Holistic Treatment for Dual Diagnosis. Sometimes life feels like it’s been overwhelming for so long, it’s hard to know what the original problem was. And when addiction and mental health concerns occur at the same time, it can be hard to tell where one starts and the other begins. If you’re noticing any of the following signs, you might be suffering from what’s called a dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorder:
- Using alcohol, drugs or compulsive behaviors (like sex or eating) to avoid your emotional stress
- Disproportionate reactions to quitting substances, like violent outbursts or suicidal thoughts
- Only feeling like “yourself” when you’re using
- A family or personal history of mental illness, along with escalating substance abuse
The Sanctuary of Sedona provides world-class treatment for people who are suffering from depression with substance abuse, and co-occurring mental health issues. But how does holistic treatment for healing dual diagnosis work?
What Exactly is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis is the treatment of addiction and a psychological disorder, in tandem. A lot of people who struggle with mental health conditions end up with co-occurring disorders. People often use drugs to self-medicate underlying conditions that they may or may not know are there. This might mean:
- Self-medicating depression with cocaine or prescription stimulants
- Self-medicating anxiety with alcohol and benzodiazepines
- Self-medicating borderline personality disorder (BPD) with poly-drug use (using multiple drugs without a specific preference for, or dependence on, one)
Dual diagnoses are surprisingly common. In fact, it’s estimated that around 60% of those who struggle with addiction also have a mental health condition. Because these two things are absolutely related – addiction is often the result of untreated psychological disorder – they create a synergistic effect that carries a higher risk for relapse and serious health problems. We see this in our practice at The Sanctuary: people who come to us for addiction often find that their core issue is really unresolved trauma.
Because addiction has everything to do with our desire to relieve our uncomfortable internal state, finding out what’s causing it is a critical component of holistic health lasting recovery. That’s why treating co-occurring disorders holistically is an essential part of a successful treatment process.
