People struggling with addiction often have untreated mental health disorders or co-occurring disorders. They may turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of self-medicating their issues. Treatment centers often focused on the physical aspects of the addiction without addressing a client’s mental health issues. That meant that people ended up leaving rehab with untreated mental disorders that increased their risk of relapsing.
Our team at Fort Behavioral Health provides a co-occurring disorder treatment program that could be what you or a loved one needs to deal with addiction and mental health disorders.
What Is a Co-Occurring Disorder?
A co-occurring disorder is a situation that involves an individual dealing with at least two mental health or substance use disorders. A person can develop an addiction, then start experiencing symptoms of mental illness, or vice-versa. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if an addiction led to an individual’s mental health problems or if the mental health symptoms caused a person to turn to substance abuse.
The Importance of Dealing with Co-Occurring Disorders
People dealing with a substance use disorder may abuse drugs and alcohol harder because they can’t think of another way to deal with their mental health symptoms. Ongoing substance abuse can make the mental health symptoms first while wreaking havoc on a person’s overall health.
Effectively treating a client’s co-occurring disorder at Fort Behavioral Health requires providing therapy and treatment for that person’s addiction issues and mental struggles. Men can be at greater risk of developing a co-occurring disorder. Individuals who suffer from panic attacks or schizophrenia may be more likely to turn to drugs and alcohol.
Ongoing substance abuse can cause changes in the brain already affected by a person’s mental health disorder, leading to more pronounced symptoms. You may be more likely to end up with a substance use disorder if you are dealing with mental health conditions like:
- Anxiety disorders
- Mood disorders
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Personality disorder
Signs of a Co-Occurring Disorder
Mental health conditions and substance use disorders have specific symptoms. Signs of a co-occurring disorder can include:
- Having trouble falling asleep at night or sleeping too much
- Find yourself pulling away from family and friends because of your unstable moods or indulging in substance abuse
- Missing out on school or work because of problems focusing
- Having constant delusions or hallucinations, making it hard to distinguish fantasy from reality
- Thinking of harming yourself and committing suicide
You may also experience mental health signs such as:
- Inattention to personal hygiene
- Taking part in risky behavior
- Feeling physical symptoms like pain that have no cause
- Heightened irritability
- Fluctuations in weight
- Problems focusing
- Changes in personality or behavior
Substance use signs may include:
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop drinking or using drugs
- Problems coping without drugs or alcohol
- Failing to show up for commitments like social events
- Not caring about anything other than using drugs
- Problems in personal relationships because of substance abuse
If you find yourself experiencing more than one symptom from each category, you should have yourself evaluated for a potential co-occurring disorder.
Therapy Options at Fort Behavioral Health
Once a doctor or mental health professional provides you with a formal diagnosis, you should seek care at a rehab center capable of providing you with addiction therapy and mental health treatment. Fort Behavioral Health in Texas offers therapy treatments that address your substance abuse and mental health issues, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- 12-Step programs
Our integrated treatment program conducts a full assessment of your condition. From there, we develop a comprehensive treatment plan to help you overcome your addictive behaviors and manage your mental health issues. Clients receive therapy services to address both issues at the same time.
Get Help For a Co-Occurring Disorder at Fort Behavioral Health
The goal is to help you achieve recovery and keep your symptoms from getting worse. Our team is ready to become part of your team. If you believe you could benefit from our services, contact Fort Behavioral Health in Texas by calling 844.332.1807.
