Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis is an effective, evolving treatment process that addresses addiction and underlying mental health disorders. Relapse is often due to non-diagnosis or improper diagnosis in addicts that have concurring disorders.

Mental health issues can cause substance abuse as an individual may turn to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate and taper the emotional or physical effects of their unknown illness. On the other hand, substance abuse can, over time, activate mental illness; we lose bits and pieces of the psyche, and our perception of the outside world is distorted. Internal judgement becomes intensified for the addict, and the brain that was once healthy becomes unstable and rewired through addiction.

Depending on the classified mental illness and addiction pair, an undiagnosed individual can be a danger to themselves and those around them. Both issues of mental health and addiction need to be treated at the same time for recovery to be entirely effective.

Risk Factors

Social Status and Available Care:

The disconnect between socioeconomic status and available health care is an issue that goes back generations. Those of disadvantaged socioeconomic status are not aware of their treatment options, or they cannot afford them. The mental health system and addiction treatments are not the highest priority within the healthcare system. We see it in our communities all the time; those afflicted with mental health conditions and drug or alcohol issues, with nowhere to turn for adequate care. They can end up indigent, wayward, and homeless.

The Villa offers support for dual diagnosis clients. We are an alcohol and drug addiction treatment center first and foremost, but we can refer medical care to help all concurring mental health conditions should they assist with recovery. We firmly believe in the connection between all treatment steps, and one big issue within the recovery community is the disconnect between psychological treatment and addiction therapy. Mental health assessments should always be done prior to creating a treatment plan for the client.

If treatment of addiction comes before mental illness is addressed, the addiction treatment will not be as effective. Without dual diagnosis treatments, these mental health issues will only inhibit full recovery. We supplement all treatment options as they apply to each client. Although we are not a mental health facility, we do offer initial diagnosis through our competent and compassionate clinical staff as they explore all sides of a client. After this early diagnosis, we do follow up and make sure, that once a client has specific indicators of a mental health issue, they are taken care of and treated through referral. We strongly recommend this duality of mental health and addiction therapy.

Mental Health Stigma – Dual Diagnosis

There is an all-too-pervasive stigma attached to mental health disorders. This stigma is entrenched in a history of ignorance and poor public policy. Unfortunately, although the scientific and psychological community has come a long way in recognizing the need to treat mental health issues, the public consciousness is slow to catch up.

Because of this, many who urgently need mental health and addiction care are reluctant to reach out and ask for help. We in the addiction recovery community know that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. There are many reasons why a person developed a mental health disorder; seeking treatment is NOT something to be ashamed of.

Those with previous childhood trauma, assault trauma, and abuse trauma or PTSD processing, need help to focus on these issues as they build up over time. Past trauma or recent trauma can get buried beneath other snowballing issues because a person’s well-being is compromised. Anxiety, depression, ADD, and bipolar disorders are not things that just fall away, but, if unaddressed, remain with us. The problem remains and grows as we move through life by not addressing it. We may never be ‘cured’ of an issue, but we can learn how to cope better with uncomfortable thoughts, feeling and social interactions. Addiction more often than not comes from the feeling of despair and the need to self-medicate because a person is unsure of how to behave in society and how to address their troublesome feelings.

Cohesive Addiction Treatment at The Villa – Dual Diagnosis

Addiction treatment is much more effective when all the issues inside an individual are addressed. At The Villa Treatment Center, we understand wholeheartedly that many factors can drive a person to become dependent on drugs and alcohol. We want to help our clients address everything about their past and present life that can trigger dependency and abuse. They may not understand why they abuse these substances or what causes their addiction, but we can help them understand themselves and how to remove addiction from the center of their lives.

Throughout our time addressing addiction and mental health concerns, we have learned to rely on a dynamic and evolving treatment system that has proven successful. We encourage all that are seeking addiction treatment for drugs and alcohol to think about having a dual assessment for addiction and any mental health condition. Our custom treatment plans are designed to incorporate every method of therapy to ensure our client’s time here is spent wisely. We want to provide all our clients with a solid foundation that is geared toward total success.

Find Out More

If you or anyone you know is suffering from addiction and are concerned about possible mental health conditions, please call The Villa Treatment Center today. We encourage you to speak with our intake counselors to find out more about your treatment options. Financing options may be available for you, so don’t hesitate to make the call. We’re here to offer the groundwork of a lifelong recovery.