Dual Diagnosis Archives - Freeman Recovery Center

Treatment Centers for PTSD

Written by Freeman Recovery on January 5, 2024. Posted in Addiction Recovery, Co-Occurring Disorders, Dual Diagnosis, Inpatient Rehab, Mental Health.

Researchers find trauma is the common thread in the development of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders. As a result, treatment centers for PTSD are addressing the needs of those with a dual diagnosis.

Dual diagnosis is the condition for someone diagnosed with a mental health condition and a subsequent substance use disorder. Fortunately, professionals have found trauma therapy an essential component in addressing the roots of both conditions. Thus PTSD treatment centers are key to healing.

PTSD: How and Why It Occurs

PTSD is a complex mental health condition occurring as the result of a traumatic experience. Mental health researchers continue to build a better understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma to include individual trauma therapy as a beneficial treatment option.

Co-occurring disorders, such as PTSD and substance use disorders, find their roots in trauma, and each needs to be a consideration when seeking treatment. An initial evaluation is essential in correctly diagnosing new patients in treatment centers.

Trauma experiences such as war, natural disasters, sexual assault, physical abuse, severe accidents, or being a victim of a violent crime are often initiators in the development of PTSD.

Diagnosis must occur at least 30 days after a traumatic event, but in some cases, symptoms do not appear until months or even years later. Three parts of the brain have a connection to processing trauma. Finally, hormones, or neurotransmitters, also have a contributing effect on coping with trauma.

PTSD, Trauma, and The Brain

Below are facts about trauma and the brain:

The amygdala helps control emotions, survival instincts, and memory. Responsible for the fight or flight response. It can become hyperactive, causing a person to experience hypervigilance, an intense awareness of everything around them. This protective force makes sleeping, relaxing, or finding joy challenging.
The hippocampus aids in learning and memory. Studies have found that people who have a trauma may have a smaller hippocampus than those who have not. The constant high levels of stress hormones may damage or destroy cells in this area of the brain. People who have PTSD find it difficult to form memories but have vivid memories of their trauma.
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for the regulation of emotions and helps the amygdala maintain control. Helping to calm the fight or flight response when understanding safety is present for most people, those affected by trauma find disruptions in the ability of the prefrontal cortex to regulate fear and other emotions, leading to feelings of panic, anxiety, and dysfunctional out-of-place reactions.

Treatment centers for PTSD therapy have a solid grasp of the mind-body connection and how trauma affects people in different ways. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of PTSD is vital during the evaluation process and confirming dual diagnosis.

Many symptoms of trauma are similar to the symptoms of PTSD. Unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance use, are common for finding relief from uncomfortable PTSD and trauma symptoms.

The following symptoms stand out in the assessment of patients’ mental health and experiences with trauma:

Intrusive thoughts and memories
Hypervigilance and hyperarousal
Loss of interest in once-important activities
Avoidance behaviors
Unhealthy coping mechanisms

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Continual advances in research have found that C-PTSD, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, shares many of the symptoms common with PTSD. The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies finds that people with C-PTSD also have problems with regulating emotions and managing feelings.

Another symptom is having a negative self-concept and feeling different from others, which breeds issues in maintaining a positive self-image. Lastly, interpersonal problems stand out, including challenges in trusting other people.

PTSD Treatment Centers Offering Trauma Therapy with Treatment

Typically, people who are uncomfortable or in distress look to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol to escape. Trauma experiences and PTSD carry severe symptoms that are difficult to escape from.

Treatment centers for PTSD utilize new evidence-based therapies, such as trauma therapy, to empower patients to investigate their past trauma. In conjunction with other behavioral therapies, new coping mechanisms grow stronger with the new understanding of how trauma works and how to heal from it.

Individual and Group Therapy in PTSD Treatment Centers

Evidence-based therapies are essential in substance use treatment for changing behaviors and forming new, healthy, sober mindsets. Individual cognitive-behavioral and group therapies offer crucial tools for incorporating new healthy coping mechanisms and finding peer support.

Building trust in group therapy sessions by learning how to share insecurities and past experiences that may be painful initiates personal growth. These therapies are beneficial in combination with trauma therapy for those with PTSD and a co-occurring substance use disorder.

Risk Factors for Trauma and PTSD

The risk factors for trauma and PTSD can lie in family history, dysfunctional family relationships, and those with a military or combat background. The symptoms of PTSD can trigger someone to self-medicate with substances, especially if there is a family history of substance use.

People exposed to domestic violence—including children—may have escalating symptoms from unresolved traumas that lead to substance use. People with anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions may need an evaluation to check for PTSD as well.

Signs of PTSD

Not all people who experience traumatic events develop post-traumatic stress disorder. About a month after experiencing a trauma, symptoms can intensify and become distracting or uncomfortable. For others, symptoms may appear months or a year later.

