Nearly half of all people who struggle with substance use disorder (SUD) also struggle with another mental health condition, like anxiety or depression. These are called co-occurring disorders, and these cases need dual diagnosis treatment—a special form of addiction treatment programs that provide holistic treatment for recovery from both conditions. At Recovery Ranch Tennessee, we offer programs like these to help clients with co-occurring addiction and other mental health problems. Millions of Americans are affected by addiction each year. Addiction is a chronic mental health condition that continues to worsen until you seek addiction treatment. During addiction, you may also develop other mental health issues—which can worsen your SUD. To seek help and learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment near Nashville, TN, call 888.486.3821 today.
What is dual diagnosis treatment? This is a specialized form of treatment for people who have both addiction and other mental health conditions. Also known as co-occurring disorders, these conditions often overlap and interact with each other in complex ways. Without treating both at the same time, it’s difficult to achieve long-term recovery.
Addiction is a chronic, progressive, and incurable condition that causes you to abuse drugs or alcohol despite experiencing harmful consequences or having a strong desire to quit. Also, addiction changes your brain chemistry and can impair your decision-making process.
During addiction, your brain’s pleasure and reward center changes. Your brain associates drugs and alcohol with pleasure and rewards your substance use by releasing neurotransmitters. When you don’t use substances, your brain restricts the release of pleasurable neurotransmitters. Over time, your brain can become dependent on drugs and alcohol to release any neurotransmitters. This causes you to deal with cravings and withdrawal symptoms when you don’t use them.
Addiction can also:
However, when you struggle with addiction and another mental health condition, you meet the criteria for having co-occurring disorders—which can severely impact your health and capacity for sustained recovery.
Two or more conditions can exist simultaneously or one right after the other. Some of the most common co-occurring disorders that we see at our dual diagnosis treatment center are:
We need to treat both conditions for you to recover. Since both addiction and these co-occurring disorders cause neurotransmitter imbalances, worsened mental health symptoms can make you more likely to relapse or self-medicate.
The Ranch’s dual diagnosis treatment programs in Tennessee offer unique programming that addresses both your addiction recovery and mental health needs. We also have psychiatrists on staff, which can be especially helpful if your medications need to be restarted or adjusted.
Our dual diagnosis treatment options also provide:
Our compassionate staff focuses on properly diagnosing and treating your mental health problems. Since recovery can cause withdrawal symptoms and mood changes when you struggle with a mental health condition, a dual diagnosis treatment program will be better prepared to meet your needs.
When you struggle with a substance use disorder, you can feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and alone. Know that you’re not alone and that professional help is accessible. Contact The Ranch online or call 888.486.3821 to learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment options near Nashville, TN.
If you’re ready to talk, we’re here. The Ranch offers a place to settle, breathe, and begin again. Reach out today and start your recovery in a setting built for healing.
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Dr. Fuller is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He completed medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and residency at Vanderbilt University. Additionally, he has completed the Nashville Advance Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program, a two-year intensive program to better integrate traditional psychotherapy into his psychiatric practice. Dr. Fuller began his post-residency career in psychiatry running a psychotherapy-oriented private practice. Looking to help more people than he could working alone yet still provide treatment that emphasizes the importance and value of talk therapy, he joined The Ranch in 2017.
Dr. Fuller is passionate about helping people who have survived trauma and/or are struggling with addiction and strongly believes that the life we all deserve is within reach, no matter the adversity that one must overcome. He views medications as tools rather than solutions and his prescribing philosophy is to use the lowest dose necessary of non-addictive medications to help aid the process of recovery.