Does Dual Diagnosis Mean I’m a Failure?
People living with dual diagnosis conditions contend with the combined effects of mental illness and addiction on a day-in, day-out basis. As either one of these conditions presents considerable challenges in daily life, their combined effects have an even greater impact on a your ability to function effectively.
In effect, addiction and mental illness form a tag-team of sorts, feeding into one another, which accounts for what seems like a never-ending struggle. That being so, feeling like a failure may well be a product of dual diagnosis and ultimately has nothing to do with your character or resolve.
Overcoming dual diagnosis is possible as this condition is treatable, much like any other type of addiction or psychological disorder. In this respect, finding the type of treatment help that best meets your needs can make all the difference in terms of your self-confidence and motivation to live a normal, happy life.
Dual Diagnosis Components
According to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, as of 2014, an estimated 7.9 million Americans struggle with dual diagnosis in their daily lives. The components of dual diagnosis -addiction and psychological disorder- both act as diseases of the brain, triggered by chemical imbalances that persist over time.
These chemicals, also known as neurotransmitters set the course for a person’s emotional demeanor, thinking and overall sense of self and quality of life. Consequently, it’s not uncommon for dual diagnosis to take shape once a person develops one of the two conditions.
A dual diagnosis is not a failure; recovery is possible!
If you’re considering treatment and you’re not sure if your insurance will cover your treatment costs, call our helpline at 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) for more information.
Interrelationships Between Substance Abuse & Psychological Disorder
Dual diagnosis conditions can develop in different ways, with some people turning to drugs as a means to self-medicate feelings of emotional turmoil, while others develop psychological problems as a result of drug abuse. In effect, addictive drugs and psychological disorder interact with the same areas of the brain, and over time snowball into a nonstop array of uncomfortable symptoms, both physical and emotional.
Over time, these interrelationships between substance abuse and psychological disorder predispose a person to developing one condition on top of the other.
The Importance of Getting Needed Treatment Help
Anyone who’s lived with dual diagnosis for a while has likely tried to get treatment help in one form or another. While getting treatment is essential to overcoming the effects of dual diagnosis, to be effective, any approach used must treat the two conditions together rather than separately in order to properly manage the symptoms of both conditions, according to Case Western Reserve University.
An integrated treatment approach addresses the range of obstacles dual diagnosis sufferers face, including:
- Stopping drug use
- Relationship building
- Stress management
- Relapse prevention training
- Educating family members
- Social skills training
- Motivation-based therapies
In effect, the goal of integrated treatment works to help you manage the symptoms of dual diagnosis in everyday life.
How Can Drug Addiction Affect Mental Health?
Learn why drug addiction and mental illness often go hand-in-hand and how this issue should be addressed.
Considerations
Day-to-day life for dual diagnosis sufferers can seem like an emotional roller coaster ride that never ends. Rather than hoping the next “good mood” will come and stay for a while, it’s important to take the necessary towards putting an end to any sense of failure this condition breeds in your life.
If you or someone you know struggles with dual diagnosis and you have more questions, or need help finding treatment that meets your needs, please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline at 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) to speak with one of our addictions specialists.
