Understanding and Treating the Most Common Co-Occurring Disorders in Cleveland
- October 6, 2020
- Prosperity Haven
- Addiction Treatment
Mental illness and addiction often go hand-in-hand — so frequently, in fact, that most addiction treatment now also calls for therapy for co-occurring disorders (also called dual diagnoses). Nearly one third of all people with any mood disorder also have a substance use disorder (SUD). [1] Whether the mental illness leads to the SUD, or vice versa, they’re heavily linked.
Below, you can learn more about the most common co-occurring disorders, and how Prosperity Haven’s dual diagnosis treatment programs near Cleveland can help clients heal from each.
1.) Anxiety
Some studies have found that an astronomical two-thirds of drug use disorders, and over half of alcohol use disorders, were preceded by an anxiety disorder. [2] People who deal with constant stress often turn to substance abuse, either with the goal of finding relief from their fears, or to suppress the unresolved anxiety long enough to “function” as they’re expected to.
Treating anxiety and addiction as co-occurring disorders can be a delicate balance, because we want to improve a client’s ability to handle anxiety without pushing them to do more than they’re ready to. At Prosperity Haven, we use a combination of holistic treatments alongside our dedicated, evidence-based therapies to help the client manage underlying anxiety and panic attacks in healthier, and even more effective, ways.
2.) Depression
Between 15-20% of people with depression have an alcohol or drug use disorder. [1] Many substances can cause serious depression, especially during withdrawal, but many people also struggle to find activities or relationships that fulfill their needs, and instead turn to drug and alcohol abuse to feel good, or at least better for a few hours.
What clients struggling with depression and addiction are really looking for often isn’t an escape, it’s proper fulfillment. We help clients understand their unmet needs in individualized dual diagnosis therapy, and ways they can lift their mood — such as mindfulness practices, or healthier diets and sleep schedules — and fulfill those unmet needs in healthier, more sustainable ways.
3.) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can make someone up to four times more likely to develop a SUD. [3] While many people believe that “trauma” only comes from wars or violent abuse, shared experiences like the expected loss of a loved one can also lead to trauma. These memories cause unresolvable emotions, and while substance abuse doesn’t fix them, it provides an escape for some time.
Trauma therapy is an extremely common co-occurring disorder treatment, as many people are trying to cope with trauma, but don’t recognize that’s what they’re doing. PTSD treatment often involves identifying traumas and their triggers, managing trauma reactions through dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and peaceful naturopathic therapies, and beginning the process of overcoming traumas.
4.) Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder leads to substance abuse more often than it doesn’t — an astonishing 56% of people with bipolar disorder also have a lifetime SUD. [1] The “manic” episodes involved in bipolar disorder often lead to reckless behaviors including substance abuse, while “depressive” episodes may find the person suffering from bipolar disorder turning to drugs or alcohol to escape their feelings.
Because bipolar disorder causes impulsive thinking and actions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and group therapy can help the client manage difficult thoughts and increase accountability, if not to themselves than to others. Calming and mood-lifting holistic therapies also help the client return to a more level state-of-mind after moving to an extreme.
5.) Personality Disorders
There are many different personality disorders, and each of them has a unique relationship to addiction. Antisocial Personality Disorder is characterized by a disregard for right and wrong, and for the feelings of others, which can often lead to substance abuse without concern for consequences. People with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), meanwhile, have great difficulty controlling their thinking, behaviors, and relationships, and turn to substances during impulsive periods of extreme emotion.
Treatment looks different from personality disorder to personality disorder, especially because in many cases, a personality disorder’s symptoms must be managed before trying to address issues rooted so deeply in a client’s very personality. As with other common co-occurring disorders, we often turn to a combination of evidence-based therapies to help the client understand and regulate their unhealthy thoughts, and holistic therapies that help the client find peace and recenter when life is difficult.
Cleveland Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment at Prosperity Haven
Mental disorders and substance abuse disorders often occur together, and that’s why we offer specialized and individualized co-occurring disorder therapy to treat them in conjunction with one another. At our Cleveland-area addiction treatment center, our clients will find not only a path forward with us, but lasting support to help them get on their feet and on their way to a happier, healthier, and sober life in recovery.
To learn more about co-occurring disorder treatment at Prosperity Haven, please call us at (440) 253-9915 today.
