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A dual diagnosis treatment is a form of rehabilitation for individuals struggling with both mental illness and substance abuse problems. These are two serious conditions that require proper treatment in order to manage them.
Despite this necessity to properly treat this issue, there is a lack of proper understanding in regard to mental health and substance abuse in our society. Understanding dual diagnosis first comes with understanding mental health and substance abuse.
Keep reading to find out what makes effective dual diagnosis treatment centers in Los Angeles, and how to get help now!
Mental health is a fundamental part of our experience as people however, it is often overlooked or ignored. Our mental health includes our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors which affect how we react to situations, process feelings and make decisions.
Maintaining good mental health is integral to leading a fulfilling and satisfying life. An individual who struggles with their mental health may experience mental health symptoms which include:
These symptoms can happen for other reasons than suffering mental health; however, properly supporting your mental health can make a lowered experience much more manageable and even pleasurable in some cases. There are many individuals struggling with mental health disorders who struggle immensely more with their mental health.
A mental health disorder is a type of disorder that alters the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of an individual. This often leads an individual to experience a lowered quality of experience in their daily life.
Mental health disorders have also been referred to as mental illnesses and mental conditions. These terms are all different names for the same psychiatric condition. Mental illness was the original name however, as time went on and better understanding surrounding this condition developed, mental health disorders is a more proper name.
Mental health disorders are lifelong conditions which makes it integral for individuals to receive proper treatment to manage these experiences. As these individuals often experience a lowered quality of life, they must learn to regulate their experience as best they can to get through and lead fulfilling lives. Some of the many mental disorders include:
Unfortunately, with the poor education surrounding mental health disorders, there are many individuals struggling with mental health and are not receiving the necessary treatment they need.
There is no definitive factor that causes individuals to develop a mental disorder. There are various factors that can cause a mental health disorder to develop within an individual. Some of the factors that increase the risk of developing mental disorders include:
While some of these factors are not specific or definitive causes of mental disorders, they can greatly aggravate certain experiences and symptoms of an individual to cause them to develop.
The ways in which a mental health disorder develops do not mean every individual who has experienced those factors has mental disorders. With the many different forms of mental disorders, there are different kinds of reactions to come out of an individual’s experience.
According the National Library of Medicine, some of the signs that you may be struggling with a mental health disorder include:
These signs do not mean an individual is sure to have a mental disorder. The frequency of these signs can help determine whether an individual is struggling with a mental disorder. If an individual is struggling with many of these experiences daily is more likely to have a disorder than to not.
An individual who experiences one or two of these symptoms in a week are likely to not have a mental disorder. It is important to work with a medical professional when you have concerns about a mental disorder.
When you believe yourself to have a mental disorder, it is important to receive the proper diagnosis and treatment needed. Your primary doctor can likely provide a referral for a mental health evaluation.
In determining a diagnosis, an individual will undergo a psychiatric evaluation. It is likely that an individual will also be given physical tests to rule out other possible causes of this experience. This helps to provide the most accurate diagnosis for an individual.
Receiving a proper diagnosis can bring immense comfort to an individual. Although it can be similarly frustrating or upsetting to suddenly discover an issue within yourself, it helps you better come in tune with your individual experience.
Mental health and substance abuse are very closely related. Substance use will work to change the natural functions of the brain which affects the mental health of an individual. Over time, this can quickly lead to an addiction.
Mental health disorders can make this issue even worse. Individuals struggling with mental health in their daily experience may lean on substances as a way to manage their lowered life experience.
It is important for individuals struggling with substance abuse to receive a dual diagnosis. Substance abuse left untreated can have severe harmful effects on an individual’s mental health.
A mental health condition makes an individual more likely to struggle with substance abuse. The altered experience from using a substance can greatly affect an individual in many different ways.
Withdrawal symptoms are one of the biggest factors as to why an individual is unable to stop substance use. These symptoms can be very intense and relapse-provoking for an individual.
These symptoms heavily impact an individual’s mental health and can cause them to have a severely lowered quality of life. Some of the common addiction withdrawal symptoms an individual can experience include:
It is best for an individual struggling with addiction or substance abuse to receive treatment for their conditions.
A substance use disorder is a type of mental disorder in which an individual is unable to properly inhibit substance use. This causes individuals to continue to use substances despite negative consequences.
Co-occurring disorders are another disorder alongside a substance use disorder. This can be any mental disorder that is present within an individual while a substance use disorder is also present within an individual.
Dual diagnosis treatment is a form of addiction treatment provided to an individual struggling with a substance use disorder and a co-occurring disorder alongside that substance use disorder.
Treating co-occurring disorders alongside a substance use disorder is of great importance and the core component of dual diagnosis treatment programs. Without treating an individual for their needs, which include their mental disorders, an individual may have issues that arise later after finishing addiction treatment.
Mental health issues are likely to cause individuals more issues or even lead to relapse if they are not treated. Psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are two main forms of treatment that will support individuals through recovery. Psychotherapy includes treatments such as behavioral therapies to allow an individual to regain proper brain functions and manage their own experience.
