Methods Used To Treat Mental Illness Disorders as a Result of Drug addiction

Substance abuse and mental illness can develop at the same time. People who regularly suffer from certain mental conditions often turn to alcohol as an effort to self-medicate or to improve the symptoms of the mental illness. 

Unfortunately, research has shown that the use of alcohol and other drugs during these situations only worsen the individual’s condition. Most professional fields of substance abuse and mental disorder treatment incorporate different cultures, which makes it hard to find integrated care. 

This is one of the reasons why some treatment facilities, such as the Auburn Addiction Treatment Center, started featuring dual diagnosis as one of their treatment methods. In this post, we are going to look at some of the methods used to treat mental illness disorders as a result of drug addiction.

mental illness disorders as a result of drug addiction

Detoxification

The very first hurdle that people who are under dual diagnosis treatment will have to pass is detoxification. 

For initial sobriety, inpatient detoxification is generally more effective as compared to outpatient detoxification, mainly because of safety and better monitoring. 

For inpatient detoxification, the patients are always under careful monitoring by the professional medical staff. The medics will, at times, administer controlled amounts of the substance of abuse or its medical equivalent in an effort to wean the patient off it slowly so that the effects of withdrawal are not too much.

Inpatient Rehabilitation.

An individual who is suffering from mental illness disorders as a result of drug addiction has excellent chances of benefiting from inpatient rehabilitation centers. This is because these centers have trained professionals who can offer support, medication, health care and therapy to treat the mental conditions and to lessen the effects of substance abuse on the mental health of the patient. They will also try to find alternatives to replace drug dependency.

Supportive Housing

This comprises homes, sober houses, or residential treatment centers such as the Auburn Addiction Treatment Center where people under dual diagnosis treatment are put together so that they can share their experiences and encourage each other. 

The patients can also compare their progress, which will also serve as an encouragement to each other. The best category of patients that qualify for these supportive housings is the newly sober or those who are trying to avoid relapse. 

These centers offer support for each patient so that they can learn how to cope on their own without being monitored by their doctors. There have been patients who came out of these supportive housing totally healed and back to their usual selves again.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a huge part of dual diagnosis treatment. It is particularly applied in cognitive behavioral therapy where it is used to help the patients under dual diagnosis to learn how to cope with stressful situations and change their ineffective thought patterns, which if left unaddressed, may increase the chances of mental breakdowns. 

Some medications are used to treat mental illness disorders as a result of drug addiction during psychotherapy, together with some level of counseling. There are still other medications that are used to ease withdrawal symptoms in patients who were previously deep into substance abuse. These people tend to stay a little bit longer during the detoxification period.

mental illness disorders as a result of drug addiction

Self-help and support groups

Patients who are under the dual diagnosis treatment can often feel challenged and isolated. These support groups present a platform where the patients can freely share their frustrations, celebrate even the slightest successes and get good referrals from people who have successfully overcome addiction. 

Denial is a prevalent behavior among individuals who are struggling with mental illness disorders as a result of drug addiction. Depression can make you neglect your personal care and feel like life is not worth living. 

Trying to find solace in drugs and substances is never the solution, instead, reach out to the California Drug Rehabilitation Center to get the help you need in getting your life back. It is not easy, but having someone to hold your hand through the journey makes it more bearable.