Addiction is a complex disease that has many risk factors, one of which is untreated mental health conditions. If you struggle with mental health symptoms and have an addiction, you might suffer from co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorder is a term that describes having both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition at the same time.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “approximately 9.2 million adults in the United States have a co-occurring disorder.”[1]
When you have co-occurring disorders, you must receive treatment for both conditions at the same time. If you were to only treat your addiction, your untreated mental health condition could cause you to experience a relapse. A dual diagnosis treatment center in San Antonio can provide you with the care and support you need to recover from both conditions and reach optimal wellness.
What Does Dual Diagnosis Treatment in San Antonio Treat?
Dual diagnosis treatment centers in San Antonio are designed to treat a wide array of mental health conditions and substance use disorders. No matter what you are addicted to or which mental health condition you suffer from, a dual diagnosis rehab can provide you with the support you need.
Common mental health conditions treated in dual-diagnosis rehab programs include:[1]
- Anxiety disorders
- Mood disorders like depression or bipolar
- Schizophrenia
- Conduct disorders
- Personality disorders like borderline
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, out of the 20.3 million adults with an addiction, nearly 40% of them have a mental health condition.[2] If you believe you have a co-occurring disorder, you are not alone. Attending a dual-diagnosis treatment program in San Antonio can provide you with the tools and support you need to recover.
What to Expect During a Dual Diagnosis Rehab in San Antonio
Dual diagnosis programs offer a combination of mental health treatment services and evidence-based addiction recovery techniques. If you are considering attending one of these programs, you might be wondering what to expect.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Evaluation
When you arrive at a dual diagnosis treatment center in San Antonio, you will undergo an in-depth initial assessment. This assessment will be used to determine what kind of mental health and addiction treatment best suits your needs. In other words, the information gathered is used to create an individualized treatment plan.
Medical Detox
Once you have completed your assessment, you will begin medical detox. This stage of treatment focuses on helping you overcome withdrawal symptoms safely and comfortably. Medications may be used to taper you off of a drug or to control specific withdrawal symptoms.
Evidence-Based Therapies
Once you have completed detox, you will begin working on healing from the emotional, psychological, and behavioral symptoms associated with your co-occurring disorders. Dual diagnosis rehab programs use therapies that are proven effective in treating addiction and the specific mental health condition you suffer from. Oftentimes, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is used to treat both addiction and a wide range of mental illnesses.
During dual diagnosis treatment in San Antonio, you will participate in both individual and group counseling sessions. Additionally, family or marriage counseling is often used to help mend broken relationships and provide you with improved support.
Medications
In addition to therapy, you might be prescribed medications to manage your mental health condition. This is only done if you require medication to further alleviate your symptoms. It is important to note that dual diagnosis treatment centers in San Antonio only use non-addictive medications to ensure that you do not suffer from a relapse.
Aftercare Services
Lastly, dual-diagnosis treatment programs in San Antonio may offer aftercare services to ensure that you are prepared to maintain your sobriety outside of the facility. This is also known as relapse prevention planning.
Aftercare services often include:
- Continued therapy and medication management
- Access to alumni support groups
- Referrals to outpatient or sober living programs
- Recommendations on local addiction support groups like 12-step meetings
- A list of triggers and coping mechanisms to use
- Case management services like legal or vocational assistance
Get Connected to a Top-Rated Dual Diagnosis Program in San Antonio
If you or a loved one deal with the symptoms of a mental health condition and a substance use disorder, dual diagnosis treatment might be right for you. Living with co-occurring disorders can be incredibly difficult, but professional treatment can provide you with the services and coping mechanisms necessary to recover.
At Alamo Behavioral Health, we are not here to question, judge, or shame you; we just want to help. With compassionate and understanding care, we believe that anyone can recover. To learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment program in San Antonio, please contact us today.
References:
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Co-Occurring Disorders and Other Health Conditions, Retrieved August 2023 From https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/co-occurring-disorders
- The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA): Comorbidity: Substance Use and Other Mental Disorders, Retrieved August 2023 From https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/comorbidity/comorbidity-substance-use-other-mental-disorders-infographic
