Diagnosis and Treatment for Dual Diagnosis
I was drinking at least a bottle of vodka a day to deal with my depression and anxiety and it was killing me.
My view of rehab was: you are in and out for 20 years. So I thought ‘what’s the point?’ But at the same time, my own life was out of my control and I needed it back. My family helped me admit to my addiction, and helped me to reach out. – Jackie
We know how hard life can be when you lose your way.
That’s why our team at the Executive Rehab Guide are dedicated to helping people find the help and support they need to regain control and happiness in their life.
Everybody deals with life’s grievances – losing a loved one, redundancy, divorce – in their way.
One in four people will struggle with mental health issues at some point in any given year. (Mind Charity UK)
Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness can be brought on by anxiety and depression, and you may turn to coping mechanisms like drinking or taking drugs.
You may also isolate yourself from those you love and become a stranger to family and friends. But you are not alone, and we are here to help.
The Executive Rehab Guide knows the awful effects and impacts of mental health and addiction on someone’s life.
If you feel alone, lost and have no way out, get in touch with us today. We can get you the help you need to get through.
Call us today on 0808 1150 446.
What causes mental health problems?
Because they can be such a complex health problem, finding the cause of mental health issues such as anxiety or depression can be difficult.
However, everything has a cause, and the development of mental health issues can usually be traced to root causes or a series of reasons.
Therapy works towards finding these core reasons and helping you approach and overcome associated feelings.
There are some common causes. However, that can often lead to mental health problems:
- Biology and genetics
- Family history of mental health problems
- Childhood trauma
- Sexual or physical abuse
- An accident or injury
- Alcohol and Drug misuse
- Stress
- Grief
How is my mental illness diagnosed?
If you are suffering from mental health problems, your psychiatrist will consider your experiences, how long you have felt this way, and what kind of impact it has on your life.
A psychiatric diagnosis is based on what is considered to be ‘normal’ behaviour, and everyone has a different idea of what is normal or not.
The difference between cheap rehabs and the UK’s top rehabs is diagnosis. More affordable rehabs are less likely to have access to consultants, and GPs or doctors are not medically trained to diagnose mental health illnesses precisely.
Our consultant psychiatrists are leading professionals in their field. They will not only be able to diagnose your mental illness precisely, but they will be able to tailor a personalised treatment programme that suits your needs.
One of the UK’s leading consultants, Professor. Jonathan Chick, who is Medical Director at Castle Craig, talks here about the importance of therapy and diagnosis:
See our entire team of addiction specialists.
The most common mental health disorders include:
Do I need to be diagnosed to seek treatment?
The simple answer to this question is, no, you do not need a mental health diagnosis before attending rehab for dual-diagnosis.
However, during rehab in one of the UK’s most recommended facilities, such as Castle Craig, you will have access to consultant psychiatrists.
These medical specialists will specifically diagnose all your addiction and mental health issues, so they can create the best Addiction Treatment Programme (ATP) for you.
You may need to provide a diagnosis if you are using insurance as a means of payment for private addiction rehab.
The UK’s leading rehabs do not treat the diagnosis; they treat the person to ensure the best chance at recovery.
Mental health and addiction treatment services
There are a number of services and treatments available which are proven to be effective when treating dual diagnosis.
Addiction Treatment Programmes (ATPs)
An addiction treatment programme addresses 3 core issues:
1. Drug or Alcohol Misuse
The drugs or alcohol within your system has to be addressed first through a medically monitored detox. This will ensure you are stable and sober to continue with your ATP.
2. Addiction
Once you have detoxed, you will still be suffering from the effects of your addiction – withdrawal, cravings, physical and psychological effects.
ATP is designed to approach your addiction and give you the tools you need to deal with your cravings effectively.
What is the definition of addiction?
Addiction is defined as having a lack of, or no control over your misuse of drugs or alcohol. It develops in stages, and at the point of addiction, your dependence on drugs and alcohol has a harmful impact on every aspect of your life.