Pharmacotherapies are a form of medication treatment that can support individuals in being able to better engage during treatment. Although there are only a few substance medications, individuals with dual diagnoses will likely receive medication to support them with their co-occurring disorders.
Dual diagnosis treatment looks similar to addiction treatment. It is more likely to be more intensive when compared to addiction treatment due to an individual struggling with mental health disorders as well.
A dual diagnosis rehab center will have many resources available for an individual to allow them to receive proper mental health treatment. This allows an individual to have the support they need through their recovery journey.
Dual diagnosis treatment will appear similar to the addiction treatment recovery process. It will begin with a phase of detoxification before moving into addiction treatment. This process can take 3-5 days or in severe cases of substance use, 2 weeks to fully detoxify from a substance.
From there, an individual will follow the individualized treatment plan made catered to their needs to allow them to recover. This plan will include treatment for the co-occurring mental disorder.
An individual is likely to stay in this treatment for at least 90 days however, staying longer to receive treatment is typically recommended for most individuals. The treatment staff may also recommend longer treatment if they determine more treatment to be beneficial for an individual.
After finishing addiction treatment, an individual may find benefit in collaborating with individuals in support groups and other forms of collaboration. This allows individuals to be in a community of other individuals struggling as they are.
Medical detox is a form of inpatient detoxification in which an individual must live on-site at a treatment center to receive treatment. An individual has 24-hour medical assistance available to them and can receive assistance through their difficult experience.
In this, an individual is able to safely experience withdrawals while removing a substance from their system. Withdrawals can be very intense for individuals to manage which makes this program very desirable during the detox phase.
Inpatient treatment is a form of treatment in which individuals are required to live on-site to receive treatment. Individuals are able to be removed from their familiar environment and move into a safe environment.
A familiar environment can be relapse-provoking for an individual and harmful to recovery while an individual continues to experience withdrawals. Inpatient treatment is also an intensive form of treatment that allows for individuals to receive specified therapy.
Outpatient treatment is a form of treatment in which individuals are able to receive treatment during the day and return home after receiving treatment. Outpatient treatment programs provide individuals with the flexibility to allow them to maintain the different parts of their life such as work or school.
Although this treatment is usually not as intensive as inpatient treatment, there are many useful therapies for an individual to learn and undergo for proper recovery. Some of the forms of therapy include:
In these therapies, an individual can learn skills and techniques like relapse prevention, coping mechanisms, and healthy boundaries.
Paying for addiction treatment is one of the biggest reasons that individuals that want help do not get help. Fearing the amount that an individual will have to pay can be frightful, especially for individuals struggling financially.
It is still important for individuals to receive the treatment that they need in order to recover from this issue rather than letting it get worse. Mental and behavioral health insurance is a core part of every insurance plan.
The amount of coverage will vary from plan to plan however, many aspects will be covered. Some of the commonly accepted insurances within dual diagnosis treatment centers in Los Angeles include:
Just because your insurance may not be listed does not mean that you are not covered. There are many different kinds of treatment centers around which can accept different levels of insurance.
This level of coverage can go even further depending on the type of plan you have. Use our free insurance checker to help find a treatment center where you are covered.
There are many people in the United states who struggle with a mental health disorder or a substance abuse issue. During 2020 in America, about 27% of people were struggling with any mental disorder. During the same time in America, about 15% of people were struggling with a substance use disorder. With dual diagnosis being a combination of these two conditions, about 9% of people in America have a dual diagnosis.
Though there are many top quality dual diagnosis rehab centers in LA, a few stand out in comparison to their competitors. Divine Detox in Simi Valley present an option for those just outside Los Angeles County, while the neighborhood of Reseda in Los Angeles itself hosts a pair of outstanding options.
The Discovery House and Circle of Hope both offer excellent dual diagnosis treatment programs and high councilor to client rations, a hallmark of treatment that considers both addiction and any underlying mental health condition.
Mental health disorders and substance abuse are two very difficult issues to manage, especially when they are happening at the same time. Here at Find Addiction Rehabs, we can help make finding treatment easy for you.
Whether finding a treatment center in your location, or connecting you with recovery tools and resources, our hotline is available 24/7 to make sure you can get the help you need, anytime you need it.
We offer referrals to accredited facilities nationwide and throughout Los Angeles on a daily basis, and can help you find out insurance coverage details and any costs within minutes. All calls are confidential and protected by HIPAA privacy regulations, so rest assured your information is kep secure and discreet.
Getting the proper help you need to recover from substance abuse and mental health disorders can allow you to manage and maintain recovery on your own. Call us today and we can help find the right treatment for you!
Eric R. hails from Maine and does extensive work in the field of behavioral health as both a professional writer and passionate advocate for those suffering. From his own personal encounters with mental illness, he speaks to those seeking healthy relief from depression and anxiety and embraces wellness both personally and professionally. After losing friends and family to the darkness of suicide, Eric aims to educate and inform about the nature of treatment and render it accessible for all those seeking a way out of darkness and despair.
