Sometimes, drug or alcohol dependency occurs alongside a secondary mental health condition. In these specialized situations, known as “dual diagnosis” cases, chemically dependent individuals need experienced, professional addiction recovery experts that can treat both conditions. In fact, studies have shown that dual diagnosis treatment patients benefit from holistic rehabilitation centers that work with psychological conditions as well as drug or alcohol addiction recovery simultaneously.
Dual Diagnosis and Chemical Dependency
Some common mental health disorders can cause affected patients to carry a higher risk of alcohol or drug addiction than their non-affected peers. Here are just a few of the most frequently encountered mental health issues that sometimes lie at the root of drug or alcohol addiction, and may require specialized dual diagnosis care.
- Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder is marked by an intense fear of social interactions. As a result, those diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder may engage in alcohol and drug use in order to facilitate social interactions, eliminate anxiety around interpersonal issues, or lower their inhibitions. As use prolongs and dosage and frequency increase with tolerance, those with Social Anxiety Disorder can find themselves chemically dependent on drugs or alcohol.
- Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder tends to stem from a deep fear of abandonment, often from a traumatic childhood. As a result, low self-esteem and buried emotional pain can result in self-loathing, poor emotional regulation and difficulty in interactions with others. Because of this, many sufferers of Borderline Personality Disorder turn to drugs and alcohol as an expression of self-destructive urges or as a form of self-medication for mood swings, anger or anxiety.
- Schizoid Personality Disorder
Those with Schizoid Personality Disorder tend to isolate themselves, largely due to a disconnect between their emotions and themselves. As a result, many sufferers of Schizoid Personality Disorder personalize drugs or alcohol, seeking solace and experiencing attachment to their drug of choice. With intensive one-on-one therapy, both the resulting physical dependency on alcohol or drugs—as well as the underlying disorder—can be addressed and treated.
- Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder leads its sufferers in an ongoing loop of mania and depression. Drugs and alcohol may be used during manic episodes, out of restlessness, a desire for excitement, or as part of risk-taking excursions. During the depressive phase, many bipolar individuals turn to alcohol or drugs to self-medicate the chemical imbalance in their brains, with the most frequently used substances including alcohol, sedatives or stimulants.
- Schizophrenia
On-setting in often intelligent people in their 20s and 30s, schizophrenia constitutes thoughts that break from reality, sometimes marked by paranoia and auditory or visual hallucinations. Almost 40 percent of schizophrenic individuals become drug or alcohol dependent at some point during their lives, requiring compassionate, educated and intuitive inpatient addiction recovery treatment.
- Anti-Social Personality Disorder (ASPD)
Many Individuals with Anti-Social Personality Disorder experience higher levels of aggression, impulse, and boredom than their non-ASPD peers, leading to an increase in alcohol addiction and psychoactive drug use. As those with Anti-Social Personality Disorder deal with this aggression and power-orientation, they often find themselves running into interpersonal conflicts, leading them to self-medicate with alcohol and sedative drugs.
Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
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