance use disorders may induce or worsen mental health symptoms in some people, complicating the diagnosis. Substance use disorders can cause mental health symptoms and mimic psychiatric disorders. Acute & chronic drug and alcohol use can prompt the development, provoke the reemergence, or worsen the severity of mental health disorders. People may also use alcohol and drugs to self-medicate unwanted mental health symptoms and to ameliorate the unwanted side effects of certain medications. It’s important to work with your mental health team to establish the correct diagnosis and come up with an individualized treatment plan.
How does the treatment approach change if someone is dually diagnosed?
Compared with people who have either a primary mental health disorder or a substance use disorder, people with a dual diagnosis can experience more severe medical and psychological distress. Because these individuals have two conditions, they are vulnerable to both addiction relapse and a worsening of the mental health disorder. Addiction relapse can lead to worse mental health outcomes and any worsening of the mental health condition can also lead to addiction relapse. For these reasons, treatment planning must be individualized for patients with both conditions. In our private practice, many patients often have a dual diagnosis. Most are doing quite well! Having a customized treatment plan can make a big difference in making sure you have the best possible clinical outcomes. Help is always available, there is hope for everyone!
Five Strategies for Success: Living with Dual Diagnosis. There is Hope!
- Take good care of yourself and make sure you are maintaining sobriety, attending all your scheduled medical and psychiatric appointments, and adhering to your medications and therapy regimen for any mental health conditions. Work a solid recovery program and if issues come up, talk to your sober network or mental health treatment team.
- Practice mind-body medicine which can help with stress management and treatment of both conditions. Meditation, yoga, and acupuncture can sometimes be very helpful.
- Recognize, be mindful, present, and aware, regarding the daily patterns in your mood or cravings. Be vigilant and proactive in your recovery and treatment. If you notice any concerning changes at all, ask for help right away!
- Exercise and eat well. Maintain your emotional and physical resilience and always prioritize self-care.
- Consider attending specific self-help groups for people with dual diagnosis in your local community. Identify and feel supported!
