Treatment of drug and alcohol addiction is seldom as simple as merely addressing the particular chemicals an addict is taking into his body. More often than not, addicts suffer from other disorders in conjunction with their chemical dependency. The clinical term for such a condition is called co-occurring disorders, and recent medical studies have shown that the vast majority of addicts who enter residential treatment programs are suffering from a variety of mood or personality disorders in addition to their substance abuse problems.
Common Co-Occurrences with Substance Abuse
Co-occurring disorders means that a person is affected in two ways: they are chemically dependent and experiencing an emotional or psychiatric illness. There are three particular mood disorders that commonly co-occur with chemical dependency: depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. In addition, there are many personality disorders that also can co-occur with substance abuse. They can include, but are not limited to: antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and paranoid personality disorder.
To fully recover, someone with co-occurring disorders must be treated for both conditions. After the patient has gone through titration and stabilization, the next step is rehabilitation for the substance problem and treatment for the mental disorder.
Recovery Ways Treatment of Co-Occurring Disorders
Co-occurring disorders present specific treatment challenges depending on what combination of disorders are being dealt with. Recovery Ways specializes in identifying the co-occurrence of substance abuse, mood disorders, and personality disorders and then effectively treating them appropriately. Our programs are designed to break the addiction cycle, stabilize moods, and teach the addict how to cope with mood and personality disorders effectively.
At Recovery Ways, we help relieve the pain and confusion of having a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder by treating both conditions simultaneously. We take a realistic approach to helping clients recovery by:
- Treating both the substance abuse and the emotional or psychiatric illness.
- Providing individual attention to the core issues that are below the surface.
- Developing a personal recovery program that will support the individual needs of each client.
Our clients receive intensive individual and group counseling sessions, and ongoing support and medical attention from our medical staff, psychiatrist, and addictionologist. Recovery Ways also employs family therapy, engaging the loved ones of the client in helping the recovery process. Family members are taught how to recognize triggering circumstances and ways to avoid issues before they occur. They also learn specific methods of supporting their loved one and helping him or her move through the recovery process after residential treatment concludes.
Recovery Ways specializes in treating a wide variety of addictions and co-occurring disorders, for more information on how to get you or your loved one help, call us toll- free: (888) 986-7848.
