6 Things to Look for in Dual Diagnosis Treatment
(This content is being used for illustrative purposes only; any person depicted in the content is a model)
Dual diagnosis describes the coexisting struggle with both mental illness and drug/alcohol addiction. The relationship between the two is very complex, and a lot of the time people confuse the symptoms of one for another, so the treatment of people with dual diagnosis issues is more complicated than the treatment of either mental illness of addiction alone.
Dual diagnosis is extremely common in substance abuse, and these conditions tend to have a chicken-or-the-egg relationship where their evolution is somehow connected. That being said, dual diagnosis treatment is important for properly addressing both issues at once.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment: What is Important?
Dual diagnosis treatment for dual diagnosis includes a variety of programs in which the patient attends classes or appointments, along with therapy and other work-shops for behavioral health.
There are many qualifying factors that can determine whether or not any one facility is a better fit for the individual. When looking for dual diagnosis treatment to provide the help you need, there are other factors that should be considered. Here are 6 factors to consider when looking for dual diagnosis treatment:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy exists in dual diagnosis treatment for patients is to help the individual avoid or cope with situations that are likely to result in drug abuse. Disrupting the old patterns of behavior can be a big part of learning how to better
- Motivational incentives
Positive reinforcement can be a powerful way to retrain your mind and your behavior toward healthier goals, and motivational incentives are a clever tool to convince a patient to abstain from drugs while living in less controlled environment during dual diagnosis treatment.
- Family therapy programs
Many effective dual diagnosis treatment programs offer a family therapy program, which is designed to improve the relationship of the individual suffering with their family and loved ones by including the family in the recovery process. Family therapy also offers a way to educate those close to the patient on the realities of mental illness and/or addiction
- Experienced Staff
With treatment for either addiction or mental illness as they stand alone, and individual should always be sure the staff is experienced with working with these conditions. Having a well-educated, well trained and professional staff at your disposal is essential when it comes down to getting effective and lasting results from dual diagnosis treatment.
- Support
Without support, an individual is forced to battle alone with things they may struggle with as they face them in the outside world every day. A lot of things show up in life that can make it difficult to keep going without having some structure to lean on, such as temptation, withdrawals, and countless other obstacles out there waiting for the drug addict or alcoholic.
Support certainly should not be a rare concept, it should instead be a standard for dual diagnosis treatment. Everyone needs a little support sometimes, and leaving people to fend for themselves does not promote healthier choices or positive relationships.
Lasting recovery means having a continued plan of action, and following through with the activities you know keep you on the right path. Any dual diagnosis treatment facility should offer consistent support and some level of aftercare for continued development.
Mental illness and addiction frequently feed off of one another, and some people understand the need to treat both simultaneously for the fullest effect or treatment. Dual diagnosis treatment helps people suffering to experience a program dedicated to a complete quality of care and recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll-free 1-800-777-9588