Co-Occurring Treatment: What Does and Does Not Work

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Co-Occurring Treatment: What Does and Does Not Work

It is common for people addicted to alcohol or other substances to experience co-occurring mental health disorders. While seeking treatment to recover from an addiction, you may uncover some underlying issues that were hidden by the effects substances were having on your mind and body. As you learn to live without these substances, you may come to understand that you also are dealing with mental health issues. Or, you may have been aware of a mental health issue, like depression or anxiety, and used your addiction to cope without treatment. 

There are many reasons people do not seek help for mental health disorders. Despite an increased understanding of them, emotional issues continue to carry a great deal of stigma, making it tempting to hide them or deny they exist.

Dealing with co-occurring disorders is complicated and may lead you to ask many questions.

  • Which issue should I treat first?
  • If I only treat one issue, will the other “go away” on its own?
  • Can I treat both of these issues at the same time?
  • Are most treatment centers equipped to handle multiple disorders, or do they only focus on addiction recovery?

Let’s consider some of these questions and discuss further options for the treatment of co-occurring disorders.

Mental Health and Addiction Stigma 

While mental health stigma appears to be less prominent now than in the past, many people may continue to feel ashamed or that a mental health issue is a sign of weakness. Unfortunately, not dealing with a mental health issue can lead to devastating consequences. Many people with a mental health disorder may have greater difficulty coping with stressors. They may use alcohol and substances to “self-medicate” — a tactic that can lead to addiction and does not help them adequately manage their mental health.

Addiction can also be a source of shame, leading many to avoid treatment. You may be treating your mental health issues with therapy yet still be using your addictions to cope. You may be in denial of the weight of your addiction. You might feel that your cravings should just “go away” when you learn to deal with your mental health disorder. 

By remaining in denial of any addiction, you may be hindering your mental health treatment. Many medications for depression and anxiety are not as effective if you are also using alcohol and other substances. Sometimes, the interactions of these substances and medications can be harmful to you.

Prioritizing Which Issue to Treat First

If you have a mental health disorder and an addiction, you may wonder which to treat first. You may try to prioritize and seek treatment for only one and not the other. Maybe you are attending 12-Step meetings to address your addiction, trying to remain sober first before addressing your mental health. Or, you may be in therapy discussing your anxiety with a therapist, hoping that by relieving that stressor, you will eliminate cravings for your addiction. If you have been self-medicating for a long time, treating addiction may be more complicated than dealing with your mental health issue on its own. If you are getting sober without addressing your underlying mental health problem, you may be more susceptible to relapse.

Treating Both at the Same Time

The best course of action for recovery from a co-occurring disorder is to treat both simultaneously. Many treatment centers can help you in your recovery from both mental health disorders and addiction. Since addiction and mental health are often tied together, many treatment programs are designed to help you handle both issues. Addiction is complex and can create new problems on top of your mental health issue. Treating your mental health alone may not leave you with the coping skills necessary to handle withdrawal, cravings, and detox. Treating only your addiction can leave you lacking in skills for dealing with mental health issues. By working through both problems together, you can find a real path to success and recovery.

If you are struggling with a mental health issue, like anxiety or depression, you may be able to find help at addiction treatment centers. You will likely find others suffering from similar underlying issues. 

Mental health problems have many different causes. A diagnosis of depression or anxiety is not a sign of being weak or a failure. Denying the issue or masking it with substances can make the problems worse for those struggling. You deserve to live a full and happy life. You can recover from both mental health issues and addictions by treating both of these issues simultaneously. 

Having a co-occurring disorder of mental health problems and addiction is relatively common. You may be using your addiction to cope with an underlying mental health disorder. You may wonder if you should treat one or the other first. Co-occurring conditions can be best treated simultaneously due to their often interrelated nature. While severe mental health issues, like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, might be best treated at a specialized facility, many rehabilitation centers are equipped to help with anxiety and depression. At the Kimberly Center, in Ft. Myers, Florida, we understand that mental health disorders and addictions can frequently co-occur. We can help those suffering from anxiety and depression that is linked to their addiction. Call us today at (855) 452-3683 for more information about our approach to treating co-occurring disorders. Hope for you or a loved one is possible. Explore your treatment options and remember, recovery from your mental health and addiction will lead to a full, rich life!

 

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