Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Iron Bridge Recovery Center is a premier addiction and dual diagnosis treatment facility in Richmond, VA
Dual diagnosis is a term used to describe someone who has both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition at the same time.
Another term for dual diagnosis is co-occurring disorder.
Substance use disorders (SUD) may involve alcohol (also known as alcohol use disorder, or AUD), illicit drugs, or prescription drugs. Individuals with severe mental health disorders are at a higher risk for using alcohol or drugs to control their symptoms.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Services:
More than 50 percent of people with a diagnosable mental illness also have an SUD or AUD and vice versa. Additionally, certain substances can increase sensitivity to others, making it easier to develop a dependence on both.
Self-medicating with substances often causes numerous negative consequences and doesn’t help build healthy skills to cope with the stresses of life. This behavior only worsens mental health and mood disorder symptoms and creates dependence on substances to feel like you can function normally.
Dual-diagnosis treatment centers like Iron Bridge are crucial for receiving a proper diagnosis, care, and treatment. Rehabilitation involves simultaneously treating all co-occurring conditions you might have. Discovering and addressing all co-occurring disorders at the same time paves the way for achieving the best possible results from your treatment program.
A dual diagnosis might also reference someone who struggles with mental or physical disabilities. It also pertains to individuals who have both alcohol and substance misuse problems.
Mental health and mood-related disorders include, but aren’t limited to:
- Anxiety and social anxiety
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression of all types
- Eating disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Panic disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia
Common Dual Diagnosis Conditions
Each person has a unique set of circumstances, which is why treatment at Iron Bridge Recovery Center is customized to meet specific needs. For our residential and partial hospitalization programs, we have a multidisciplinary clinical team featuring physicians, nurses, addiction counselors, and licensed therapists focused on providing you or your loved ones with dedicated, comprehensive care.
Based on our years of evidenced-based treatment experience, there are a few common co-occurring conditions—here are just a few.
Common Dual Diagnosis Conditions
Anxiety Disorder and Prescription Drug Addiction
A person with an anxiety disorder may misuse prescription medications, such as benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax or Valium), in an attempt to alleviate their anxiety symptoms. This misuse can lead to SUD, which further complicates mental health.
Bipolar Disorder and Cocaine Addiction
Individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder might misuse drugs like cocaine during manic episodes to intensify their mood, energy, and impulsivity. This behavior might cause addiction and make managing bipolar symptoms more difficult.
PTSD and Alcohol or Opioid Addiction
People with PTSD—such as veterans or other individuals struggling with trauma—may turn to alcohol or opiates to numb emotional pain and distress. This behavior often causes chemical dependence and presents even more challenges to deal with PTSD symptoms.
General Warning Signs of Dual Diagnosis
People with dual diagnoses often have a difficult time getting the treatment they need.
This is because many facilities aren’t designed to address both conditions at the same time. Also, it’s not always easy to determine if someone is struggling with both mental health issues and substance abuse, as many symptoms overlap.
So when you’re choosing a rehabilitation center, it’s imperative to confirm it offers the proper procedure and treatment methods to assess and assist people with dual diagnosis conditions.
Dual-Diagnosis Symptoms To Watch For:
If you or someone you love may be struggling with a mental health disorder along with SUD or AUD, here are key symptoms to watch for:
- Using drugs and alcohol to feel more in control of actions, thoughts, or emotions
- Signs of mental health or mood disorder issues before addiction
- Periods of extreme emotional highs and lows
- Often exhibiting erratic behavior, irritability, or insomnia
- Having trouble stopping drug or alcohol use because mental health symptoms become worse
- Feeling more depressed if you try to quit using alcohol or drugs
Co-occurring AUDs and SUDs are often more severe than either disorder alone. Individuals experience more intense withdrawal symptoms, higher relapse rates, and greater health complications.
How Iron Bridge Recovery Can Help You
The board-certified professionals at our Richmond dual diagnosis treatment center rely on an integrated, evidence-based approach to treat the whole person. We provide clinical, psychiatric, and holistic care to ensure that your mind, body, and soul are treated and ready for long-term recovery.
Our clinical team conducts thorough evaluations to understand the complexities of your addiction and mental health issues. Accurately diagnosing and treating co-occurring disorders requires specialized expertise to develop effective personalized plans incorporating all factors of your life—including background, influences, and behaviors.
We don’t offer a standard set of treatment protocols to each patient. Instead, we work with you to develop a continuum of care plan just right for your needs. Our programs are designed to introduce new habits and wellness techniques you can use to conquer cravings, identify addiction and mental health triggers, prevent relapse, and manage symptoms of co-occurring conditions.
How Iron Bridge Recovery Center Can Help You
Talk to a member of Iron Bridge’s admissions team today to learn how we can help.
We’ve been in your shoes, we know how you feel, and we know how to help you get better.
