Dual Diagnosis: When Emotional Conditions Co-occur with Substance Abuse

Substance abuse does not only damage the physical quality of your body; it can also pose harm to your emotional health. If experiencing substance abuse or depression isn’t difficult enough, what can be more challenging? Is both conditions happening at the same time in one person. “People who have substance use disorders as well as emotional health disorders are diagnosed as having co-occurring disorders, or dual disorders. This is also sometimes called a dual diagnosis,” says Behavioral Health Evolution. Alternatively, it is also called as comorbidity.

The co-occurrence of these two conditions deserves attention because of the sheer number of people that are affected by dual diagnosis. According to a 2014 report from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about eight million Americans are diagnosed with these two disorders. Considering that many cases are undiagnosed, the figure could even be higher. Dual diagnosis is also described as common, persistent, and often severe, affecting a person’s cognitive processes, temperament and/or behavior. Thus, it can impact how you interact with people and your functioning. It can also hinder or restrict some of your major life activities.

Both disorders are treatable, but for treatment of co-occurring disorders to work, proper diagnosis by a behavioral health professional is necessary. Unfortunately. the symptoms of dual diagnosis are not easy to recognize. In addition, the outlook can be grim with delayed or without diagnosis and treatment. These are the foremost reasons why the help of a professional is critical.

Facts About Co-occurring Disorders

  • What is it?

Substance use disorder can include abuse or dependence on drug or alcohol. Dependence on either or both substances is a worse condition in terms of effects or implications. These are the ones who often relapse after treatment and/or rehabilitation.

Comorbidity is diagnosed when the symptoms can sufficiently impair your functioning at school, home or work. It is also indicated when the use of the drug or alcohol complicates a medical condition or endangers your or others’ lives.

  • What emotional conditions usually accompany substance abuse?

People who have substance abuse issue are vulnerable to mood disorders and anxiety. The former includes emotional conditions, such as depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, and severe emotional conditions that include schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

Anxiety can be any of the following types, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic disorder (PTSD), social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

  • How are the two linked?

Studies show that the emotional well-being of a person and substance abuse are related. Any of these can cause the other condition to be more complicated. People who abuse a substance could be doing so to ease the symptoms of an emotional condition, such as depression.

It is also possible that a person became depressed as a result of abusing a substance. Once one disorder develops, you could be vulnerable to the other as well. This relationship is a subject of various studies focused on understanding the underlying conditions that cause one to connect to the development of the other condition.

  • What are the intertwined issues arising from both conditions?

It takes an expert’s eye to recognize the symptoms of comorbid disorders. This is because the symptoms of one condition can mask the symptoms of the other. Expert practitioners like counselors and therapists, however, can detect some distinctive patterns that develop among people with the co-occurring disorders.

What are these patterns? 1) Deterioration of the symptoms, even when treatment is underway; 2) Continued abuse of drugs or alcohol creates more issues affecting and hindering the treatment; and 3) There is no improvement because substance abuse is resistant to treatment.

 

  • Which usually develops first?

There is really no way of telling. Experts believe that there is no direct cause and effect relationship between the two, meaning one does not directly trigger the other. In certain cases, however, it is possible for an undiagnosed emotional condition to come first. In this case, a substance can be abused in an effort to ease the symptoms of the emotional condition.

Conversely, it is also possible for drug and alcohol abuse to increase your vulnerability to various emotional conditions. What is markedly noted is the fact that substance abuse can profoundly complicate emotional conditions and their treatment.

  • What are the red flags to watch out for? The symptoms for each issue are unique, but, as said earlier, they can mask each other. This can mean the recognition becomes more challenging, but not impossible. The key to recognizing the symptoms is to understand the two co-occurring conditions. Some notable symptoms of substance use are:
  • Doing unlawful deeds to procure drugs
  • Engaging in dangerous activities while high drugs or intoxicated in alcohol
  • Substance abuse is creating complications in various aspects of life
  • Diminishing interest in things and people that used to matter
  • Being excessively focused on doing drugs and in recovering from the addiction
  • Abusing large quantities of drugs
  • The need to regularly abuse a substance
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms each time the use is stopped

Meanwhile, Help Guide offers the following common symptoms of depression and anxiety:

Depression

  • Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
  • Loss of interest in daily activities
  • Inability to experience pleasure
  • Appetite or weight changes
  • Sleep changes
  • Loss of energy
  • Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt
  • Concentration problems

Anxiety

  • Excessive tension and worry
  • Feeling restless or jumpy
  • Irritability or feeling “on edge”
  • Racing heart or shortness of breath
  • Nausea, trembling, or dizziness
  • Muscle tension, headaches
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Insomnia

Resolving Dual Diagnosis: Integrated Treatment

There was a time when co-occurring emotional health conditions and substance abuse were treated separately. The improved knowledge about the connection of the two conditions have brought experts to the new approach in the treatment of dual diagnosis. Understanding that treating only one would be futile, or a sheer waste of time, effort and hope, the trend now is to treat both simultaneously or address both with parallel care. This is called integrated treatment. The treatment or services can be received from just one facility. These can also be received from two separate facilities or professionals.

If you live in Fuquay-Varina, NC, you need not go far to find the right-fit professional to address your emotional issues. Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC is right in the neighborhood at The Teacherage. There is another office and it is located at N. Main St. With the help of an understanding counselor/therapist independently contracted with CCS-Fuquay-Varina, NC, relapses following drug/alcohol rehab can also be more effectively focused on and prevented. Staying sober or clean during the therapy for depression or anxiety, is critical for it to work. Self-help is important, but these can only bear positive results when these also work.

Remember, there is always hope, but be methodical and be smart about the treatment of co-occurring disorders. You need to seek professional help as soon as you notice some of the above-cited symptoms, or if there are observed changes in your behavioral patterns. The earlier you seek help from CCS-Fuquay-Varina, NC, the better the outlook of the comorbid conditions will be. Therapy will not be an overnight thing – be patient. Embrace your treatment and positivity to be able to escape the claws of alcohol, drugs and an emotional condition. Let our skilled contracted counselors help you discover your triggers and the ways to process the unpleasant feelings. Call today.

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