What Does Dual Diagnosis Mean?

Mental health disorders can be hard to tackle, but they can add to the stress when struggling with addiction or a substance use disorder. When struggling with these two things is known as a dual diagnosis. Nearly half of people with a mental disorder will also have a substance use disorder at some point, and vice versa.

The critical thing to keep in mind with a dual diagnosis is that not only do you need to treat the addiction, but also treat your mental health. At Healing Pines Recover, we incorporate traditional and holistic treatment methods to create a recovery plan that best suits your needs.

The first step is understanding what a dual diagnosis is and how mental health plays a role in your recovery. Everyone is different, and there is no one way to treat a dual diagnosis, so understanding what is specific to you is the key to success in recovery. Always seek a medical professional when assessing if you are struggling with a dual diagnosis.

Treatment Programs for a Dual Diagnosis

The treatment options for a dual diagnosis can vary from person to person. This is because everyone experiences this differently. Treatment also includes treating both conditions for it to be effective. Some of the ways to treat a dual diagnosis are through the use of behavioral therapies.

At Healing Pines Recovery, we offer the following:

1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
2. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

Along with these two treatment options, they also pair them with more holistic approaches to recovery. Some of the holistic methods Healing Pines Recovery uses are:

• Physical fitness
• Animal-assisted therapy
• Outdoor experiential therapy
• Mindfulness and meditation
• Yoga and Tai Chi

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a type of talk therapy that helps to treat those with various mental health disorders. While CBT can most benefit those that are struggling with anxiety disorders and depression, it can be beneficial to others.

CBT is effective for those with the following:

• Panic attacks
• Phobias
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Substance abuse

This treatment can help individuals change their destructive thought patterns and identify negative ones. Each person will experience different techniques, as not everyone thinks, feels, or processes emotions the same way.

Some of the common techniques that a therapist will go over include:

• Taking part in stressful situations
• Talking about the individual’s attributes
• Maintaining a journal
• Easing sensitivity during stressful situations
• Asking a series of questions

CBT is not the only option that Healing Pines Recovery has to offer. Our goal is to create individualized treatment plans for our clients. At Healing Pines Recovery, we understand that not everyone is the same. Another traditional method of treatment offered is dialectical behavior therapy.

What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Dialectical behavior therapy is another type of talk therapy and is similar to CBT. The difference between the two types of therapy is DBT is more geared toward helping those who have problems regulating their emotions.

This treatment is typically used to treat those with personality disorders and more severe forms of mental health issues. While DBT can still treat some of the same things CBT does, like depression and anxiety, they can be more intense forms. Some of the common disorders that DBT is used to treat include:

• Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
• Self-harm
• Suicidal ideations
• Eating disorders

Through DBT, the staff at Healing Pines Recovery aims to help individuals overcome their mental health and addiction. By combining either or both types of therapy with other holistic treatment methods, Healing Pines Recovery can help achieve long-term success.

Mental Health and How It Affects Recovery

Mental health can greatly impact our lives when it goes untreated, making other issues seem more intense or unmanageable. This can also be true for addiction. Both of these conditions can cause symptoms of each to be more intense.

In some cases, mental health disorders can even lead to alcohol or drug use, which can later lead to addiction or substance use disorder. This behavior is known as a form of self-medicating.

A dual diagnosis can occur more frequently with certain mental health disorders, such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Schizophrenia
• Personality disorders

If you are struggling with mental health disorders, contact a medical professional for guidance.

A dual diagnosis isn’t something everyone will experience, but it can be common for some people. Finding the right treatment is one of the most important factors. Learning what mental health disorder may be affecting you can be a great first step to learning what forms of treatment will help best.

Our team at Healing Pines Recovery consists of experienced professionals here to help discuss these things with you. Treating both sides of a dual diagnosis is crucial, as they both play a role in your recovery.

Learning how to manage recovery can be hard on its own, but even more so when you also struggle with your mental health. A dual diagnosis is a diagnosis of both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder.

At Healing Pines Recovery, we aim to treat the whole person. For long-term success, we believe you have to treat the mind and body. Both sides of a dual diagnosis are addressed through traditional therapy options and holistic treatment.

If you identify as male and are struggling with mental health and substance use, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Call Healing Pines Recovery today at (720) 575-2621.