Addiction is a complex disease that affects all aspects of an individual’s life. Some treatment centers only treat the addiction and give minimal attention to other mental health disorders, which often are deeply interconnected with the substance use. At Liberty Wellness in Berlin, NJ, our addiction treatment center features a co-occurring disorder treatment program that not only treats the substance use, but also any other mental health diagnoses that may be present such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, PTSD, and more. If you are seeking an addiction rehab center in New Jersey that can treat both addiction and mental health, this program is a good fit for you or your loved one.
What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?
Someone who has substance abuse disorders and also mental health disorders are diagnosed as having co-occurring disorders. These co-occurring disorders can happen at the same time or can appear one before or after the other. This can also be referred to as dual diagnosis.
It can be hard to tell the difference between substance abuse and mental illness disorders, which is why a mental examination and diagnosis should be made while a person has no drugs in their system. Each mental health disorder has different symptoms, there are many general signs that could point to the possibility of a mental illness, such as:
- Changes in eating and sleeping habits
- Dropping hobbies or activities that were once enjoyable or important
- Experiencing extreme emotional highs/lows
- Frequently feeling afraid without cause
- Increased irritability
- Isolation from friends and family
- Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
Dual Diagnosis & Integrated Treatment
Oftentimes when people are diagnosed with a substance use disorder (SUD), they also suffer from a co-occurring mental health or behavioral disorder which is known as dual diagnosis. Individuals with a dual diagnosis require an integrated treatment plan that will address both disorders.
Integrated treatment programs are evidence based and provide treatment for both mental illness and substance use disorders. They help people develop the skills and support they need to manage their issues and pursue important life goals.
Common Mental Health Conditions in Co-Occurring Disorders
Depression
Depression is common with those with substance use disorders. Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity. It can affect a person’s thoughts, behavior, motivation, feelings, and sense of well-being. It may feature sadness, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite, and time spent sleeping. People experiencing depression may have feelings of dejection, hopelessness and, sometimes, suicidal thoughts. It can either be short term or long term. The core symptom of depression is said to be anhedonia, which refers to loss of interest or a loss of feeling of pleasure in certain activities that usually bring joy to people. Therapy combined with medication is an effective way to treat depression, and this treatment will be offered at our New Jersey addiction treatment center.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of uneasiness and worry, usually generalized and unfocused as an overreaction to a situation that is only subjectively seen as threatening. It is often accompanied by muscular tension, restlessness, fatigue, and problems in concentration. Anxiety can be appropriate, but when experienced regularly the individual may suffer from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is not the same as fear, which is a response to a real or perceived immediate threat; anxiety involves the expectation of future threat. People facing anxiety may withdraw from situations which have provoked anxiety in the past. Anxiety can be either a short-term “state” or a long-term “trait”. Whereas trait anxiety represents worrying about future events, anxiety disorders are a group of mental disorders characterized by feelings of anxiety and fear. Not treating a person’s underlying anxiety can make the individual more at risk for relapse. Therapy combined with medication is an effective method for treating anxiety. Our qualified clinical team is trained to effectively treat mental health conditions such as anxiety.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder that causes periods of depression and abnormally elevated moods.The elevated mood is significant and is known as mania, or hypomania if less severe and symptoms of psychosis are absent. During mania, an individual behaves or feels abnormally energetic, happy, or irritable. Individuals often make poorly thought out decisions with little regard to the consequences. The need for sleep is usually reduced during manic phases. During periods of depression, there may be crying, a negative outlook on life, and a lack of interest in activities. Therapy combined with medication is an effective way to treat Bipolar, and this treatment will be offered in our co-occurring program.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that can develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collissions, child abuse, or other threats on a person’s life. Symptoms may include disturbing thoughts, feelings, or dreams related to the events, mental or physical distress to trauma-related cues, attempts to avoid trauma-related cues, alterations in how a person thinks and feels, and an increase in the fight-or-flight response. These symptoms last for more than a month after the event. At our New Jersey addiction treatment center, we offer a trauma focused group weekly to treat those with a history of trauma. Individual therapy and medications are also offered as needed.
Our New Jersey Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment Can Help You
At Liberty Wellness in Berlin, NJ, we are committed to providing you with the treatment that works best with you. We have dedicated addiction professionals that assess each individual to make sure they are provided with the right treatment. Are you ready to get help for your addiction? At Liberty Wellness, we offer our co-occurring disorder treatment program, and we are here to support you. Contact us today to schedule a confidential, personal tour and consultation. Take the first step towards recovery today.
