Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Florida at Riviera Beach

One way to understand what having a dual diagnosis means is to imagine if you have high blood pressure and a heart condition. It’s not always clear which came first; what is clear, however, is that treating one condition will help improve the other.

For individuals struggling with co-occurring substance and mental health conditions, it is crucial to address both the addiction and the mental health disorder simultaneously to achieve lasting recovery. Treating your substance use disorder can help you unmask the underlying causes of your addiction and help you learn how to healthfully manage your mental health (and vice versa).

You are not alone. Among US adults, over 7.5% of people aged 18-25 are diagnosed with substance abuse and a co-occurring disorder. For adults aged 26-49, that number is over five percent. Co-occurring disorders are prevalent in the population, and people can develop a mental health condition regardless of their age, social status, or background.

What Comes First: Addiction or Mental Illness?

To some extent, this is a chicken-and-egg problem. The truth is that both disorders impact each other. Since your experiences and circumstances are unique to you, it’s impossible to make a definitive statement about what came first for you.

Many people try self-medicating with drugs or alcohol to alleviate mental health symptoms. But this is a temporary solution that often leads to more problems in the long run, including addiction. Substances can cause physical changes in the body and brain, which can intensify the underlying mental illness. For individuals facing both drug and alcohol addiction and mental health issues, integrated addiction treatment is essential for effective and lasting recovery. People in dual-diagnosis treatment can learn how to cope (and treat) their mental health conditions in healthier ways that last longer than the duration of a buzz.

It’s difficult to say exactly what causes mental health disorders. Much like a substance use disorder, genetics, environment, trauma, and early childhood exposure can determine whether you are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.

Genetics

Your genetic makeup can be an essential factor for specific mental health diagnoses. In 2013, researchers at the University of North Carolina linked genetics to five major psychiatric disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Environmental Concerns

Being raised in a stressful environment or having an abusive homelife are significant risk factors. Watching someone in your family struggle with mental illness, witnessing violence, or being subjected to violence in your environment all increases the odds that you may develop a mental health disorder. Other environmental influences that can occur at any time in your life can include financial stress, chronic medical conditions, deaths, or divorce.

Traumatic Experiences

It’s estimated that 80% of individuals diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder usually have at least one other diagnosis.

Early Exposure and Brain Development

Evidence suggests that exposure to some of the environmental concerns above at an early age can influence if you are likely to develop a co-occurring disorder. Exposure to drugs or alcohol in utero can play a significant role in mental health disorders.

None of these causes exist in isolation, and all likely influence each other. If you have a dual diagnosis, it’s difficult to say it’s due to genetics or environment. Most would agree that it’s likely that all of the above factors play a role.

Mental health conditions can (mostly) be grouped into categories based on their major symptoms. But it’s important to be formally diagnosed by a medical professional, as some conditions can present in atypical ways. Formal diagnosis helps to ensure that someone will receive the most focused treatment possible.

Anxiety Disorders

An anxiety disorder causes intense feelings of panic and fear for seemingly no reason. They can impact your daily life as the emotions, frequency, and intensity can vary.  But symptoms frequently include:

• Difficulty when breathing
• Irritability or feeling on edge
• Physical tension, such as chest pain
• Trouble concentrating
• Difficulty sleeping

Not all anxiety disorders look the same, or have the same origins. Common anxiety disorders include:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A condition where you experience chronic and unrealistic anxiety about at least two areas of your life, such as family, relationships, finances, etc.. The source may not be obvious.
• Social Anxiety Disorder: Causes intense anxiety and fear about social situations, such as speaking in public or being visibly uncomfortable in social situations.
• Panic Disorder: Characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms. These episodes will happen randomly and are not connected with a known fear or stressor.
• Phobias: Someone has a deep-seated fear that causes them to avoid the sources of that fear, even when it disrupts their life or the fear is disproportionate to the danger it presents.

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders usually consist of disruptive, distorted emotional moods that can be unrelated to life circumstances. Most people experience depression in the course of life, and it can often be a reasonable reaction to an event or trauma. But a condition like bipolar disorder or depression disorder goes beyond this, typically in regards to duration or life impact.

Common mood disorders include:

• Major Depressive Disorder: Mild to severe sadness, that usually includes taking little pleasure in activities you usually enjoy. Treatment can include therapy and/or specialized medications.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Downturn in mood partly due to seasonal changes, mostly during winter due to winter due to less exposure to sunlight. But it can also take place in summer, due to anxiety from longer days or other factors.
• Postpartum Depression: Negative emotionality after childbirth, sometimes leading to lack of interest in the child. It mostly affects mothers, but can also affect the partner in the couple who didn’t give birth.
• Bipolar Disorder: The person cycles between states of mania and depression. States of depression can entail extreme sadness, trouble making decisions or concentrating, or inconsistent sleep patterns. Mania can consist of racing thoughts, impulsivity, overconfidence, and a diminished need for sleep.

