What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?

a woman thinking about her loved one at a co-occurring disorders treatment program utTreatment 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 which is clinically referred to as co-occurring disorders. The National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services says about 45% of U.S. citizens seeking treatment have been diagnosed with co-occurring disorders. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2014 approximately 7.9 million adults in America suffered from co-occurring disorders. Recovery Ways holistic approach allows for decreased readmission rates, increased tenure in sobriety, increased patient satisfaction and decreased absenteeism.

Common Co-Occurrences with Substance Use

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 many personality and disorders that 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. Mood disorders can also co-occur with substance abuse. Some mood disorders that are common with chemical dependency are depression, trauma, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.

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To fully recover, someone with co-occurring disorders, also known as a dual diagnosis, 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. This integrated treatment allows Recovery ways to address the mental and substance abuse at the same time which helps lower costs and increases long-term sobriety.

Personality Disorders

There are many types of personality disorders. They can range from mild to severe in terms of how much they interfere with day-to-day functioning. Most people can live normal lives with mild personality symptoms. However, increased times of stress can make a personality disorder more problematic.

It is common for people with personality disorders to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol to escape the pain of their disorder. Personality disorders that co-occur with substance abuse 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 treat co-occurring disorders, Recovery Ways offers the following programs:

Mood Disorders

The clinical definition of the term mood disorder is a disturbance in a person’s mood which is, or eventually becomes, the underlying cause of a detrimental physical or mental condition. The most well-known and common mood disorder is clinical depression, which can be the underlying cause for a host of physical maladies. Some other well-known mood disorders are anxiety, bipolar disorder, and substance-induced mood disorders.

A mood disorder is considered substance-induced if its roots can be traced directly back to the physiological effects of specific substances the person is using. For addicts, quite often such mood disorders first come to light during the process of withdrawal, although that’s not always the case. In some addicts, mood disorders occur simultaneously with a substance abuse disorder; a condition known in the medical community is having co-occurring disorders.

Treating Mood and Personality Disorders at Recovery Ways

Regardless of whether a co-occurring disorder exists simultaneously with substance abuse, or doesn’t begin to show itself until withdrawal, dealing with the disorder is just as important as dealing with the substance abuse. If co-occurring disorders are not properly treated, addicts are much more likely to relapse at a later date. Recovery Ways understands the direct link between chemical dependency and these disorders and strives to treat both effectively.

As part of the healing process at Recovery Ways, every client participates in our clinically proven treatment program that addresses both the substance abuse and co-occurring disorder issues. Our residential program is highly structured, offering a minimum of 8 hours of daily programming. A licensed clinical staff diagnoses co-occurring disorders and assists each client in developing an individualized treatment plan tailored to suit his or her specific situation.As a client progresses through their substance abuse treatment, they are also treated for their co-occurring disorder in a way that aids their overall recovery.

Recovery Ways also works with the family members of our clients to help them understand the underlying co-occurring disorder. By giving them the knowledge and tools they need to deal with the disorder, they are much better equipped to help the client in his or her long-term recovery. The Recovery Ways integrated approach is a proven model that has seen great success.

The Holistic Approach to treating Addiction and Mental Health

The holistic approach to rehabilitation allows patients the chance to improve their mind, body, and spirit to overcome their addiction. At Recovery Ways we focus on the whole person and healing each of these important areas to allow them a full recovery. We offer healthy meal plans, recreational therapy twice a week, gym visits every week, spiritual support, individual and group therapy, and our unique and very successful sensory integration. 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.

Get help with your co-occurring disorder:

A dual diagnosis presents 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.

Utah Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Centers

Recovery Ways, accredited by the Joint Commission, offers treatment excellence to those suffering from substance use and mental health disorders. If you or your loved one is struggling with co-occurring mental health disorder and addiction, please call us today for help finding a dual diagnosis program. Our admissions team can be reached at 1-888-986-7848.