What Does “Co-Occurring Disorders” Mean?

November 20, 2016

Harmony Place Team

Addiction is far more than a physical dependency on a drug. It is as much a mental health issue as a physical one, but many people struggling with addiction suffer from additional, related problems as well as their substance abuse. About 43 million Americans (roughly one-sixth of the U.S. population) suffer from some type of mental health disorder, and about 10 million of these cases are severe. Some 14 million of these individuals use illicit drugs, and approximately 8 million have a mental health issue and a substance abuse disorder at the same time.

Co-Occurring Disorders Definition

“Co-occurring disorders,” often referred to as “dual diagnosis” cases, are some of the most difficult substance abuse cases to treat. Co-occurring disorders in addiction treatment typically involve a mental health disorder that runs in tandem with a substance abuse disorder. This can include naturally occurring mental health issues as well as acquired conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some of the most common mental health disorders identified in dual-diagnosis cases include PTSD, panic disorders, eating disorders, depression, insomnia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoia, and schizophrenia.

The team at Harmony Place wants our potential clients and readers to know the dangers of dual diagnosis and what to expect from the rehabilitation experience for dual diagnosis. Early detection and comprehensive treatment are essential for co-occurring disorders, and effectively treating patients in these situations requires addressing their addiction and mental health treatment at the same time.

The Link Between Mental Health And Addiction

The biggest problem facing physicians who treat dual-diagnosis cases is breaking the symbiotic cycle that arises from mental health disorders and addiction. Personality disorders and addiction form dangerous interactions in which one continually worsens the other. Dual-diagnosis cases are dangerous because the individual will often start self-medicating with his or her drug of choice to combat the symptoms of the mental health disorder. Eventually, this creates a dangerous predicament requiring extensive medical intervention and comprehensive rehabilitation.

Genetic Links

There are also strong genetic ties to both addiction and mental health disorders. Many mental health and behavioral disorders, such as depression and anxiety have genetic markers that can pass from parent to child, making the child predisposed to developing these mental health disorders later in life. A parent with a genetic predisposition toward addiction will also pass this trait on to children, making the child more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol later in life. People who develop mental health disorders early in life are also more prone to this type of experimentation.

Substance Abuse as Coping Mechanisms

Many dual-diagnosis cases involve individuals with little to no genetic predisposition toward mental health disorders yet develop them later in life. This is very common among individuals who experience severe trauma and develop PTSD. Treating PTSD is very difficult, and individuals suffering from the condition will sometimes use drugs or alcohol to manage their symptoms. This creates a dangerous interaction between mental health and substance abuse requiring a specialized treatment plan.

Addiction carries many negative social stigmas, so a person who declines into substance abuse may develop psychological issues as a result of the isolation and dehumanization common in people struggling with substance abuse. As an individual’s substance abuse problem progresses, he or she may develop depression, social anxiety, sleep disorders, or other mental health problems. The person will then be very likely to turn to his or drug of choice for relief. Unfortunately, the relief is very temporary, urging them to seek another dose for further respite. This type of interaction can quickly escalate a substance abuse problem to life-threatening levels.

How Does This Cycle Appear?

Different drugs produce different results in the human body, but addictive drugs such as opioids, alcohol, and stimulants interfere with the body’s natural neurotransmitter levels. A dose of opioids causes the user’s system to flush with dopamine, the neurotransmitter that creates feelings of pleasure and reward. Eventually, the user will only feel this sensation after consuming a dose of his or her drug of choice. This interaction has diminishing returns, so subsequent doses will produce less profound effects and encourage the user to take larger doses to achieve the desired sensation.

The Importance Of Early Intervention

Spotting the warning signs of an addiction or a worsening mental health disorder is often the first step in treating dual-diagnosis cases. It’s also important for people struggling with addiction to remember that not every rehabilitation facility has the resources to treat dual-diagnosis patients. Co-occurring disorders training centers provide educational programs for substance abuse professionals so they have the tools to treat dual-diagnosis patients.

The staff at Harmony Place has undergone extensive co-occurring disorders training to better serve our patients struggling with both addiction and mental health problems. Our full range of therapies and services includes individualized treatment plans specific to every patient, so we can provide the most effective treatment possible. Keep this in mind if you or a loved one is in need of treatment for a co-occurring disorder.

Treating Dual Diagnosis

It’s impossible to effectively treat a person struggling with a co-occurring disorder unless those providing treatments address the mental health disorder and the addiction at the same time. The best rehabilitation programs include a wide range of counseling options and therapies aimed at addressing the physical symptoms of addiction and withdrawal while helping patients cope with the psychological and social effects of addiction.

