women at dual diagnosis treatment programsCo-occurring disorders usually accompany substance abuse 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 battling substance use, substance abuse 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.

What are Co-Occurring Disorders?

The term co-occurring disorders refer to any diagnosis that occurs alongside a drug or alcohol abuse. It is very typical for most patients battling substance abuse to have co-occurring disorders. These conditions may be what led to the dependency, or they could be a result of abstaining from the substance. Every woman is different, as far as what her experience is with them.

Even though these dependencies might seem to be much milder and less harmful than drug or alcohol use, this is not necessarily the case at all. In fact, research has repeatedly shown that process disorders share many of the same characteristics as substance abuse. They can be just as detrimental to one’s health and wellbeing in many cases.

This may be the first time you have ever heard the term co-occurring disorder, and even if you have been through substance abuse treatment before, this may still be a new idea to you. You might even be wondering how you would know whether or not you have a co-occurring disorder.

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:

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

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

Signs of a Co-Occurring Disorder in Women

It’s not uncommon for women to get to this stage of their substance abuse treatment and not really know what co-occurring disorders are. You may be suffering from one without realizing it. This could also be the case if your co-occurring disorder has only developed since you stopped using substances.

If you have noticed any of the below behaviors in your own life, or if you’re finding that you just don’t feel like yourself unless you’re using, a co-occurring disorder may be present.

In many cases, co-occurring disorders are the reasons behind substance abuse, which is why they must be discovered and treated the right way. Unless these root causes are dealt with appropriately, you will likely return to using again, 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 Can Help You

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 your substance abuse
  • Isolating yourself from the people you love
  • Finding it difficult to manage your daily responsibilities
  • Using drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with stress, anger, anxiety, etc.

When these substance use signs are combined with signs 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

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program for Women in Colorado

At Women’s Recovery, we understand how difficult it can be to cope with a substance abuse disorder. It’s even more difficult when you have a co-occurring disorder. You are undoubtedly looking for a way to get some relief from your symptoms. Although you have completed an inpatient treatment program, you may need ongoing care to be sure you’re able to remain sober and ensure you stay in recovery.

Our caring and qualified staff members have excessive experience in helping patients with co-occurring disorders. We can also offer you the type of treatment you need to aid in your recovery. 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 you’ll quickly realize how helpful it is to be working with staff members who only have your best interests and recovery in mind.

Do you think you might need co-occurring disorder treatment in Colorado? If you do, we can help you. Please contact us to learn more about our services.