What is Dual Diagnosis in Mental Health?

Life with a mental illness or an addiction is difficult for anyone. When someone has both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, they require specialized treatment for dual diagnosis. What is dual diagnosis in mental health? Tampa Bay Recovery provides this vital treatment that helps people work on overcoming both conditions at the same time. In this article, we explore what having a dual diagnosis means and how this condition is treated.

What is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis is the presence of both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder at the same time. For example, a person might have an anxiety disorder and also an addiction to alcohol, or they might have bipolar disorder and an addiction to opioid drugs. When this occurs, some people choose to get treatment for only one condition. This can make it even more difficult to heal the other one. What is dual diagnosis in mental health when it comes to getting treatment? Some facilities that treat mental health disorders also offer care for substance use disorders. This helps people save time and money by addressing both conditions at the same time.

The Signs and Symptoms of Dual Diagnosis

There are two sets of signs that a person may have a dual diagnosis. The first relates to having a substance use disorder. The specific signs can vary a bit, but there are common ones that happen with most types of addiction. They include:

Being unable to get through a day without using substances
Wanting to feel at least a low level of inebriation whenever possible
Trying to stop using substances but failing
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using substances
Substance use affects personal relationships and performance on the job or at school
Isolating
Obtaining substances through illegal channels

Signs that someone has a mental health disorder can also vary, depending on which one they have. Some common ones include:

Anxiety or panic attacks
Constant feelings of depression
Change in appetite or weight
Change in sleeping patterns
Cognitive difficulties
Physical ailments with no explanation (such as headaches, nausea, diarrhea, and body aches)
Moodiness
Unable to function well in relationships, at work, or in school
Isolating
Hallucinations
Paranoia

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Tampa Bay Recovery Center is a premier leader in the provision of addiction treatment services. If you or someone you love is in need of professional care to address a substance use disorder, reach out to us right now at (813) 733-8774 to speak with an admissions specialist who can get you started on the road to recovery.

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What Types of Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders Can Co-occur?

Any number of combinations can occur when it comes to dual diagnosis in mental health. The types of mental health disorders that can be a part of dual diagnosis include:

Depression
Anxiety
Bipolar disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
SchizophreniaThe types of substance use disorders that can occur as part of a mental health disorder include addiction to:

Treatment for Dual Diagnosis

Treatment for dual diagnosis begins with having a full assessment by a staff member to determine the exact diagnosis of both the mental illness and the addiction. From there, a program that fits the person’s unique needs can be created. This will include some basic therapy modalities that work well in treating both the addiction and the mental health disorder. Individual therapy provides a great starting point because it allows the person to discuss their experiences and emotions in a private setting. Treatment goals can be set and the therapist will monitor the person to see how they progress.

Family therapy also proves useful because it brings the family together under the guidance of a skilled therapist. Together, each person has a chance to voice their feelings and concerns, and they learn how best to support their loved ones. Other types of therapeutic approaches used include Holistic Therapy, Red Light Therapy, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), and Brainspotting.

Medications can be provided to treat dual diagnosis that help minimize or eliminate many physical and emotional symptoms.

Does Insurance Cover Dual Diagnosis in Mental Health?

When it comes to getting treatment for dual diagnosis, many people wonder if their insurance plan will cover it. Most insurance companies recognize that both substance use disorders and mental health disorders are serious conditions that need specialized treatment. For that reason, they commonly cover different types of treatment for dual diagnosis. Anyone interested in using their insurance to cover their dual diagnosis care should contact a representative for their company and discuss their options. Some insurance plans require the person to obtain prior approval before entering a treatment facility. In addition, many facilities offer free insurance checks and can help people understand what their policy will cover with their program.

Find Treatment for Dual Diagnosis in Tampa Today!

What is dual diagnosis in mental health and what should you do if you experience it? Tampa Bay Recovery understands that it can be challenging to work on overcoming two such troubling conditions as addiction and poor mental health. That’s why we designed a program that treats both disorders under the same roof at the same time. We help you improve your mental health and leave addiction to drugs and alcohol in the past. Our skilled therapy team uses their experience in treating dual diagnosis to help you regain your good physical and mental health.

Would you like more information about how we can help you overcome dual diagnosis? Visit our admissions page now and let us answer any questions you have.