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What Are the Risk Factors of Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis treatment can be a scary thought. Suffering with mental health concerns is a difficult undertaking, but when substance abuse complicates a mental health diagnosis, it can only make things harder to treat. Understanding exactly what dual diagnosis is, common risk factors, and common things associated with dual diagnosis can help you to understand the full spectrum and help you to open yourself to the possibility of getting help for this. Substance abuse and mental health issues can be life altering, receiving the proper care for both diagnoses is vital to being able to overcome, and begin living a normal life again.

What is Dual Diagnosis?

Suffering with substance abuse issues, such as drug or alcohol abuse, as well as mental health concerns like depression and anxiety is what is known as dual diagnosis. These two disorders coexist in the same person at the same time. While the term “dual diagnosis” seems to implicate a single diagnosis, it is actually a combination of diagnoses. Dual diagnosis treatment addresses both disorders individually.

Your provider will help you to understand how each diagnosis is affecting the other coexisting disorder. Ending substance abuse will generally be the first step. When the drugs and alcohol are removed from the system, the true extent of the mental health disorders can be seen and then treated.

How Common is Dual Diagnosis?

The commonality of dual diagnosis in addicts and alcoholics is astronomical. Some research has shown that approximately 50% of people who suffer with substance use disorder also suffer from a mental health disorder, and vice versa. Meaning that 50% of those with a mental health condition also suffer from substance abuse disorder. That’s a huge percentage when it comes to these life threatening diagnoses.

Both mental health and substance abuse come with their own set of potentially life threatening and life altering side effects. Receiving dual diagnosis treatment as soon as possible is the best way to avoid the dangers associated with both mental health substance abuse disorders.

Common Mental Illness in Dual Diagnosis

Dually diagnosed conditions can have a huge impact on your life. Mental health conditions alter your day to day functionality on their own, and adding a substance use problem into that mix can make it hard to live normally.

While there is no set of co-occurring disorders within dual diagnosis, some mental health disorders are more common than others. Dual diagnosis treatment will address these mental illnesses as well as the substance abuse problems that can exacerbate and make them worse. Common mental illness seen in dual diagnosis include:

Addressing these mental health concerns is vital to successfully overcoming the coexisting conditions. Dual diagnosis treatment will do just that. Not only will the substance abuse issues be addressed and treated, but the mental health concerns will be addressed as well, and you will have less interruption to your life.

Risk Factors of Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis treatment can be complex, being that it involves the treatment of multiple disorders simultaneously. Understanding the risk factors associated with dual diagnosis can help you to realize the need for help and treatment for the coexisting conditions. Common risk factors of dual diagnosis include:

  • Genetics: Family history of mental health or substance abuse disorders play a role in the possibility of developing these disorders yourself. Having a family history of these disorders can make it more likely to develop a dual diagnosis condition yourself.
  • Trauma: Traumatic experiences, such as physical or sexual abuse, can lead to drug or alcohol abuse as means of coping with mental health conditions that can result due to the trauma.
  • Environment: Being around frequent drug and alcohol abuse creates a risk of developing a substance abuse problem. Being a part of an environment where poverty or violence are common can also contribute to potential mental health concerns or substance abuse disorders.
  • Mental health: Suffering with mental health disorders can be a risk factor for turning to substances like drugs and alcohol as means of coping with these conditions.

Suffering with dual diagnosis can make life extremely difficult. Receiving dual diagnosis treatment as soon as possible can help you to regain control of your life, and start to live a normal life again with minimal impact of the mental health conditions and substance abuse problems. The sooner you seek help, the better you will feel.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Lexington, KY

Suffering with dual diagnosis can complicate both of the diagnoses someone may be suffering with. Not only is a mental health diagnosis difficult to undergo, but complicating that with substance abuse can cause the mental health concerns to be exacerbated and harder to treat. There is help and hope for both.

If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues, Lexington Addiction Center can help. Our team of professionals who can help you through the process of finding help to begin regaining control of your life. Contact us today.