Dual diagnosis occurs when a person has a mental health condition and a substance abuse disorder at the same time. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, over 9 million Americans have a dual diagnosis condition.
As we navigate through the details of dual diagnosis treatment in Chicago, we’ll discuss how addiction treatment and conditions like anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder can be treated at NuLife Behavioral Health.
We’ll also explore why dual diagnosis treatment is essential and how it addresses these intertwined conditions. We’ll see why successful treatment involves caring for substance abuse disorders and mental health issues at the same time, not one after the other.
You’ll also gain insight into NuLife Behavioral Health’s dedicated treatment programs. Our evidence-based methods incorporate behavioral therapy alongside other effective treatment modalities tailored to each client’s needs.
Dual diagnosis treatment provides a solid foundation for addiction recovery, as well as the long-term stabilization of mental illnesses. Let us help you understand more about the treatment process as part of your first step toward wellness.
Understanding Dual Diagnosis
When mental illness and drug use disorders co-occur, addiction treatment becomes more complex, but recovery is still within reach. Treating co-occurring disorders at the same time is necessary when you’re dealing with both substance use and mental health issues.
Definition and Prevalence of Dual Diagnosis
Did you know that people with substance abuse disorders often have mental health disorders, too? A report by SAMHSA says that around 7.9 million adults in the US had co-occurring disorders in 2014. It’s not surprising, given that about 20 percent of the US population lives with mental health conditions. The most common of these disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, or personality disorders like borderline personality disorder.
In short, dual diagnosis is when an individual has both a mental health disorder and alcohol or drug addiction at the same time.
The Relationship Between Addiction and Mental Health Disorders
The relationship between addiction and mental health disorders is a vicious cycle. They often go hand in hand, making the recovery process more complex. Sometimes, mental illness pushes people toward substance abuse. Other times, substance abuse leads to or worsens existing mental health issues. It’s a never-ending cycle of chaos and pain.
A long time ago, people thought that mental health treatment and substance abuse disorders should be treated separately. A person would go to one treatment facility for mental health treatment and then get drug rehab elsewhere. That one-at-a-time approach never led to a lasting recovery.
Clinicians created a specialized type of mental health treatment to meet the needs of people with substance abuse addiction and mental health problems.
Importance of Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Research shows that treating only one condition at a time won’t lead to effective recovery. When mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia occur along with substance or process addictions, dual diagnosis treatment in Chicago is the right treatment path.
Some of the more common addictions that people face include:
- Alcohol addiction
- Opioid & opiate addiction
- Benzodiazepine addiction
- Simulant addiction, including crystal meth and cocaine
KEY TAKEAWAY:
The treatment process known as dual diagnosis, also called co-occurring disorders, is the challenge of dealing with both addiction and mental health issues simultaneously. Treating dual diagnoses requires comprehensive care that tackles both issues at once, as treating only one condition won’t lead to effective recovery.
How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Helps Recovery
Patients with a dual diagnosis require a dual diagnosis treatment center. Dual diagnosis treatments provide an opportunity to battle both substance abuse and mental health issues.
- A Holistic Approach: The best dual diagnosis treatment programs care for the whole person. A genuine holistic approach will heal and improve a person’s emotional stability, physical health, mental health, and social relationships. Studies show that this all-in-one approach leads to better outcomes than treating each issue separately.
- Skill Development: These programs equip patients with the cognitive, emotional, and personal skills they need to handle stress and avoid relapse. Learning how to control stress and strong emotions is profoundly effective in helping people with substance abuse disorders stay clean.
Research shows that integrated services in dual diagnosis treatment lead to a significant reduction in drug use severity in those with mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders.
If you’re in the Chicago area and need help with co-occurring disorders, don’t settle for anything less than the best.
NuLife Behavioral Health's Approach to Dual Diagnosis Treatment
At NuLife Behavioral Health Treatment Center in Illinois, we understand that living with mental health issues and substance use disorders destroys lives. We offer evidence based mental health treatment combined with the most effective treatment for drug abuse disorders and addictions.
KEY TAKEAWAY:
Dual diagnosis treatment is an effective approach to recovery for individuals dealing with both mental health and substance abuse disorders. Ignoring one problem can worsen the other, but NuLife Behavioral Health’s dual diagnosis treatment in Chicago offers a holistic approach, skills development, and personalized care.
Overview of Outpatient Program at NuLife Behavioral Health Treatment Centers
Our outpatient program lets you get treatment while meeting responsibilities outside the clinic. Our team of experts specializes in dual diagnosis treatment, so you’re in good hands.
Here’s what our outpatient program offers:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Medication management
- Patient education on substance abuse and mental health disorders
- Acceptance and commitment therapy
Patients also learn:
- Improved coping skills
- Sober living through stress management
- Relapse prevention skills
- Methods of improved emotional regulation
- Communication skills for better relationships with loved ones
Therapies at NuLife Behavioral Health Chicago
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy sessions with a mental health professional help you explore the contributing to your addiction.
Group Support Sessions
In group settings, you can share experiences and coping strategies with others who are going through similar struggles.
Family Involvement
Including family members in the recovery process can offer a robust support network. The focus is often on enhancing interpersonal skills and fostering a supportive home environment.
Intensive Outpatient Options
Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is an option for clients who have completed more intensive treatment, such as partial hospitalization. IOP is also an excellent option for people needing a flexible treatment schedule. IOP includes both individual and group therapy sessions, educational groups, and relapse prevention therapy. IOP lasts 2-3 hours a day, 2 to 3 days a week.
Partial Hospitalization Programs
NuLife Behavioral Health’s partial hospitalization program is an excellent option for those who have completed more intensive treatment. PHP requires more time than our other outpatient services—approximately 4 to 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. Like intensive outpatient participants, clients in partial hospitalization will go home in the evening.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). TMS is a research-supported treatment approved by the FDA for use with PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and several other mental health disorders. TMS uses powerful, focused magnetic fields to stimulate groups of nerves within the brain that are underactive or inactive. TMS sessions take place on an outpatient basis.
Personalized Plans for Effective Symptom Management
NuLife Behavioral Health, we do not believe there is a universal one-size-fits-all approach to recovery. Instead, we craft custom-made plans tailored to your requirements, abilities, needs, and objectives. We’ll assess your challenges and design a substance abuse treatment plan just for you. We aim to eliminate symptoms, resolve their causes, and teach you coping strategies to prevent relapse.
Our customized treatment plans for substance addiction and mental health include group therapy sessions, individual therapy, and medication management if needed.
Tailored Aftercare Planning
The recovery process doesn’t end upon discharge from a treatment facility. One of the most necessary levels of care is follow-along and aftercare. Our dual diagnosis treatment programs ensure your recovery stays on track. We work with you to craft detailed aftercare treatment plans for ongoing success.
Conclusion
- Dual diagnosis refers to the co-occurrence of a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder.
- Understanding the importance of evidence based dual diagnosis treatment in Chicago is crucial for those seeking mental health, drug rehab, and addiction recovery services in the area.
- NuLife Behavioral Health’s outpatient program offers specialized dual diagnosis programs that provide personalized plans for treating mental illnesses and substance abuse.
By reaching out to NuLife Behavioral Health and taking that first step toward healing, individuals can find hope and support on their journey toward recovery.
Learn More at NuLife Behavioral Health Illinois Today
If you or someone close to you is battling addiction or mental health concerns, the time to get professional help is now. Reach out to the team at NuLife Behavioral Health Illinois today at 888.409.4775 or connect with us online to learn more about what we can do for you.