young woman looking concerned as she discusses a dual diagnosis treatment program with her therapistIn the behavioral health industry, dual diagnosis is when an individual is diagnosed with both a mental health disorder and substance use disorder. Women’s Recovery in Colorado understands that when a woman is struggling with both an addiction and mental health issue, it can be challenging to receive the appropriate treatment. Co-occurring disorders usually accompany substance use disorders in women. At Women’s Recovery, women can get the help they need to recover from them with our dual diagnosis treatment program.

For women caught in the cycle of addiction, substance use is rarely the only item that their treatment plans need to address. Usually, there are much deeper issues at hand, which is why it’s so important to be able to offer them treatment for these problems.

At Women’s Recovery, our staff is highly trained in many co-occurring disorders, which can occur alongside substance use, or as a result of abstaining from it. Either way, these women must be able to obtain the help they need when they need it. Call 833.754.0554 to learn more about our programs and services, or start treatment today.

What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?

The term co-occurring disorder refers to any diagnosis that occurs alongside a drug or alcohol use disorder—a dual diagnosis. It is very typical for most clients battling substance abuse to have co-occurring disorders. Usually, it is a mental health condition, like depression, accompanying a substance use disorder, like alcohol use disorder. However, it could be any number and combination of mental health, process, and substance use disorders. These conditions may be what led to the dependency, or they could result from abstaining from the substance. Every woman is different as far as what her experience is with them.

What Treatment Programs Are Available?

There are several different types of co-occurring disorders that we typically see here at Women’s Recovery, and these include:

  • Eating disorders
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • ADHD
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

It’s also important to note that additional conditions can occur alongside drug and alcohol abuse, which are also deemed co-occurring disorders. These conditions are known as process disorders, and they might include:

  • Gambling disorders
  • Sex disorders
  • Shopping disorders
  • Gaming disorders
  • Internet disorders

In many cases, co-occurring disorders are causing or reinforcing substance use, which is why they must be discovered and treated the right way. Unless these root causes are dealt with appropriately, a relapse is possible, even after a long period of sobriety or abstinence from substances. This is much more common than most people realize.

Signs That a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program Is Needed

There are some signs you can look for within yourself to determine whether or not you might be suffering from a co-occurring disorder.

The signs include:

  • Feeling guilty or regretful about compulsive behaviors
  • Staying up late at night and sleeping during the day
  • Having a history of frequent relapses back into substance abuse
  • Isolating yourself from the people you love
  • Finding it difficult to manage your daily responsibilities
  • Using drugs or alcohol to cope with stress, anger, anxiety, etc.

When these substance use signs are combined with symptoms of mental illness, the likelihood of a co-occurring disorder is good.

Some of the signs that you may need help from a mental health treatment program include:

  • Having a firm belief that certain things are not true, which is otherwise known as having delusions
  • Experiencing hallucinations (auditory, visual, or tactile)
  • Withdrawing from other people and refusing support and friendship
  • Experiencing worthlessness, despair, and hopelessness for more than two weeks’ time
  • Relieving anxiety through the performing of rituals
  • Experiencing difficulties holding down a job
  • Having behavioral issues that affect work, school, or relationships
  • Having frequent mood swings
  • Experiencing severe energy shifts
  • Relying on drugs or alcohol to manage even the most minute details of everyday life

If you’re experiencing any of these signs, seeing a professional and obtaining a comprehensive assessment for co-occurring disorders could be a good idea.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program for Women in Colorado

At Women’s Recovery, we understand how difficult it can be to cope with a substance use disorder. It’s even more difficult when you have a co-occurring disorder.

Our experienced and compassionate staff members offer individualized treatment plans that can address dual diagnosis. Our goal is the same as yours: long-term healing and recovery for your substance use disorder and mental health condition. You’ll find that you’ll feel right at home with us in our beautiful facility and quickly realize how helpful it is to work with staff members who only have your best interests and recovery in mind.

Do you think you might need dual diagnosis treatment in Colorado? If you do, we can help you. Please contact us at 833.754.0554 or reach out online to learn more about our services.