It is imperative to seek professional mental health before symptoms become unmanageable. Those with concerns must contact a medical or mental health professional.

The following are signs of PTSD:

Intrusive or negative thoughts, flashbacks, or nightmares
Avoidance behaviors cause people to avoid people and places that may be associated with trauma
Changes in behavior
Mood swings
Uncomfortable physical symptoms

Transform Trauma in Tennessee and Live the Life You Deserve

The after-effects of untreated trauma experience may be apparent in the challenging symptoms of PTSD and a substance use disorder. Trauma specialists with Freeman Recovery Center in Tennessee are changing the treatment options for people with trauma in their pasts. A thorough evaluation is a phone call away to begin a journey to wellness.

Contact Freeman Recovery Center to ask any additional questions that may remain.

How Does Alcohol Damage the Vital Organs?

Written by Freeman Recovery on December 1, 2023. Posted in Addiction Recovery, Addiction Treatment, Dual Diagnosis.

When most people think about alcohol-related deaths, they think of drinking and driving. Unfortunately, alcoholism can increase the odds of developing cancer, committing suicide, and many adverse health outcomes.

Drinking alcohol and organ damage go hand in hand with excessive drinking. The Centers for Disease Control are campaigning to educate the American public on what the standard drink is and how it differs from excessive drinking.

Why Is Alcohol So Damaging?

The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics proved in 2020, 140,557 Americans died from the effects of alcohol in an average year. Alcohol damages vital organs with excessive and long-term use.

Excessive drinking for women is 4 or more drinks during one occasion, and 5 or more for men. Heavy drinking for women is 8 or more drinks a week, and for men 15 or more drinks per week.

Alcohol can weaken the immune system, which works to protect the body and its organs from infection and disease. Consuming alcohol keeps the body from performing normal processes.

It damages vital organs, causing bacteria to grow in the gut, which can migrate into the intestinal wall and the liver. Alcohol and organ damage are only part of a precarious situation with alcoholism. Drinking alcohol can put people at a greater risk of developing cancers.

Regular drinking over time increases the risk of the following cancers:

Head and neck cancer, including oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx cancers
Esophageal cancer
Liver cancer
Breast cancer
Colorectal cancer

Alcohol and Brain Damage

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reveals through various studies and research how alcohol has a disturbing effect on brain chemistry. Alcohol damages vital organs and interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, affecting mood, behavior, and cognitive ability.

Hangovers are a typical experience with excessive drinking and can be painful and dangerous. Brain damage can cause challenges with coordination and decision-making skills and add hidden dangers from accidents and the chance of overdose.

Alcohol’s Effect on the Heart and Kidneys

Alcohol damages vital organs, especially the heart. Those with an alcohol use disorder are at a higher risk of high blood pressure. Cardiomyopathy (diseased heart muscle) and arrhythmias (unusual heartbeat) are often the result of excessive alcohol use. A stroke is another critical possibility involving excessive intake of alcohol.

The National Kidney Foundation is trying to raise awareness of the unfortunate effects of alcohol and organ damage. The kidneys filter blood, a vital function, and regulate fluids and electrolytes in the body.

Alcohol abuse disrupts the kidneys from functioning correctly and may dehydrate the body, which affects cells and other organs. Excessive drinking can damage the kidneys and cause them to work inefficiently or not at all.

Alcohol and the Liver

The fact that alcohol damages vital organs is becoming more apparent in the knowledge that the liver must work hard to detoxify and remove alcohol from the blood. The liver cannot store alcohol, so it moves quickly to the front of the line to metabolize.

Thus, the liver detoxifies and removes alcohol from the blood, which is oxidation. Once oxidation is complete, the alcohol in the liver becomes water and carbon dioxide. Fatty liver is a condition that occurs because of the oxidative metabolism of alcohol, which generates molecules that inhibit fat oxidation.

Roughly 90% of people who drink more than 1 ½ to 2 ounces of alcohol per day develop fatty liver. Fatty liver can result in liver fibrosis and, finally, cirrhosis. Fatty liver is reversible within 4 to 6 weeks with no alcohol use, but cirrhosis is irreversible and can lead to liver failure.

Pancreas Damage and Alcoholism

Alcohol damages vital organs such as the pancreas that help the digestive system by producing enzymes that break down sugars, fats, and starches. Also, the pancreas makes hormones, or chemical messengers, to regulate blood sugar levels and appetite.

The chemical messengers are critical in stimulating stomach acids and directing the stomach to empty. Signs and symptoms of problems with the pancreas due to alcoholism can be extreme pain for unknown reasons.

