Dually Diagnosed Getting Sober

Alcohol and drug abuse recovery is difficult enough, but when mental health issues are a factor extra help is often needed.

What factors and issues tend to affect the dually diagnosed / mentally ill person who is facing getting sober?

• Medication Management
• Mental Health Counselors
• Integrated Treatment Facilities
• Psychiatric Relapse
• Substance Abuse Relapse

Medication ManagementTwo primary challenges face the dually diagnosed when it comes to medication. One problem exists in the types of medications - many classes of drugs such as benzodiazapines, stimulants, or sedatives may be deemed inappropriate to use in light of addictive tendencies, despite the prevalence of anxiety disorders and panic disorders. Medications may be changed and adjustment periods could be an added stressor. The other complication lies in medication compliance - that is, whether or not the person chooses or remembers to take their medicine. With many drugs that help maintain a chemical balance in the brain, missing even one or two doses can have an effect on the individual's mental state, causing a ripple effect that could result in further medication noncompliance or substance abuse relapse.

Mental Health Counselors An added factor that many alcoholics and addicts in recovery do not require or utilize, the inclusion of counseling at the outpatient level can be very beneficial to help an individual with motivation, self-appraisal, and issues that may be inappropriate for self-help groups. Those who are severely afflicted by their mental illnesses sometimes find counseling and group therapy for the dually diagnosed a welcome alternative to groups such as AA or NA, especially when anxiety or social phobias are an issue. Most counselors that specialize in addictions counseling or co-occurring disorders are particularly sensitive to issues that may be more of a challenge dual diagnoses, such as cost, flexible appointment times and reminder calls, staff friendliness, and patient expectation levels.

Integrated Treatment Facilities at the inpatient level may be required from time to time to help manage the possible psychiatric or substance abuse relapses that may occur. Even if the relapse is due to one issue and not the other, it is prudent to be mindful of both disorders concurrently when treating either in the dually diagnosed individual.

Psychiatric Relapse may happen as a result of poor medication management, natural chemical changes in the brain, environmental changes or stressors, or the use of other drugs/substances.

Substance Abuse Relapse can be the result of many factors, including but not limited to a psychiatric relapse, disengagement with recovery group or network, discontinuation of counseling, environmental stressors, self medication, or other triggers.