Dual Diagnosis Treatment Programs in Boston, MA
Dual diagnosis treatment is as much a psychological process as it is a physical one. There is a deep relationship between emotions and substance abuse, and healing one can be as difficult as healing the other. Many people turn to alcohol, prescription medication or street drugs as a way of dealing with emotional pain. Whether that pain results from day-to-day pressures or mental illness, the most effective treatment programs aim to address it fully and completely.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment helps patients to identify any underlying mental illnesses that could be triggering substance abuse and treats them in conjunction with the addiction. Dual Diagnosis treatment is very neces sary for those suffering from addiction and mental illness because together they only mak e it more difficult for an individual to live a healthy life.
If you have tried to seek drug treatment help before and failed it is almost always because that treatment wasn't right for you. Drug Rehab Boston, MA can help you find a personalized plan to ensure the patient is able to find what works for them.
What Is Dual Diagnosis?
Alcohol or drug problems that occur simultaneously with mental illness result in a dual diagnosis:
- Bipolar disorder
- ADHD
- obsessive compulsive disorder
- schizophrenia
- depression
- personality disorders
These can all be worsened when a prescribed medication is taken with alcohol or other drugs or when drugs are taken as a way of self-medicating. Addiction and mental illness create a tailspin that's hard to pull out of without professional help. That help includes detoxification and intensive therapy.
Treatment and Recovery Options
Because no treatment for mental illness can work if the addict is still using, rehab treatment must begin with detoxification. Once the body is clear of drugs and alcohol, treatment of mental health problems can begin. Individual and group therapies help explore the connection between addictions and emotions, and correct medication for mental health problems may be introduced. Achieving balance is one of the major keys to this part of recovery, and alternative therapies such as yoga, acupuncture and meditation may also be helpful.
Relapse Prevention
Relapse is always a danger when mental illness and addiction occur together. That's why rehabilitation services offer a strong foundation of support for continuing sobriety. Clients learn to recognize emotional and environmental triggers for addiction as well as ways to avoid or eliminate them. Replacing destructive behaviors with healthy, new ways of coping with stress, anger, fear and anxiety is proven to work.
Coping with mental illness and addiction is a difficult task, but it is not an insurmountable one.
Do You Require Professional Help for Your Addiction?
The first thing that you must do in order to get help with your substance abuse issues is to recognize whether or not you have an actual problem that is negatively impacting your life in a significant way. There are some telltale signs of drug abuse and addiction that you can use as a guide to determine whether or not you meet the criteria of being an addict in need of professional help.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common signs of a substance abuse problem are as follows:
- You have a difficult time controlling the amount of drugs or alcohol that you consume.
- You often experience a significant urge to drink excessively or use drugs.
- You keep your substance abuse a secret from others.
- You treat your usage of addictive substances as a type of ritual.
- You have blacked out or overdosed on drugs or alcohol.
Coming to terms with the fact that you may need to seek professional help from a drug abuse rehab center to overcome your problems with addiction can be an extremely hard task for many people. We understand that many clients come to us after contemplating their substance abuse issues over a long period of time. It is perfectly fine to take as much time as you need to make your decision.
One of the best advantages of entering a drug abuse therapy program is that you will be given your own customized treatment plan that will be aimed at solving your particular issues with addiction. This helps to ensure that you form a solid foundation for your sobriety. Call Drug Rehab Boston MA at (877) 804-1531 and find out how to get started.