3. Mental illness
Dual diagnosis is widespread, and throughout your addiction treatment programme, your therapies will help you to discover the crux of your mental illness and develop the tools you need to deal with symptoms more positively in the future.
What are the benefits of ATP?
- Targeted therapies that target the specific causes of your addiction and mental health issues to help prevent relapse in the future;
- Lasting recovery. The medically proven and intensive treatment programme produces long-lasting results;
- Patients learn the life skills they need to cope effectively and positively with their lives and the natural world;
- Consultant Psychiatrists, doctors and nurses provide 24/7 care, clinical examinations and assessments to ensure a specific and thorough diagnosis;
- Trusted and open relationships are formed between the patient and therapist, making group therapy and individual therapy effective and motivational.
Within an ATP, you will receive a tailored combination of the following treatments:
1. Individual and Group Therapy
Individual and group therapy have a wealth of benefits – group therapy helps create a safe environment and support network among those going through similar issues.
Individual therapy will focus on you; a therapist will help you connect with your inner emotions, come to terms with them, and not let them affect your life.
This kind of treatment is beneficial for those suffering from depression, anxiety, and stress.
Group therapy can also include:
- Family Therapy
- Grief Therapy
- Women-Only Therapy Groups
- Group Therapy
ATP often ends with family therapy as a means of allowing relationships and trust to develop again between the recovering addict and their families.
What does individual and group therapy treat?
- Individual and group therapy develops the ability to remain motivated from day to day and to remind recovering patients that the support of others can help ensure long-lasting sobriety.
- It also treats the core origins of your addiction by encouraging you to open up about your experiences in a safe environment.
2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
This is a proven and effective form of therapy not just for mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, stress and PTSD but also for addiction.
What does CBT treat?
What does CBT treat?CBT is used to address harmful thought patterns which largely causes you to doubt your ability to fully recover.
- It seeks to address these destructive thoughts, and change the way you respond to negative thoughts, stress and cravings.
- By learning new ways of thinking, you will be able to develop the tools you need to maintain a healthy and sober recovery.
- You will learn the vital tools to cope with cravings, or the emergence of destructive thoughts, and deal with them positively.
3. Experiential Therapy
Experiential therapy, as the name suggests, centralises hand-on experiences to encourage patients to be more active and express their emotions in a variety of ways.
Experiential therapy is good for:
- Individuals suffering from emotional traumas, PTSD in particular as they help you find a sense of inner peace by approaching your emotions in different ways.
Types of experiential therapy include:
- Art Therapy. More.
- Creative Writing Therapy
- Music Therapy
- Equine Therapy
4. Holistic Therapy
Holistic therapies have become increasingly popular, and many rehabs now offer complimentary holistic therapy as part of an integrated addiction recovery programme.
This kind of therapy seeks to prioritise the relationship between your body and mind.
This can help recovering addicts to:
- Develop healthy habits to prevent further physical damage
- Relaxation gives a healthy mindset for those with depression and anxiety
- Mindfulness develops the mentality that recovery is possible, and ignites the motivation needed to achieve long-term sobriety.
Why is holistic therapy so effective?
Holistic therapy focuses on re-balancing the mind and body through:
- Aromatherapy
- Massage and Acupuncture
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- Meditation
- Relaxation Therapy
- Mindfulness
Read more about the treatments available.
Those with depression are twice as likely to suffer from addiction.
Those suffering from dual diagnosis are treated for both addiction and mental health issues simultaneously. The first step is usually an addiction detox.
This stabilises and sobers up the patient so they are stable enough to receive the following treatment steps.
More about the treatment options available.
There’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Going to rehab was the best decision I made for myself. I have been sober for 2 years now, and my mental health is better than it has been in a long, long time! – Keri
You may feel like nobody wants to help you, but trust us when we say there are so many services and people who want to support you in your recovery.
Call us today on 0808 1150 446 to talk to someone confidentially.
See more like this:
- Mental health and addiction
- Defining the dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance misuse
- Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
- Symptoms of extreme PTSD
- What is depression?
- Can I get better?