The first step in treating a dual-diagnosis patient is determining the extent of the substance abuse and the mental health disorder. In some cases, medications can provide relief from a mental health issue so the individual receives a more beneficial experience from rehab. Some patients will require extensive medically assisted detoxification before any counseling or treatment is even possible, and this is a delicate process for patients with co-occurring disorders.

Physicians who treat dual-diagnosis patients typically begin with detox and a full review of the patient’s mental health history, medical records, and family history to determine triggers, stressors, and other facets of the patient’s situation. This initial review is crucial and will help the staff providing treatment to create the most effective care plan possible. Beyond detox, recovery from a co-occurring disorder typically involves medication to manage the symptoms of the mental health issue and counseling to overcome substance abuse.

Triggers And Behavioral Patterns

Addiction is deeply rooted in behavior, and when an individual treats a mental health issue with substance abuse, dangerous patterns of behavior can appear. During treatment for a co-occurring disorder, a patient will slowly learn how to identify and manage environmental stressors or triggers that influence their behavior. For example, a person struggling with PTSD may be sensitive to social situations or suffer from flashbacks or nightmares. During therapy, these patients may receive medications to ward off these negative symptoms so they can focus more clearly on recovery.

Long-Term Treatment

Recovery is not as simple as undergoing detoxification and completing rehabilitation. Successful recovery from a substance abuse problem and a co-occurring disorder will demand daily attention and constant maintenance. The long-term treatment options for a dual-diagnosis case will depend on the individual. Some people will require medications and counseling for years after completing rehab while others may find relief much sooner. There is no one solution for co-occurring disorders. The only effective method for helping patients in these situations is developing an individualized treatment plan specific to the patient and carefully maintaining healthy behaviors after completing rehab.

Finding The Right Path To Recovery

Anyone struggling with a co-occurring disorder needs assurance that a rehab facility offers the training and resources necessary to provide effective treatment. Rehabilitation is much more than just detox and counseling. Harmony Place provides a comprehensive range of therapies and counseling options to address even the most complex substance abuse cases, including dual diagnosis.

Effective co-occurring disorder treatment hinges on the training of the staff providing the treatment, and the team at Harmony Place has completed extensive educational courses and training programs. We are equipped to handle even the most difficult dual-diagnosis cases with comprehensive, individualized treatment plans and a variety of therapeutic methodologies including massage, acupuncture, and physical therapy.

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I had very good experience at Harmony Place From first day I came, staff was very kind and make me feel welcome and safe. Everyone was friendly and always try to help me. The therapists are very good and caring. They listen to me and help me understand my problems better. I learn many things from them and feel stronger because of their support. The nurses also very nice and professional. They always check on me and make sure I am okay. Food was good and facilities were clean and comfortable. It help me feel more relaxed and focus on my recovery. Management also doing very good job. Everything was organized and you can see they really care about patients. I am very thankful for this place and all the people who work here. I recommend this center to anyone who needs help.

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Tyler

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Jodana S

If you want to detox painlessly this is the place! The staff is A1. They truly care about us. The groups are awesome . Residential is crazy awesome! You live in a mansion. With a private chef who makes the best food. Community meeting that gets results fast, they care about your opinions. Pool and Jacuzzi are beautiful. If your struggling with addiction this is the house you should come to. I LOVE HARMONY PLACE!!!!! Thank you to all the staff they go above and beyond to make this experience comfortable therapeutic. Don't spend another day in your addiction come to Harmony Place right now!

Cass

I’ve been to 4 treatment centers before Harmony Place, and I can tell you without a single doubt that this is the absolute best by FAR. The past ones were luxury Residential Treatment centers that just treated every single client the same not tailoring to each individual, and were basically just in it for the money, dropping the ball each time. I can also tell you that I’ve never met the CEOs, but here, David comes to the facility almost every single day, and makes sure he get to know every individual here. He is incredibly kind, and was even willing to transfer me to another facility with a higher level of trauma therapy due to me having a lifetime of trauma and PTSD that just is going to take a long time to tackle. He truly cares about all of the clients having all of the tools that we need before getting released to the real world. No more of other CEO would ever be willing to miss an opportunity at making more money and even paired with my IMPECCABLE case manager to find a different facility that was more trauma based. My case manager, Sam, goes absolutely above and beyond in every single aspect. She makes sure you have a smooth transition into aftercare, provides out of this world advice when it comes to sobriety, and takes the time out of her day to make sure that FMLA and short-term disability are completely taken care of during your stay. I’ve never met a case manager that could ever compare to Sam. Ever. I feel lucky to have met her, genuinely. Marissa, my therapist, is SO SWEET, actually listens to you, and provides advice and therapy tailored to each individual’s experience. She’s handled every mood I’ve been in, never judged me, and allowed me to feel safe enough to tell her things I’ve never told any person or therapist in my 29 years of life. I’ve been going to therapy for the past 15 years, and none of those therapists even come close to how amazing she is. I’ve been to 4 other treatment centers in my life and none even come close to Harmony Place. The facility is clean, organized, and high-end. I would recommend Harmony place to my family, friends, and anyone seeking treatment. I feel SO BLESSED to have landed in their hands. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN THE CLINICAL STAFF BEYOND WORDS. I love you guys ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. I feel more confident than ever in my Recovery.

