Dual diagnosis refers to mental health and substance use disorders co-occurring in one person. It is necessary to seek dual diagnosis treatment for the most effective path toward mental health and sobriety. It is common for people to have co-occurring conditions, as mental health challenges often lead to self-medication, and addiction can trigger or exacerbate latent or pre-existing mental health conditions.
If you are worried about yourself or someone you know and care about, you may wonder how to tell if there are co-occurring conditions. The behaviors of someone with a dual diagnosis are often easy to spot when you know what to look for. Virtue Recovery Killeen offers top-notch dual diagnosis treatment in a professional outpatient setting. Learn more about the symptoms of dual diagnosis and how to access the help you need by calling 866-843-0545 or connecting with us online.
What Is Dual Diagnosis?
More than a third of the nearly 20 million people in the U.S. who suffer from a mental health condition will also develop an addiction, magnifying their mental health symptoms. Some of the most common mental health conditions that co-occur with substance abuse are:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Compulsive disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Personality disorders
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Schizoaffective disorder
The co-occurring addiction and mental health conditions require specific, targeted, coordinated treatment.
Are You at Risk for Dual Diagnosis?
There are genetic and environmental factors that go into making someone more vulnerable to developing either an addiction or a mental health condition. Some of the risk factors for dual diagnosis are:
- Family history of mental health conditions
- Family history of addiction
- Exposure in utero to certain toxins or viruses
- Low self-image or self-esteem
- Gender—men are at higher risk for developing co-occurring conditions than women
Regardless of your risk factors, if you suspect you are struggling with substance misuse and underlying mental health issues, you deserve proper care provided by caring professionals.
Signs of Someone with Dual Diagnosis
When deciding if someone has co-occurring conditions, you will look at a sprawling range of possible symptoms. Some will overlap, some may take the spotlight, others may come and go, and some mental health symptoms may lead directly to a drug binge.
If someone does have a co-occurring SUD and mental health condition, they will likely exhibit the behaviors of someone with a dual diagnosis.
When it comes to behaviors of someone with dual diagnosis, does this person:
- Use drugs or alcohol to deal with life’s struggles or strong emotions like grief, sadness, fear, or anger?
- No longer take care of their hygiene?
- Seem to change personality from one moment or day to the next?
- Sabotage relationships with loved ones?
- Seem apathetic and no longer interested in what used to give them pleasure?
- Go back and forth between high energy and utter lethargy?
- Seem to be losing a lot of weight or gaining it?
- Act aggressively at inappropriate times or to unrealistic extremes?
- Exhibit paranoia or hallucinations?
- No longer have the ability to focus all the time or sometimes?
- Seem occasionally or often emotionally detached or numb?
- Feel invincible or omnipotent at times?
- Have unprovoked episodes of anger or rage or show hostility to others?
- Become confused and disoriented?
- Have wild mood swings?
- Experience blackouts of any duration?
- Have thoughts of suicide?
The above signs of someone with a dual diagnosis are likely to appear in a mosaic of symptoms that can be recognized by understanding the bigger picture.
Find Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Texas at Virtue Recovery Killeen
If you exhibit the symptoms of dual diagnosis, it is time to get top-quality care from professional addiction specialists, psychotherapists, and physicians. Reach out today by calling us at 866-843-0545 or using this online form.
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