MENUMENU
For many people, mental health and substance abuse issues go hand in hand, making it difficult to separate one condition from another. In many cases, these conditions can exacerbate each other. Those who have a mental condition and substance use issues have a dual diagnosis, also known as a co-occurring disorder.
Dual diagnoses can come in a variety of combinations of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Each of the possible dual diagnoses has its own set of side effects, making this type of diagnosis challenging to diagnose and to treat.
Research shows that one in two adults who have a substance abuse disorder will also have another mental illness. When it comes to dual diagnoses, anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders that are co-occurring with alcohol and drug use.
Anxiety is a term that refers to a normal stress reaction. When someone has an anxiety disorder, their reaction differs from the usual feelings of nervousness or stress. This involves excessive and, in some cases, inappropriate anxiety or fear that does not go away and can become worse over time.
This type of disorder can cause issues with your everyday life, such as work, relationships, or school. Anxiety disorders include:
If you have a mental disorder like anxiety as well as a substance use disorder, it can be challenging to understand how they interact. Even if you don’t fully understand, you do know how it feels. Stress, tension, and feelings of worry and restlessness commonly crop up throughout the day or beginning first thing in the morning. South Hills Recovery Project offers psychiatric services to the South Hills, to treat both the mental illness and the substance use disorder.
Co-occurring conditions can affect treatment for substance use disorders, so those seeking addiction treatment in the South Hills should find a treatment facility that uses an integrated approach to treat both substance use disorders and the co-occurring disorders.
At South Hills Recovery Project, our integrated program features comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for those with substance use disorder and mental illness to ensure they receive complete and effective care. Contact us today to learn more!