Do I have co-occurring disorders? It’s possible. More than 9 million people in America do, according to 2018 numbers. Co-occurring disorders happen when you suffer from two medical conditions, such as substance use disorder and depression, simultaneously. The proper term for this condition is a dual diagnosis, and help is readily available.
Do I have Co-Occurring Disorders? Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of co-occurring disorders are easier to spot in someone else than they are in yourself. But if you regularly experience feelings or situations like the ones listed here, you may want to seek a dual diagnosis. Warning signs include:
- Using drugs or alcohol to feel better about a situation or to forget your troubles
- Feeling like you can’t function properly without drugs or alcohol
- Engaging in reckless behavior such as drunk driving or unprotected sex
- Wondering if you’re in control of your life or if your life is controlling you
- Feeling like you’ve lost control over the amount of drugs or alcohol you use in a day
These are signs that could point to co-occurring disorders. If you recognize them in your own life, visit a treatment center for an assessment.
Do I Have Co-Occurring Disorders? Which Ones Are Most Common?
Anxiety and depression are the top two conditions that occur alongside substance use disorder, though there are others, including:
- Bipolar disorder
- Panic
- Trauma
- Schizophrenia
- Antisocial personality disorder
The symptoms include sadness, mood swings, nightmares, delusions, and more. Unfortunately, many of these same symptoms are also side effects of drug or alcohol use. Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish whether you have an accompanying mental health issue, or if you’re experiencing side effects from substance use disorder. It takes a screening by a medical professional to diagnose a co-occurring disorder. But once you’ve attached a name to the feeling, it suddenly becomes much more manageable.
Do I Have Co-Occurring Disorders? What Treatments Are Available?
Psychotherapy and medication treat most dual diagnoses. Counselors and therapists individualize patient treatment plans, however. As a result, no two regimens are ever alike. This means screening and an assessment are vital to a proper diagnosis.
Generally speaking, when you visit a treatment center for diagnosis, you’ll be assessed. Next, your care team will help you come up with a plan of attack on how to treat your conditions. Afterward, you may begin behavioral counseling to help you learn new coping skills and recovery behaviors. As you’re working toward sobriety, you may also take medication such as antidepressants to relieve your co-occurring depression or anxiety.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment at Integrative Life Center in Nashville
Do I have co-occurring disorders? When you choose recovery at Integrative Life Center in Nashville, this question no longer matters. All that matters is that you’ll be in the hands of highly trained professionals who will help you take ownership of your recovery. Integrative Life Center treats adults who have been diagnosed and graduated from detox. From this point on, we’ll lead the way to recovery.
Dual diagnosis treatment at Integrative Life Center takes place on our spacious campus in Tennessee, amidst acres of grassy woodlands. Our upscale facility and luxurious accommodations lend a resort-level of care to your treatment. You’ll benefit from highly trained therapists and evidence-based approaches in your recovery as you learn how to trust your judgment and to lean on the supportive people in your life for help. At Integrative Life Center, isolation recedes, and your world becomes bigger, brighter, and more compassionate than you ever believed it could be.
We can help you find sobriety and relief from co-occurring disorders through our dual diagnosis treatment facility in Nashville. Give us a call today at 615.455.3903 for information on admission.