Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Brownsville, TX

A dual diagnosis is made when a mental illness co-occurs with an addiction. Dual diagnosis treatment in Brownsville is essential for successfully treating co-occurring disorders.

How Common Are Co-Occurring Disorders?

Around one-third of people who have a mental illness also have a substance use disorder, and a third of people who are addicted to alcohol and over half of those who have a drug addiction also have a mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. People with severe mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, are even more likely to suffer from drug or alcohol addiction.

The most common mental illnesses that co-occur with drug addiction include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders.

Why is Dual Diagnosis So Prevalent?

Experts cite two factors in the high prevalence of co-occurring disorders. First, people who have a mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder, are likely to use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate the unpleasant symptoms of these mental disorders. This can lead to chronic drug or alcohol abuse and addiction. Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol almost always make the mental illness worse, leading to heavier abuse.

Secondly, drug and alcohol abuse can cause the onset of a mental illness where one didn't exist before. Chronic substance abuse causes changes in the functions and structures of the brain, altering the production of neurotransmitters, which can cause anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses.

Diagnosing Co-Occurring Disorders

Integrated screening in addiction treatment programs and mental health clinics is aimed at effectively diagnosing co-occurring disorders. In a mental health setting, a patient will be screened for a substance use disorder, and in a treatment setting, a client will be screened for a co-occurring mental illness.

Although it can be difficult to determine whether the mental illness contributed to the addiction or the addiction caused the onset of the mental illness, correct diagnosis is essential for designing an effective treatment plan.

Why Dual Diagnosis Treatment Programs are Essential for Co-Occurring Disorders

Dual diagnosis rehab is absolutely essential for people with co-occurring disorders. Research shows that treating just the mental illness or just the addiction is ineffective for promoting long-term recovery from either illness.

Dual diagnosis treatment in Brownsville follows the research-based, best-practices protocol for treating co-occurring disorders. For the best possible outcomes, the mental illness and the substance use disorder must be treated at the same time, each in the context of the other. Getting the mental illness under control helps to reduce the drug abuse, while addressing the complex issues underlying the drug abuse helps to improve the symptoms of mental illness.

Through high-quality dual diagnosis treatment programs, you can find relief from your depression, anxiety, or other mental illness while recovering from an addiction. This occurs through a variety of treatment therapies that are specifically aimed at treating both the mental illness and the addiction.

Treatment Therapies for Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Brownsville

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) stresses that there is no single pathway to recovery that works for all individuals.(2) SAMHSA and other addiction experts recommend a holistic approach to treatment that includes a variety of traditional and complementary therapies that take place in individual and group settings for the best possible outcomes of treatment.

The foundation of high quality dual diagnosis treatment programs is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps you address the complex issues that underlie your addiction as well as identify unhealthy patterns of thought and behavior and learn healthier ways of thinking and behaving. Cognitive-behavioral therapy addresses both the addiction and the mental illness through both group and individual therapy.

Psychoeducational classes are another cornerstone of dual diagnosis treatment in Brownsville. These classes educate individuals about addiction and mental illness to help them understand how addiction changes in brain function and structures affect thought and behavior patterns and contribute to mental illness as well as how mental illnesses can lead to substance abuse as a means of self-medication. The better individuals understand the anatomy of mental illness and the mechanics of addiction, the more effectively they can address their co-occurring disorders.

Complementary therapies round out a high quality, holistic dual diagnosis treatment program. These research-based therapies lie outside the mainstream, but they've been shown to improve treatment outcomes and provide a whole-person approach to treatment that addresses issues of mind, body, and spirit to improve all aspects of your life.

Common complementary therapies in dual diagnosis treatment include art and music therapy, which reduce stress and improve self-awareness and emotional health; outdoor therapy, which also reduces stress and improves self-confidence and communication skills; and yoga and meditation, which reduce stress, increase mindfulness, and promote physical and mental balance and flexibility.

We also provide many other treatment programs in Brownsville that can help with treating dual diagnosis, as well as how to cope with all of the inevitable struggles that naturally comes with a newfound life of sobriety.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Brownsville Works

Recovering from an addiction and a mental illness isn't easy. But our high quality dual diagnosis treatment programs in Brownsville offers the best chances of successful long-term recovery. Our dual diagnosis program will offer a holistic approach that addresses your unique issues and helps to restore your quality of life, sense of well-being, and your physical and mental health for a life free of addiction and mental illness.

If you or your loved one is suffering from a mental illness that coincides with their drug or alcohol addiction, then dual diagnosis treatment in Brownsville may just be the answer. Call us now at (877) 804-1531 to speak with an addiction specialist and get immediate help.