Quality addiction treatment has goals that go beyond simple abstinence. A dual diagnosis treatment center in Los Angeles can treat several co-occurring disorders seen frequently among people with substance use disorder. They can also provide significantly better outcomes than addiction treatment alone.
If you’re looking for best-in-class care designed to treat you as a whole person, contact Virtues Behavioral Health at 855.579.8599 to get set up with a quality treatment program today.
Prevalence of Co-Occurring Disorders
Mental illness, in conjunction with addiction, is exceedingly common. Studies suggest that nearly 38% of all individuals diagnosed with a substance use disorder have a comorbid condition. A large proportion of those people don’t receive treatment for their mental illnesses.
Leaving a co-occurring disorder untreated can hamper your chances of recovery and leave troubling symptoms unmanaged. That’s why seeking care at dual diagnosis treatment programs in Los Angeles is essential.
Common Mental Illness Alongside Addiction
Nearly any disorder can occur alongside addiction, but some are more prevalent than others. The most common mental illnesses that occur simultaneously with addiction are:
- Depressive disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Many individuals who struggle with one or more of these disorders turn to substance use as a coping mechanism to manage the symptoms of their disorder. This can quickly turn into a destructive spiral, as substance use can worsen symptoms over time while bringing its own set of consequences.
When seeking treatment, finding help for your co-occurring mental illness is the best path to long-term recovery, as many of the triggering emotions that drive you towards substances can be effectively addressed.
Depressive Disorders
Major depressive disorder is a common diagnosis that affects millions of people nationwide. Depression can take many forms, but it typically involves losing interest in engaging activities, a sense of constant fatigue, and either insomnia or hypersomnia.
The characteristic side effects of depression and substance use disorders have significant overlap, which means that it’s often hard to disentangle whether the effects you are experiencing are the result of one condition or the other.
A Los Angeles dual-diagnosis treatment center can help determine the root cause of your struggles and provide targeted treatments to alleviate your symptoms. Since both disorders are treated concurrently, you can expect significant relief despite overlapping mental health symptoms.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is a normal human emotion, but it is considered a mental illness when your anxiety gets in the way of living a healthy and productive life.
There are several types of anxiety disorders, including:
- Panic disorders
- Social anxiety disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Specific phobias
Individuals suffering from severe anxiety can quickly feel overwhelmed by certain situations, feel a sense of impending doom, and be left to deal with racing thoughts that are entirely out of their control.
Dual-diagnosis treatment programs in Los Angeles can teach you valuable coping skills to manage your anxiety, avoid triggering situations, and potentially alleviate some of your symptoms through the help of targeted medications. This can significantly ease the stresses of receiving care for your substance use disorder, which can, in turn, enhance your chances of recovery.
Dual diagnosis in Los Angeles is designed to address your anxiety and addiction concurrently, improving the effectiveness of both treatments.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Living through traumatic events can have a lasting impact on your mental health. Substance use is a common coping mechanism for people who have PTSD. Fortunately, dual-diagnosis treatment in Los Angeles is an effective method of treating both issues.
Trauma-informed care is a crucial part of our dual-diagnosis treatment center in Los Angeles, allowing people with PTSD to feel safe and secure while receiving treatment for their substance use disorder.
Support for Dual Diagnosis in Los Angeles at Virtues Behavioral Health
Compassionate dual diagnosis treatment in Los Angeles is available at Virtues Behavioral Health. We strive to make sure that co-occurring disorders are treated appropriately in order to give all of our clients the best possible chance at recovery.
When you’re ready to start receiving care for your substance use disorder and comorbid conditions, contact 855.579.8599 to speak to one of our addiction professionals and get connected with a Los Angeles dual diagnosis treatment center today.
