Mood disorders can have debilitating effects in people’s lives and require psychotherapy. Having a substance use disorder at the same time only makes the effects worse. Specialized treatment is necessary in such cases of co-occurring disorders. Before people can learn about mood disorders treatment, they should understand the connection between mental disorders and addiction.

The Link Between Mental Disorders and Addiction

Visibly depressed man at window probably needs mood disorders treatment during addiction rehabGenerally speaking, people who suffer from addiction are almost twice as likely to have a mental illness. On the other hand, those with mental health disorders have an increased risk of developing an addiction. However, what’s the link between these two problems?

First of all, addiction is a chronic, mental disease. Like mental disorders, it involves a chemical imbalance in the brain. This imbalance prevents the brain from functioning as it should.

With addiction, the brain relies on the high hormone levels that the drugs create in the body. As a result, people must continue to use the drugs to feel normal. With mental disorders, the body can’t correct the chemical imbalance on its own. Sometimes the imbalance is the result of genes, but other conditions such as cancer can also cause it.

Another link between mental conditions and addiction is the symptoms, which can be very similar. Mental illness symptoms can make loved ones mistake the problem for addiction, and vice versa. For this reason, sometimes it’s difficult for doctors to distinguish co-occurring disorders in those with addiction.

Common Co-occurring Conditions

Mental illnesses and addictions can occur in many combinations. However, a few are more common than others. For example, people with alcohol addiction often have panic disorder, and those with cocaine addiction often have major depression. Other common co-occurring disorders include bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

All of these are mood disorders, which is a class that involves sudden changes in mood. They can affect people of all ages, and they might need mood disorders treatment to live normal lives. However, dual diagnosis treatment is essential when they have co-occurring conditions.

What to Expect From Mood Disorders Treatment

It takes a lot of expertise and training to treat an addiction and mood disorder. People who need a treatment program should look for psychiatric experts who have specialized training in dealing with both conditions.

Many people in mood disorders treatment require medications to get control of their emotions and moods. Antidepressants and mood stabilizers work well to treat depression and anxiety as well as bipolar disorders. By providing symptoms management, the medicines allow people to focus on their goals in therapy.

The treatment should also integrate individual therapy, group support, and aftercare services. Most therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy in dual diagnosis treatment. It focuses on helping people recognize and change distorted thoughts that cause negative emotions and behaviors. Other talk therapies that they can use include dialectical behavior therapy and family therapy.

In fact, involving the family in treatment plays a crucial role in the recovery process. It’s important for everyone in the household to learn about mood disorders and addiction. Counseling can teach them how to support each other to promote ongoing recovery. It can also help them mend damaged relationships.

Holistic treatment such as mindfulness is a great addition to mood disorders treatment as well. They teach people how to relax so that they can control their emotions and drug cravings. Other services such as art and equine therapies can help people open up during talk therapy, which accelerates progress.

Overcoming Co-occurring Disorders at Beaches Recovery

Do you need a dual diagnosis treatment center in Florida? Beaches Recovery can provide the help that you need for co-occurring conditions. Our dual diagnosis treatment program includes a range of services, including:

At Beaches Recovery, we make sure that you get the level of care necessary to overcome your co-occurring disorders. You can start with detox at Tides Edge, then progress into residential rehab on our campus. After that, you can transition into one of our outpatient or sober living programs for complete, comprehensive treatment.

Stop letting mood disorders and addiction cause problems in your life. Get the addiction and mood disorders treatment that you deserve. Contact Beaches Recovery now at 866.605.0532 to get feel much better soon.