Dual Diagnosis Rehab in Amarillo, TX

Mental illness includes many conditions, including depression, schizophrenia, trauma, and mood or personality disorders. These illnesses impact behaviors and influence people’s emotional, psychological, and social lives. They can affect anyone. Money (or good insurance) might be a means toward quicker, more extensive treatment, but mental illness can affect anyone. Fast forward to 2020 and beyond, and COVID-19 has not played nicely with people’s mental health. In 2019, one in 10 adults said they were experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Since May 2020, that number has risen to more than three in 10 adults. A 2021 survey found that 34.2% of Texas adults had anxiety and/or depressive disorder, outpacing the 31.6% rate among U.S. adults. Substance use has been rising, too. In September 2020, 15.1% of adults nationwide admitted they’d begun taking drugs or started taking more during the pandemic. Drug overdose deaths crept upwards, too, during that time. Opioids have proven especially problematic, factoring into 50.5% (or 2,116) of all drug overdose deaths in Texas for 2020. Many Texans live in areas with inadequate (and sometimes nonexistent) mental health care options. Only 32.9% of Texans were getting needed treatment as of September 2021. Mental health issues affect all, including the young. One survey found nearly 40% of North Texas high schoolers admitted to experiencing prolonged bouts of depression. Left untreated, that can mean more problems down the line, including abusing drugs or alcohol to self-medicate. Many people with substance use disorders (SUDs) or addiction also have co-occurring mental health disorders. (That also is called a dual diagnosis.) Nearly 8% of Texans have some type of SUD. Eight in 10 of that group struggle with alcohol addiction. Some addiction rehab providers have estimated that two out of every three of their patients have some kind of mental illness. Addiction and mental illness can contribute to or result from the other. Or, mental illness can drive some to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. But abusing substances can also fuel mental disorders like depression or anxiety. It’s been estimated that one in three adults and one in four youth in Texas who have SUDs also have a co-occurring psychiatric condition. When both conditions are present, the best thing to do is treat both. Dual diagnosis rehab in Amarillo, TX, can help with that.

Dual Diagnosis Rehabs in Amarillo, TX

Dual diagnosis rehab has a lot in common with standard inpatient treatment, but the co-occurring mental disorder is also treated at the same time since outcomes tend to be better when both issues are managed. You can expect a complete checkup when checking into a dual diagnosis addiction treatment in Amarillo, TX, so the medical staff knows what needs to be treated immediately and what will need attention during your stay in rehab. Once you’re screened for mental and physical health, a treatment plan is implemented. Then get ready for:

Detoxification: Here, you’ll get clean of drugs and/or alcohol. Withdrawal can be an ugly and sometimes dangerous stage, so medical oversight is strongly advised. The staff can monitor and help you around the clock at an inpatient rehab. They might administer medication for side effects like headaches, insomnia, nausea, anxiety, and more. When you have a co-occurring disorder, you’ll start (or continue) treatment for that as well.
Inpatient rehabilitation. Once detox is done, you will move into a room and will begin recovery. Psychotherapy will help you know why you use drugs or alcohol. (It could be due to something like trauma or substance abuse at a young age, for example.) They’ll also help you develop healthier coping strategies. Group therapy is common and a good place to interact with and learn from others facing similar journeys. Courses that teach yoga or life skills may be offered, too, to help prepare you for life following rehab. One advantage of inpatient rehab is that you’ll receive therapy, support, healthcare, and more in one convenient location.
Aftercare. Here, you’ll be readied for life after rehab. You’ll be given a list of counselors, therapists, support groups, and alumni groups to keep in contact with. You probably will be encouraged to touch base with the dual diagnosis drug rehab in Amarillo, TX, to ensure you stay on track and avoid relapse.

Conditions Addressed in Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Centers that offer dual diagnosis alcohol and drug rehab in Amarillo, TX, will usually help you work through the addiction to alcohol and other drugs, first by detoxing so you’ll be sober and ready to transition into group and individual therapies. They’ll also treat you for any co-occurring issues, including:

Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder
General anxiety disorder
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Thoughts or efforts at self-harm or suicide

Facilities that treat dual diagnosis patients realize the importance of treating both addiction and mental illness. To leave one untreated could make either (or both) conditions worse. Talk therapy and medications can do wonders for both illnesses.

The Importance of Therapy

Mental health and addiction treatment centers in Amarillo, TX, will use talk therapies to treat you. This can help you understand your addiction and mental health disorder more easily. You’ll discover why you abuse alcohol or other substances, and you’ll learn it’s not some kind of moral failing or a personal shortcoming to feel ashamed. Rather, they’ll help you to better understand underlying causes and learn substance-free ways to deal with problematic feelings. Several therapies can help with dual diagnosis treatment in Amarillo, TX. They include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This kind of talk therapy aims to help you identify unhealthy thought patterns that co-occur with many SUDs. You’ll also learn healthier ways of working through stress, cravings, and triggers. CBT might, for example, have you view a relapse as a chance to learn instead of a failure.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). This subset of CBT teaches you to come to terms with ideas that seem contradictory to one another. If a person is depressed and wants to hide at home all day, DBT might encourage them to go visit friends instead to draw them out of their shells.
Contingency management (CM). This approach nets you rewards when you meet certain goals. If you take a drug test that comes up negative, it might earn you a small reward like a gift card.

Dual diagnosis treatment programs in Amarillo, TX, can offer many options to help their patients work through their addictions and mental health struggles. After 30, 60, or 90 days of treatment, you could emerge feeling empowered and ready to take on the world — sober.

Sources

kff.org – Mental Health in Texas cbsnews.com – New Study Reveals Extent Of Mental Health Crisis Among North Texas Kids & Teens mmhpi.org – Texas Substance Use Disorder Landscape – March 2018 (download) nami.org – Substance Use Disorders sunshinebehavioralhealth.com – Sunshine Behavioral Health Alumni Group mayoclinic.org – Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) sunshinebehavioralhealth.com – Texas Rehab Centers & Addiction Treatment apa.org – What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Medical disclaimer:

Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery.

Licensed medical professionals review material we publish on our site. The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals.