Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Palm Beach, FL

Addiction and concurring mental health issues often lead people to dual diagnosis treatment centers in Florida. The topic of mental health and addiction is a complicated but overwhelming problem today. Physical dependence may not be the sole obstacle affecting your life. Our dual diagnosis treatment center at Intrepid Detox focuses on improving mental health and treating substance abuse. Understanding dual diagnosis, whether it’s for you or a loved one, is an essential starting point.

What is a Dual Diagnosis?

A dual diagnosis occurs when an individual shows signs of a coexisting substance use disorder and mental health disorder. Many people suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs) also suffer from an additional mental health or behavior disorder. These combined disorders are usually called co-occurring disorders. Dual diagnosis is also sometimes referred to as comorbid disorders or comorbidity.

Slightly less than half of the people with an addiction have a co-occurring mental health disorder. Physical addiction may not be wholly responsible for an individual’s substance abuse. Underlying mental health issues often lead people to use alcohol or drugs as coping methods. Intrepid Detox offers specialized treatment for patients with co-occurring health issues.

Anxiety and Panic Disorders

Though anxiety and panic disorders have many signs and symptoms, keep in mind that each individual experiences them differently. Most people generally experience some form of anxiety throughout life. Critical decisions, stressful activities, or issues at work or school can cause anxiousness to rise.

Individuals with an anxiety disorder typically live with anxiousness day to day, weighing heavily on their lives.

Common Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

• A decline in school or job performance relating to their quality of work
• Subtle or drastic changes in a person’s life that are driven by fear
• Inability to relieve fear or concern
• New unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drugs, alcohol, eating, or other similar impulsive behaviors.

Bipolar Disorder

Individuals with this disorder usually experience rapid shifts in their moods. Diagnosing this mental health disorder is difficult since it shares many symptoms with addiction. It’s not entirely understood why people with this mental illness tend to also struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. Research shows that more than half of people with this particular disorder have a history of substance abuse.

People with bipolar disorder usually experience one or a combination of four types of episodes. These include:

• Manic episodes: Usually lasting a week or longer, manic episodes may cause an individual to be excessively hostile or cheerful.
• Hypomanic episodes: Hypomanic episodes are the same as manic episodes, but they last for just a few days and are less severe.
• Major depressive episodes: During a major depressive episode, an individual may become uninterested in activities. These episodes usually involve severe depression for an extended period.
• Mixed episodes: Some people who have this disorder may experience characteristics of different episodes simultaneously.

Research shows about half of the people who have schizophrenia also suffer from addiction. Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that causes people to have difficulty distinguishing reality from imaginary.

Though sometimes paired with multiple personality disorders, MPD and schizophrenia are different. People who have schizophrenia are typically not violent and do not have multiple personalities.

Symptoms and Effects of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia has an extensive range of symptoms. These symptoms may be emotional, cognitive, or behavioral. Common symptoms of schizophrenia include:

• Delusional thinking: Beliefs that are not based on reality. An individual with schizophrenia may constantly feel threatened. Feel that disaster is about to happen. Or even think they are someone else, a celebrity, for example.
• Hallucinations: This symptom causes one to see, smell, feel, or hear something that does not exist. Hearing voices is a common symptom of someone with severe schizophrenia.
• Trancelike or catatonic behavior: Individuals who have schizophrenia might display a lack of impulse control. Disorganized motor behaviors are also common within this symptom. For example, going in and out of a catatonic state or maintaining strange postures.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a mental health condition that is often characterized by attention difficulties. Individuals who suffer from this mental health condition usually show the following symptoms:

• Hyperactivity: Individuals may move around more than is socially acceptable. They may fidget and move about, even when it is not appropriate to do so. People exhibiting this symptom of ADHD may talk a little too much or show signs of restlessness by tapping their fingers or feet excessively.
• Impulsivity: People who have ADHD may act without thinking. They may act on impulse more frequently than other people. Self-control is often a challenge for those who are living with ADHD.
• Lack of attentiveness: Focusing is often a major challenge for individuals who have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Those who are living with this mental health issue often find it difficult to stay on task, pay attention, and remain organized.

Individuals who suffer from mental health challenges typically seek help from mental health treatment professionals. Those who suffer from a substance use disorder get professional substance abuse treatment. But, what if a person is living with both addiction and mental health issues? Where can they get the help they need? This is where a dual diagnosis treatment center comes in.

A dual diagnosis treatment program offers treatment that addresses a person’s mental health needs in addition to their challenges with substance misuse. After all, treating addiction without addressing the underlying mental health issue can result in a relapse. On the other hand, treating mental health symptoms without dealing with a co-occurring substance abuse problem does not help individuals to overcome addiction.

The importance of a dual diagnosis treatment program is undeniable. This is why Intrepid Detox Residential offers treatment for those dealing with substance abuse and other mental health concerns.

Our treatment programs are designed to address and meet the individual and unique needs of our patients. We strive to equip our clients with the tools they need for recovery and relapse prevention. You can expect to gain healthy coping mechanisms, addiction rehabilitation, support, and guidance here at our facility.