Gabe H

Where to begin.. Harmony is a place that will forever be a part of my story as the first step in my recovery journey. I’m so grateful for this program. The staff is very friendly, and many of them understand what addiction is like, for they themselves have recovery stories of their own. They have an awesome team of therapists, group facilitators, nurses, RA technicians, medical and health professionals, a wonderful case manager for aftercare that cares deeply for your next steps; making sure you are set up for success. They have a wonderful admissions team (shoutout to Marielle who was so kind and understanding of my messed up situation). Everyone is very relatable and friendly. They invest heavily in the importance of diet and nutrition too - there’s a full time professional chef. I gained all the weight I lost and wanted back in the first two weeks lol. On top of the intensive programming they do throughout the day, they take us out to experience various kinds of outside groups to get a taste of the real world, and also take us on social outings during the weekend. If you’re serious about getting better this place will meet you where you’re at and prepare you to launch with a renewed mind and heart.

Monica P

I can't begin to explain just how amazing Harmony Place is. In fact, when we sit down with the owner, Jeff, and clinical director, David, on Monday mornings to have a house meeting, they ask us what they could be doing better. A bigger blender for smoothies is the ONLY thing we could come up with. Let me begin by addressing some negative reviews. If you notice many of them are from people, or are referring to people who have been asked to leave. It is because of harmony places protection of their clients that provide ideal conditions for healing and progress. There is a screening process that it is implemented where they make sure the clients they admit are ready to start a life of sobriety. Some people slip through the cracks. Some people find out a few days or weeks in that they've changed their minds. Some are inappropriate and break rules. It happens. When Harmony Place ask people to leave, It's because they are protecting the people who are here that want treatment. In effect, they're providing exactly what I needed for a genuine start to recovery. When I began my search for a treatment center, my requirements were that the facility's provide an environment in which its residents all want to be there and that it is ethically ran. I got that and so much more at Harmony Place. As well as a structured routine, they also provide a confidential and nurturing environment where one feels safe and where profound healing can begin. Their program offers a sound foundation where further progress in sober living is almost guaranteed. In group meetings, we enjoy getting to know ourselves again and with deeper understanding about why we are the way we are. We are provided with skills to handle real life. Its here that I've come to understand that its not addiction that has driven me to make a mess of my life. It is the trauma that I endured and not processing it correctly that lead to poor thinking patterns that opened the door to addiction resulting in poor life management. So we start at the bottom. Trauma. They help us understand that trauma has led to our own toxicity, what that trauma looks like and how to get out of our own way. Process groups help us learn how to take accountability and foster healthier relationships. I learned here that changing the way I think is absolutely possible and imperative to the healing process. Harmony Place offered me hope when I previously felt I was unfixable and a support team that truly loves me. Even after I leave here, I have contacts that almost demand I keep in touch and an alumni meeting where I can return to the facility on Thursday nights. I wasn't a 12 stepper when I came here but my first experience with it was not one where I was ready to stop using. I understand now that the steps will work for me. It's certainly is not the only modality that they teach. In one group, we are provided an opportunity to sit with a recently retired medical doctor to just ask questions. Another is with a nutritionist. There are a handful of people IN recovery that come to lead groups that are all accredited highly specialized where I felt understood and not judged. The knowledge I have gained here is life changing. It is also versatile and relatable for all types of people. my favorite group was dialectical behavioral therapy. There are breathing classes and sound bath groups and I started doing yoga in the morning. There's a dharma meeting they take you offsite that focuses on Buddhist values. A fantastic onsight chef provides three meals and you can have special requests. We facilitated our own Movie nights during free time. I cant forget to mention you get your own one on one meetings with your assigned primary therapist and there is comprehensive medical support complete with 24/7 nurses and a doctor that shows up throughout the week. If this is what you need to recover and you have mediCAL, cancel your mediCAL and get insurance Harmony Place accepts if you can. There are people to help you with that as well. Just call. Many, many thanks to the staff. ✔️Another life changed.🙏

Cody B

This is such an amazing place truly changed my life. I would recommend this place to anybody if they’re looking for a strong recovery house that truly cares about your recovery and not about just money So if you’re ready to change your life, don’t miss out on the greatness of harmony because this place is where it’s at

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