admin
Latest posts by admin (see all)
- Submit Article – December 10, 2012
- Why CCAP is among the Best Childcare Assistance Programs in Wyoming – December 7, 2012
- Understanding Panic Disorder – December 7, 2012
ArticlesTherapy & Rehab ServicesPersons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders
|
Quite often, individuals suffering from substance abuse are also afflicted with some type of mental illness. In the mental health community, these simultaneously occurring illnesses have come to be known as co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders. A person suffering from both substance abuse/chemical dependency
and emotional/ psychological illnesses can be difficult to treat, but
more and more doctors are recognizing that the two often go
hand-in-hand. While each illness may possess particular symptoms
that affect a person’s ability to function on a daily basis, the
illnesses may also interact with each other, with symptoms overlapping
and masking each other, making a diagnosis quite tricky.
Official statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services note that 37% of alcohol abusers and 53% of drug users also have at least one serious mental illness. Of all those people diagnosed as mentally ill, it is also noted that about 29% abuse either alcohol or drugs. Facts also point out that the relapse rate for those with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders is higher. Symptoms of mental disorders also recur much more frequently in those individuals who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Often, a person with co-occurring disorders uses drugs or alcohol to self-medicate and cover up the existing mental difficulties, thus causing dual problems. That’s why proper diagnosis is so important. Without a solid diagnosis, the two disorders will continue to interact and worsen. Traditionally, individuals dealing with dual diagnosis were treated separately for each disorder though, recently, mental health professionals have recognized the ineffectiveness of treating co-occurring disorders in this manner. However, most still maintain that detoxification must occur first before additional problems can be addressed but that abstinence may not necessarily need to be a pre-condition of treatment for the mental illness. Having the same team of medical professionals treating both disorders can also be helpful to the patient. Individuals can indeed recover from co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders, but patience will be needed as well as ongoing support from family and friends, outpatient support groups, and others that are interested in the well-being of the individual in question. |
| You Are Adding A Comment To:Articles > Therapy & Rehab Services > Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders | |
|---|---|
| Please Note:This is a general discussion forum open to the public and can be seen by all users, this is also a FaceBook Comment which may show on your facebook wall | |
no insurance Reply to this Comment I am looking to get a diagnosis, because I have been experiencing severe symptoms of anxiety, panic, and erratic thought patterns. By the end of the month, my insurance will be canceled because my family cannot afford it at this time. I am a 19-year-old female college student and I need as much help as possible. Is there available psychotherapy for people without insurance and how can I get it? mentally ill sister-in-law Reply to this Comment My sister-in-law lives in springfield and has been mentally ill for as long as I've known her - 25+ years. She drinks, uses a multitude of prescription drugs and is now claiming seizures. I don't believe she wants to get better, but I'm just sick of hearing from her and about her - any suggestions to stop the excuses from her and direct her in the direction to get healthy? Mentally ill sister in law Reply to this Comment Do you feel the mentall illness came from drug abuse or drug abuse is a by product of the mentall illness. Bipolar? Reply to this Comment i was wondering if i was bipolar...i am always changing moods...happy one minute..and then a raging bitch...i sleep small hours and im always rested or i sleep all day sometimes and still feel tired...i sumtimes feel like i can do anything if i put my mind to it then i feel like im a world class failure.....not to mention severe moments when i feel like killing myself not to mention my whole family...and i seriously think there might be a moment when i get that trigger that makes me homicidal.....plz sum1 hlp me Bipolar? Reply to this Comment U sound exactly like me and I am bipolar.....I've been diagnosed with it for 6 years now..I am Crazy! I can be having a great day and then just feel like doing something extreme. Example...Chopping my hair off! I had been taking Lithium my mom expects me to take my meds, I just quit taking it and now I take nothing, but birth control, Birth control aint nuthin to me though, I've been taking it since I was 13..I am just me now, with no meds, for the first time since i was in the third grade! I dont even know how I feel just being myself, personally I think I feel the same as if I were on some kind of medication. Being bipolar is not fun! I am also very premiscious (or however u spell it). I am a manic depressive, and I have also been diagnosed with ADD and ADHD, and I think they are fixing to diagnose me as pschizofrenic! Sometimes I hate being this way, but other times (and most of the time) I love being Crazy! I would never trade any of this to be normal, because I like who I am. But it can really suck. It's really hard being bipolar! I wouldnt wish it on anybody..I dont want to die, but I dont want to live the rest of my life in these conditions. It is something that u have to get used to, because it will never go away.You can get stung by a wasp and have lots of pain, But that pain will go away soon....Bipolar will last always.:( Sis in Law Needs Help Reply to this Comment First, to the drug & alcohol use: many people, including and even especially those with mental illness, tend to self medicate in lieu of professional medical care, or even worse, in spite of and in addition to prof medical care. Mental illness hurts emotionally and physically for some. I wouldn't doubt your sister in law is having seizures. One type of drug used to treat certain mental health disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder is anticonvulsants. These are the same drugs used to control epileptic seizures. Seems like there might be something