Abusing alcohol can cause organ damage, including the pancreas. Inflammation of the pancreas or pancreatitis results from alcohol, causing the pancreas to produce toxic substances.

This dangerous inflammation can cause extreme pain and swelling and impair the pancreas’s ability to make enzymes and hormones necessary for the proper digestion of foods. Damage to the pancreas can be irreversible, but the long-term condition is manageable with a special diet.

Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders

It’s a fact that organ damage is a result of excessive alcohol use. Still, those who seek rehab to stop abusing alcohol can be successful in managing health issues with medical supervision.

Therapy begins with an assessment from healthcare professionals to determine physical and mental health issues. Understanding each individual’s complete picture is vital before starting the detoxification process. Detoxing from alcohol can be challenging to endure.

Medically managed detox from alcohol is imperative for safe and effective detoxification.

Withdrawal symptoms from ending alcohol use can be uncomfortable and medically challenging to monitor. Symptoms can be extreme, and if delirium tremens develop, it may be life-threatening.

When choosing a rehab center for ending an alcohol use disorder, it is essential to find experienced healthcare professionals who understand how difficult alcohol detox can be.

Find Professional Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders in Tennessee

Concerns for alcohol and vital organ damage are realistic, and those seeking treatment to end an AUD need experience in every aspect of treatment.

Freeman Recovery Center in Tennessee offers safe and effective alcohol detox programs and various options for rehab. Evidence-based therapies are proven to be successful and beneficial for relapse prevention.

Contact Freeman Recovery Center today to make an appointment for an assessment.

Long-Term Effects of Alcoholism

Written by Freeman Recovery on September 15, 2023. Posted in Addiction Recovery, Dual Diagnosis.

Long-term alcoholism is responsible for adverse health complications, a higher-than-normal chance of sexual assault, and suicide. Statistics concerning alcohol abuse are difficult to believe, but unfortunately, ring true in the United States today. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), 140,557 Americans die from the effects of alcohol in an average year. Furthermore, 1 in 10 Americans over age 12 have an alcohol use disorder.

The effects of alcohol abuse are often chronic rather than acute health problems. Alcoholic liver disease is the primary health concern, which causes 19.1% of all alcohol-related deaths. Alcohol affects cardiovascular health dramatically, involving blood pressure and an elevation of chance of stroke. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) states that women using alcohol moderately increase their risk for breast cancer.

Alcoholism Facts and Stats

According to NCDAS, in 2020, men contributed to over half of the population with an alcohol use disorder, with 14.8 million people overall diagnosed. Even more alarming is that girls aged 12 to 17 are 61.5% more likely to have an alcohol use disorder than boys. Emerging trends in alcohol abuse involve high-intensity drinking (HID), which defines consumption of alcohol at levels 2 or more times the gender-specific binge drinking thresholds.

High-intensity drinking statistics include:

High-intensity drinking peaks at age 21
80 to 90% of young adults celebrate their 21st birthday with alcohol
High-intensity drinking is associated with aggression and injury
Each year, 97,000 sexual assaults by American college students involve alcohol

Deaths from long-term alcoholism include the following statistics:

53.7% of alcohol-related deaths are due to chronic misuse
Alcohol poisoning is another leading killer, causing 32% of acute alcohol-related deaths
Nearly 100,000 annual deaths are attributable to alcohol abuse, with more than half due to long-term use
140,557 Americans die from the effects of alcohol in an average year

Long-Term Effects of Alcoholism on the Body

Long-term alcoholism is especially dangerous to those with certain heart conditions, high blood pressure, and stroke. Alcoholic liver disease is another significant physical illness linked to long-term alcohol use. The pancreas and kidneys are also adversely affected by heavy alcohol consumption. In addition, gastrointestinal problems are common in those who drink alcohol long-term.

Alcoholism can weaken the immune system, which makes the body prone to more disease. Pneumonia and tuberculosis are common diseases in long-term alcoholics. A weak immune system also slows the body’s ability to heal and ward off other infections. Long-term alcoholism raises the chance of developing certain cancers.

Long-Term Effects of Alcoholism on the Brain

Long-term alcoholism has a detrimental effect on the brain, although there are adverse effects even with short-term use, including memory loss and blackouts. Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a severe brain condition, can develop over time from thiamine and Vitamin B1 deficiencies due to alcohol misuse. The condition causes extreme mental confusion, lack of muscle coordination, and paralysis of nerves.

Another unfortunate circumstance is that 80 to 90% of alcoholics with Wernicke’s also develop Korsakoff’s psychosis. Korsakoff’s psychosis leads to cognitive decline, including forgetfulness and an inability to develop and hold new memories. Long-term alcoholism affects the neurotransmitters in the brain, causing a failure to make sound judgments, control drinking alcohol, or make good decisions.

