Mental illness is one of the leading reasons why thousands of people around the world develop an addiction. Unfortunately, society lacks education about mental illness, and there’s also somewhat of a negative stigma. Co-occurring disorders occur when a person has an addiction as well as a mental illness, and it complicates recovery.
How Co-Occurring Disorders Develop
Even without an addiction, depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mood disorders can be extremely scary to deal with. Individuals can feel as though they’re going crazy when they lack control over thoughts or emotions. There are many cases where mental illness goes undiagnosed. Unfortunately, some individuals may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope.
Self-medication creates a negative habit loop, which can include:
- Trigger
- Behavior
- Reward
The trigger is the feeling, the behavior is drinking or using drugs, and the reward might be a temporary escape. The bottom line is that individuals resort to using to cope. Eventually, this habit becomes so strong that it becomes a compulsive reaction.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Co-occurring disorders are difficult to overcome, but it’s possible. Dual diagnosis is a type of treatment focused on your addiction as well as your symptoms of mental illness. You’ll receive suggestions as to how to replace your old behaviors with new ones. When you’re able to turn to a new behavior when you’re triggered, you begin to rewire your brain and heal.
There are a variety of ways that you can begin dealing with your mental illness, and one is with non-narcotic medications. These medications help to balance out the different parts of the brain that aren’t functioning correctly. As a way to supplement these medications, you will also learn holistic ways to deal with these symptoms. Some people decide to strictly use holistic methods, which is a personal choice that can be effective.
Quality Addiction Treatment Programs
Here at Ashley Addiction Treatment, we treat mental illness and addiction to give you the best chances of staying sober after treatment. We provide an on-site detox, 24-hour medical care, primary residential program and many other amenities. You can find out more about our programs by calling us today at 866-313-6307.