to that here. Next, to the issue of her non-stop complaining... well, if that's gotten her any kind of attention in the past she's probably going to continue with it, because after all, she does need help and if she's really sick then she doesn't know another way to ask for it. She isn't just going to wake up one day and say, "hello family... just wanted you to know I feel I may be going insane and I'm miserable, and I'm pretty sure you are all miserable too. Can you help me get help? I need help." More likely than not, her pleas for help will come in the form of putting a golf club through the kitchen wall, or cutting herself with a broken shard of glass, or in never leaving the confines of her darkened, smelly room, more specifically her bed that could really use a change of sheets right about now, except to pee or stuff an entire quart of Ben & Jerry's down her throat. People who are mentally ill, can feel like mental and emotional vampires to those around them. But if you are the sane one, then you should do your best to recognize it for what it is: a mental ILLNESS. For as sick of her 'act' as you are, she is probably a great deal more sick of being sick. If you can't feel compassion for her, try to feel it for those in your family who must live with her and care for her every day. It's not inappropriate for you to suggest she be more or less forced to see a psychiatrist for her condition. It's no different than making a child (which she is in some ways it would seem) go to the doctor when they are sick. It's for their good. When they are feeling better, they are grateful for the help. no problem Reply to this Comment its easy. Just take away all the alcohol and the drugs. Start walking and eating right. It definetly will be hard at first, but once you get on the right track, it will become easier. Just have faith in her and in yourself to help her. Bipolar?? Reply to this Comment Now I'm almost convinced I'm bipolar. I get extreme mood swings, sleep 10-18 hours a day or not at all, hyper or totally fatigued, talk so loud people tell me to stop yelling, depressed and feeling worthless or able to take on any challenge (more downs than ups lately though!!), I can't even hold a job since I can't seem to be reliable!!! My mom told me that she thinks I'm bipolar and/or have ADHD. I recently began writing poems, but they are off the hook nuts. They are really good though. All I seem to be good at is writing about doom and gloom about losing my mind, hypertension, regreting being born, and off the hook depression. I'm 34, been on high blood pressure pills for 8 years and it still runs high even with meds (I have a terrible doctor though). I just recently got prescribed an anti-anxiety/anti-depressant medication. Could I be bipolar?? No Insurance Reply to this Comment Check your local directory to see if there are any free health clinics that offer mental health services. Also check with the county hospital; they usually can't turn you away. Check to see if your University offers health insurance for students; some do. Contact the United Way to see if they can refer you to someone. Also you may want to go to your local county office and apply for Medicaid to see if you qualify. Hope this helps! :~) INSURANCE Reply to this Comment GO TO YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL AND GO THROUGH THE CRISIS CENTER. YOU CAN GET STATE FUNDING. Treatment for my Bipolar Husband Reply to this Comment I was just wonder if there was a way that I or someone could force my soon to be ex husband into a treatment program, he is borderlin personality/bipolar/alcoholic/drug addict/sex addict/etc. I have been emotionally/mentally abused by this man for over a year. Im scared to death of him, Im just waiting for him to find me and put that bullet in my back. Any help with this matter would be most welcome, I have filed divorce papers as well. I am still in love with him but Icant live like this any longer. thank you Gurt sis n law Reply to this Comment look online for drug programs most people who use this form of self medicationare mentally ill.and these programs will address that .too most have hit rock bottom to get the point that thaey have a problem to its not nyour obligation to get her well she has to do it but what will make the most impact on her recovery is a good relationship with jehovah god mental illness and drug abuse Reply to this Comment a family member is abusing prescribed drugs to hurt themself and is very suicidal. what should i do to help? this particular program Reply to this Comment does anyone know excacly how long someone who is enrolled in this program would be there? at Carrier Clinic? Sounds familiar Reply to this Comment Hi Gurt, My soon to be ex-husband I believe has all of these same qualities. I do not believe he can be ordered into this treatment unless there is a custody situation. I could be wrong. I just felt I needed to respond b/c it is ironic given that my husband has ALL of these same diagnoses. I know how painful it is. After nearly 10 years of "taking this" I am now the one being blamed by others (his family) for being such a bad person for ending it. I can no longer be in this co-dependent relationship. Can't live like this the rest of my life. So mentally and physically drained by it all. My thoughts and prayers are with you... Son-in-law Reply to this Comment My daughter and grandchildren and now great grandchildren have been leaving in hell for years.He is violent,uses acholol and drugs excessively.Has hit my daughter urinated on her clothing throw what she cooked in front yard. He has locked them all out of the house and does not work lately. Over the last week-end he kicked and knocked teeth out of my other daughters dog.He is a mental case and needs to be put somewhere either a rehab,mental ward or jail. He lives in La Habra California and we will do whatever it takes to get some help. I am so worried about my family. Any information will be appreciated. HELP Mary! being bipolar sucks... Reply to this Comment i can totally relate to what you said. I tried to kill myself maybe 2 years ago because everything is just too much. I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and I started using meth again after almost 3 years. Things just never quite got better I thought. Now my anxiety is soo bad and everything that I dont know if Ill ever make it thru. How do you do it and is there any hope or am i dooomed to suicide? I have msn messenger ambivalentgrl25@hotmail.com | ||||||||
|
By:L Posted: Jun 24 2006 10:36:30 PM