What is a Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnoses are used to identify co-occurring disorders — defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as the coexistence of two or more mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs). Any mix of conditions qualifies, and in 2024, SAMHSA’s data showed that more than 21 million Americans met that threshold. Why so many? People with mental illness are more susceptible to SUDs and vice versa. The following are some of the most common combinations.
How do dual diagnoses affect a person?
From a medical standpoint, high cortisol levels and chemical dependency on a substance exact a steep physical toll on one’s body. Furthermore, the exhaustion from masking co-occurring disorders can also negatively impact health. And don’t overlook the mental effects: Frustration at the failures of traditional treatments can lead to despair — and the worsening of an addiction.
Common Co-Occurring Conditions for
Dual Diagnosis Patients
Depression & Addiction
For some individuals, drugs and alcohol can temporarily relieve the lethargy and hopelessness associated with depression. However, the opposite also holds true: The stigma surrounding addiction and the pressure of hiding a habit can force a person into isolation, worsening their condition.
Anxiety & Addiction
When it comes to anxiety and addiction recovery, both conditions go hand-in-hand. Certain substances, like alcohol, can seemingly help a person relax; when they come back down, or when withdrawal symptoms appear, their anxiety spikes again.
PTSD & Addiction
There’s a well-established link between trauma and addiction, with both conditions feeding into one another: PTSD and substance abuse treatment can help a person break their hold on them.
Learn More“Should I seek a dual diagnosis?”
If your progress with traditional therapies always seems to stall, there may be a co-occurring disorder in play. Reach out to Apex Recovery for a judgment-free conversation: One of our licensed professionals can help you determine whether dual diagnosis treatment at our San Diego rehabilitation facility would be a good fit.
The Apex Recovery Approach to Mental Health and Addiction Integrated Treatment
Dual-diagnosis care is the standard for treating co-occurring disorders, and for good reason. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “it’s usually better to treat [both] issues at the same time rather than separately. Research suggests that this can make all the treatments more effective and improve health outcomes.”
That guidance informs our approach to holistic mental healthcare and rehab. Our personalized dual-diagnosis recovery plans lay the foundation for everything we do — combining evidence-based methodologies with wellness work and an outpatient model that lets patients immediately put their new skills to use.
How Do Dual Diagnoses Affect a Person?
Co-occurring disorders take a toll on a person, one that reaches much further than the doctor’s office. Treating them takes time, even when addressed simultaneously — but time isn’t key to our care philosophy. Given the complexities of a dual diagnosis, Apex Recovery emphasizes long-term stability over short-term results, prioritizing your wellbeing over all else.
Medically
High cortisol levels and chemical dependency on a substance exact a steep physical toll on one’s body — damage to the nervous system, cancer in various organs, and even death.
Personally
The exhaustion from masking co-occurring disorders can negatively impact mental health. Furthermore, frustration at the failures of traditional treatments can lead to despair and the worsening of an addiction.
Family
Addiction and its co-occurring disorders heavily strain personal relationships. Loved ones can feel sadness or even anger over those struggles and may estrange themselves from a person until they see an improvement.
Professionally
As mental health deteriorates and chemical dependency worsens, a person may begin shirking professional responsibilities to get their next fix. Over time, they might lose their job — and have a hard time finding a new one.
What Others are Saying About Apex Recovery
At Apex Recovery, one outcome matters — your sustained sobriety. Our people-first approach has achieved positive results for dozens of patients. If you’re considering co-occurring disorder rehab in San Diego, let these testimonials encourage you to take the next step.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dual-Diagnosis Care
Simply put, regular rehab treats a single condition, while dual-diagnosis care focuses on two at the same time. Research shows the latter approach is more effective and efficient at treating co-occurring disorders.ge
Yes! Depression and addiction often reinforce one another, and trying to target one at a time typically leads to poorer outcomes. Dual-diagnosis care treats both simultaneously — and removes any mystery surrounding why traditional rehab wasn’t working.
At Apex Recovery, we tailor each of our care plans to the needs of the individual. That necessitates an understanding of all conditions present — not just the addiction. By digging for a dual diagnosis, we develop a more complete picture of a patient’s health, letting us select the appropriate evidence-based therapies for them.
Look Beyond Your Addiction
With trained eyes and friendly hands, our expert team is hard at work treating depression and addiction in San Diego. If you think a mental health condition is driving your substance abuse, get in touch — we’d be happy to help you explore dual-diagnosis care.
Call Apex Recovery Today