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    Balance is Key at Inpatient Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers

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    Posted in Inpatient Treatment (Rehab)Vote Up0Vote Down
    The most difficult part about getting dual diagnosis treatment is finding the right balance. Each disorder is unique, but must be treated simultaneously. However, most treatment centers treat patients as though one disorder caused the second, and give one diagnosis more time and attention during treatment. This can cause problems, especially if the secondary diagnosis does not get enough treatment to be fully cured by the time one leaves.

    The best way to reduce this problem is by making sure that each diagnosis receives equal attention. Therapy for both diagnosis should be held in a way that gives individualized attention to the issue, plus therapy or counseling can be added to teach the addict how to combine the programs for both issues in a meaningful and productive manner.

    If both issues are not treated at the same time, the addict is left to fend for him or herself on the other issue, and relapse is highly likely. There should be a focus on each individual diagnosis, plus a time where the addict is taught how to work on both issues concurrently. This should be done with a counselor or therapist to make sure that the addict is not guessing on how to take care of their addiction, and potentially putting themselves, or those around them, at additional risk. If this behavior is not addressed while in the inpatient program, the addict could end up facing a harder struggle once they leave treatment, than they had while inside.

    Resource

    "Dual Diagnosis." The Watershed Treatment Programs (Website). Accessed on July 19, 2015.
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    • 2 Commentsby Likes|Date
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      missbishimissbishi
      It's important to draw attention to this, there is every chance that the patient could leave rehab only "half-cured" and end up in a worse situation than before they went there.

      I suspect that there is a temptation to think that if someone curbs their drug habit then their mental health issues will miraculously disappear, or that if their mentall illness is "cured" they they won't see the need to take drugs any more. It's important to treat each disorder separately. 
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      TheTreeofThornsTheTreeofThorns
      I think it is a mistake to believe rehab centers are going to cure you, and not just give you space, time, education, and coping techniques. Doubly true for mental illness. I've always been in the camp that the term, "mental illness" is a misnomer that causes people to treat it like a physical ailment. It is also a spiritual problem that people are having and needs to be cured by adopting a different outlook on life. Medications never did anything for my bi-polar father. Neither did psychiatry. Everyone is different, but I really think people need to look at mental illness as more than just a chemical imbalance.
      Jesus can help anyone, but I know a lot of people do not want to go down that road for whatever reason. He really is the best option for spiritual soudness and peace of mind. 
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