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Coping With Co-Occurring Disorders While in Treatment

As the saying goes, nothing happens in a vacuum. In life, most things are connected even when we don’t realize they are linked. Understanding that connection can help us to overcome problems when we encounter them.

Substance use disorder (SUD) often occurs along with other mental health disorders. Sometimes the effects we experience from the mental health disorder may act as a trigger for those who struggle with SUD. These triggers may cause us to crave substances as an escape and lead to further problems.

For clients and their care teams, integrating treatment of both the mental health issue and the SUD can be tricky. However, the result of understanding and treating both is a far more successful outcome.

What Does Co-Occurring Mean?

We use the term “co-occurring” when SUD is diagnosed in a person who has also been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. This means the two disorders occur at the same time in the same person.

Experiencing clinical symptoms of anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and other conditions can be frightening enough. Sometimes the symptoms become so severe a person might be driven to self-medicate with substances, leading to a dual diagnosis. Other times substance abuse may cause the emergence of a mental health disorder and lead to a dual diagnosis.

Effective Treatments for Dual Diagnosis

A complete diagnosis is imperative for the effective treatment of clients who struggle with both SUD and mental health disorders. The strategy a care team will recommend to the client will directly depend on several factors, including how medical interventions combine and interact based on the diagnoses.

Some medications for SUD have dangerous interactions with medications for mental health disorders, and your care team will take this into account when crafting your treatment plan. However, many of the same wellness treatments available for SUD are very effective in treating mental health disorders.

How to Cope With a Co-Occurring Disorder

One of the best ways to cope with a co-occurring disorder diagnosis is to speak to a qualified staff member at The Guest House. They will share in the decision-making with you and find a treatment plan that works best for you.

Facing the prospect of co-occurring disorders can be scary, but having your treatment plan for your diagnoses integrated into one facility with one care team can make all the difference. By choosing The Guest House, you are choosing wellness and a bright future.

Co-occurring disorders, the combination of a mental health disorder and substance use disorder (SUD), are common and affect many people. However, help is available. Getting help from The Guest House and integrating the therapies for your dual diagnosis can help you succeed. Integrative care is essential to the successful treatment of co-occurring disorders. Whether you are looking at medical, traditional, or nontraditional therapies, there are a plethora of options available at The Guest House. Call (855) 483-7800 and speak to a staff member today and find out which treatment options may be right for you.