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are characterized by very rigid and distorted ways of thinking, impacting your behavior and interpersonal relationships.

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): People who have this condition experience an intense, irrational fear of abandonment and an unstable self-image. In one study, 14.3% of people diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder also met the diagnostic criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder.
• Avoidant personality disorder: The person avoids emotions, has a major sense of inferiority compared to others, and has a deep fear of rejection.
• Histrionic personality disorder: Emotions are expressed in an exaggerated manner, constantly seeks attention from others, and sees these behaviors as normal.
• Narcissistic personality disorder: The person has a constant need for admiration, an outsized sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy for others, and problems in personal relationships.

Trauma Disorders

Trauma can occur when you witness or experience a deeply disturbing event and your ability to cope is overwhelmed. Some examples of traumatic events include:

• Childhood neglect or abuse
• War or other violent events
• Witnessing violence
• Being a victim of violence, including a crime committed against you
• Physical, emotional, sexual abuse
• Grief
• Natural disasters and other events or accidents.

While you may think of trauma related to veterans, the National Council for Behavioral Health reports that 70% of adults in the US have experienced trauma. Trauma-based disorders include the following:

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): People who have been through traumatic events experience persistent and lingering effects that “echo” after the event. These may include intrusive thoughts and memories, hypervigilance, and nightmares.
• Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD): While sharing symptoms with PTSD, this condition is caused by prolonged exposure to trauma. Additional symptoms may include avoidance of other people and lack of connection.
• Trauma-Related Disorder: The person experiences depression in reaction to trauma or psychological frustration that doesn’t go away with the use of antidepressants.

Substance use can feed into mental health disorders, and each one can make the other worse. Thus it is vital to treat both simultaneously. At Singer Island Health, we are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of co-occurring disorders, including alcohol addiction treatment. Our trauma-informed, integrated treatment program can help you develop new ways to cope with a mental health disorder without turning to drugs or alcohol.

The symptoms of a co-occurring disorder are different for everyone. Recognizing both mental health symptoms and signs of substance misuse is crucial in the diagnostic process for effective dual diagnosis treatment. However, there are some symptoms that you may have experienced that are related to having a dual diagnosis. These include:

• Sudden, noticeable changes in your behavior or social life
• Becoming secretive about your behavior, including where you are going, who you are with, and how you spend your time.

Physical changes include:

• Changes in sleep pattern.
• Weight gain or loss.
• Sudden, rapid changes in hygiene.
• Increasing isolation and withdrawing from the important relationships in your life.
• Intense emotional reactions to situations you previously were able to cope with
• Rapid mood swings that are noticeable to those around you

Not everyone will experience the same symptoms or even all the symptoms listed. At Singer Island, we are aware that you are an individual, and your symptoms and recovery won’t be the same as another person. We strive to personalize your treatment experience to ensure your success.

Treating a co-occurring disorder is best addressed in a dual diagnosis program that simultaneously treats both mental illness and substance use conditions. This is called integrated treatment, and at Singer Island, we utilize this approach for its proven effectiveness. Florida offers a variety of dual diagnosis treatment options, including inpatient and outpatient care, to address the complex needs of individuals struggling with both substance use and mental health disorders. West Palm Beach alone has approximately 45 specialized centers for recovery.

Our dual diagnosis treatment centers and dual diagnosis rehab provide integrated care for co-occurring disorders, ensuring therapy addresses both the mental health and substance abuse components together. Medical detox is often the first step in the recovery process, providing supervised care for withdrawal and physical dependence. Inpatient residential treatment is a comprehensive, structured program where individuals live at a treatment facility 24/7, receiving intensive therapy and support.

Common therapeutic modalities include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma therapy, and both individual and group therapy sessions. A strong support system is emphasized throughout the recovery process to help individuals achieve long term, lasting recovery.

At Singer Island Health, our clinicians provide expert, evidence-based integrated treatment for your dual diagnosis. Our compassionate and skilled therapists can help you understand your diagnosis and learn how to reclaim your life. Our comprehensive, holistic program will provide you with the therapy, support, and education you need because we know recovery is not only possible, it’s a reality. Insurance coverage can vary, so don’t be afraid to ask for help with verification.

If you’re dealing with both addiction and mental health issues, you’re not alone. There are many people who’ve been where you are, and it’s still possible for you to have the life you want. Call or chat with us today to learn more.