Introduction to Co-Occurring Disorders

Various health professionals have studied the convergence between mental health disorders and addiction, and they collectively refer to this type of issue as co-occurring disorders. There are many interlinking layers that conflate both a substance abuse disorder, and a mental health disorder, and they often appear identical to the uncritical eye.

There is a widely touted debate about the exact origin of mental health disorders and substance abuse addiction. Anyone who has an addiction of any sort must rely strongly on a supportive framework, which should include friends, family, significant other, sponsors, and health professionals if possible. In the context of co-occurring disorders, many ponder whether substance abuse disorders generate mental health issues, and vice versa.

Sometimes, substance and alcohol abuse alters the brain chemistry so radically that it gives rise to disorders and symptoms, such as that of anxiety, depression, mood swings, and even paranoia.

Usually, individuals who meet these criteria fall within the bounds of the following statistics: among the population of substance abusers, 53% suffer from a mental illness, while 50% of people who suffer from a severe psychiatric disorder are dependent on substances, and 16% of the incarcerated population is plagued with either mental illness or substance abuse issues. Because these disorders are difficult to isolate and diagnose, many health professionals find it difficult to proceed with the proper treatment for substance abusers.

Because these conditions often mask each other, treating co-occurring disorders can often prove to be very taxing and one must proceed cautiously at the hazard of misdiagnosing someone. When disorders exist dually within the same individual, the person conducting the diagnosis and assessments faces major hindrances. The existence of co-occurring disorders often makes treatment efforts challenging for the medical or substance abuse professional, and this complicates both the diagnostic process and the treatment process.

Sometimes, a professional may overlook the presence of a coexisting disorder and instead simply treat the substance abuse disorder. In other contexts, a health professional will simply treat the psychiatric illness. Many people undermine the true seriousness of an addiction for a few particular reasons. Sometimes, drug abusers simply pretend that they do not have a drug or alcohol dependency issue. In some instances, a substance abuse disorder can mimic another illness, and that illness, in some contexts, can mimic the substance abuse disorder.

In other cases, the impact of an addiction is underestimated because many are unaware that they are even addicts. And of course, some individuals remain in a state of denial about their disorder, and identify their behavior patterns as mere tendencies, but not drug abuse itself.

There are select cases in which people are stricken with many disorders at once, and they incur great emotional and psychological damage from their experience within the realm of the addiction. It is especially critical that the general public and health professionals educate themselves highly about the nuances, facts and complexities of addictions. Most importantly, substance abusers themselves must be well acquainted with the indicators pointing to addiction, so that they can take proper action.

With regard to co-occurring disorders, psychiatric illness are often the culprit for substance abuse and alcohol addiction, and some addicts utilize substances in an effort to quell the symptoms of their mental disorder. Sometimes, addiction sufferers shy away from professional treatment because mental health is a fairly taboo subject matter in certain social settings. However, one cannot embark upon a successful recover if they deny the true state of their mental health.

The more educated that a substance abuser and his/her loved ones are about the necessity of treatment and the dangers of addiction, the more likely they will seek treatment. One of the ways in which a mental disorder masks itself as substance abuse is when an individual with bipolar disorder consumes excessive addictive substances during a state of mania. When society removes the social stigma that have for so long skewed the image of mental health treatments, people will feel at ease about the possibility of seeking help from a mental health professional.

Many facilities of today are well equipped with the proper diagnostic and treatment tools, and these resources enable them to eradicate both the addiction itself, and the disorder that coexists with it.

It is also very important to look at the incarcerated populations, as well. These types of coexisting disorders are rampant among both jailed and imprisoned populations, and addressing this issue may reduce the likelihood of criminal behavior. According to a few telling stats, 72%f of the jailed and imprisoned suffer from multiple disorders, including a substance abuse disorder. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 4.6 million adults are afflicted by psychological dysfunction so a certain extent.

Sadly, less than 50% of those with a mental illness have sought treatment for that mental health issue, while 5% embarked upon treatment for substance abuse, and 6% pursued treatment for their psychiatric illness and addictions. In order to develop the best treatment strategies for co-occurring disorders, it is critical that mental health professionals uproot the triggers for the disorders, as well as the distinct diagnoses for those disorders. This type of supportive framework can provide one with the emotional comfort and motivation necessary to pursue a safe and successful recovery.

Recovering from several disorders at once is not an easy process, and it takes time and great endurance in order to emerge successfully from years of substance abuse and mental illness. Never underestimate the power of marijuana addiction or mental disorder, and know exactly what to expect down the line so that you can brace yourself for the unexpected. If you, or a dear friend or relative, suffers from multiple mental disorders, find a mental health professional that specializes in these types of disorders in order to schedule a consult, and hopefully, a successful path to recovery. Ostensibly, a person who suffers from an addiction may be plagued with paranoia, anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as a personality disorder, when in fact, these are mere symptoms of the drug abuse itself.

Many People asks these questions:

• How is having dual diagnosis worse than having just substance abuse disorder?
• Can A Severe Anxiety Disorder Mask Manic Symptoms?
• What personality disorders may co occur with bipolar disorder?
• What personality disorders may co occur with bipolar disorder?
• What is common mental illness?
• What are the drawbacks of having dual diagnosis?
• About how many people have anxiety in US?