Unfortunately, although physical conditions develop, causing pain or discomfort, the user cannot stop drinking. The brain’s chemistry is also dependent upon the continual ingestion of alcohol.

Risk Factors for Alcoholism: Genetics

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism relays essential risk factors for the population to develop an alcohol use disorder. Genetics or family history of long-term alcoholism is a significant risk factor. Those choosing to drink alcohol excessively or binge drink, consuming alcohol before age 15, have existing mental health conditions, high stress, and a history of childhood abuse or trauma are other leading risk factors.

Genetics or family history generates a 50 to 60% vulnerability of an alcohol use disorder to develop. An individual’s genetic makeup can affect biological processes, mental states, and traits, which include physiological responses to alcohol and stress, neurobiology associated with addiction, and behavioral tendencies based on impulsivity.

Family history involves 12.1% of children under 17 who live with at least one parent with an AUD. Single-parent households present with 9.3% of fathers being alcoholic and 6.3% of mothers.

Examples of genetic factors include the following:

Genetic response to alcohol consumption or innate alcohol tolerance: This appears as an ability to hold their liquor, and results in a likelihood to drink heavily and develop an alcohol use disorder
Inherited alcohol metabolism: Certain populations carry a genetic variation influencing liver enzymes responsible for ethanol metabolism. It builds up acetaldehyde. These enzymes are responsible for physical side effects, limiting the amounts of alcohol they can tolerate and an increased risk of particular cancer.
A genetic vulnerability to the elements of addiction: Addiction-related neurotransmitter systems

Risk Factors for Alcoholism: Environment

Environmental factors, including external stressors, are a significant risk factor in developing an alcohol use disorder. Accumulation of substantial stressors throughout life, trauma, and abuse impact drinking patterns, most likely to be heavy involvement with alcohol.

Mental health conditions are often a result of genetic and environmental factors that raise stress levels, anxiety, and depression. Unfortunately, long-term alcoholism can increase the severity of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.

The following statistics involve mental health conditions and alcohol use disorders (dual diagnosis disorders):

Those under treatment for anxiety disorders include 20 to 40% also experiencing an alcohol use disorder.
Those under treatment or had treatment for a depressive disorder include 40% with an alcohol use disorder.
36 to 91% of people with an alcohol use disorder have also had treatment for a sleep disorder.
40 to 50% of men and women with an alcohol use disorder have had another substance use disorder in their lifetime.

Find Treatment Options for Long-Term Alcoholism in Tennessee

Fortunately, successful treatment options for long-term alcoholism exist, and Freeman Recovery Center in Tennessee offers several options. Medical detox programs include medication-assisted treatment, and cognitive-behavioral therapy assists in forming new behavioral patterns and is an evidence-based therapy. Inpatient and outpatient programs are available, and the admissions department is familiar with processing insurance.

intervention for a man with a substance use disorder

What is the Johnson Intervention Method?

Written by Freeman Recovery on June 16, 2023. Posted in Addiction Recovery, Addiction Treatment, Dual Diagnosis, Inpatient Rehab, Mental Health, Rock Bottom.

The Johnson Intervention Method began as a brainstorm by Dr. Johnson, but studying 200 people in recovery and their circumstances helped reinforce his beliefs. Most study participants sought treatment after a crisis, illness, addiction, or life-altering event involving relationships.

During these sessions, friends, family, co-workers, or loved ones would confront the person about the impact of their behavior. They also present boundaries or consequences if the confronted person doesn’t change. It helps someone become aware of their harmful behaviors and account for them.

Understanding the Johnson Method For Addiction

The Johnson Method is helpful to encourage sobriety and accountability in treatment. Understanding the Johnson Intervention Method is helpful through the words of Vernon Johnson himself:

“It is a myth that alcoholics have some spontaneous insight and then seek treatment. Victims of this disease do not submit to treatment out of spontaneous insight – typically, in our experience they come to their recognition scenes through a buildup of crises that crash through their almost impenetrable defense systems. They are forced to seek help; and when they don’t, they perish miserably.” – Vernon Johnson, I’ll Quit Tomorrow, 1973.

Sadly, 71,000 people died in 2019 from a drug overdose. In addition, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states in 2020, 20 million people were diagnosed with a substance use disorder. Not only is that alarming, but only 10.3% of those people received substance use disorder treatment.

Those numbers rose as SAMHSA reported in 2017 that 18.7 million people were affected, with 7.6% receiving treatment. The constant remains the proven treatment methodologies continue to be relied upon for successful treatment. This includes the Johnson Intervention Method. In fact, many believe the Johnson Method is a popular intervention method for those with alcohol and drug addictions.

We all have stereotypical thoughts concerning substance use treatment, with interventions initiated by family and friends. The Johnson Intervention Method is similar and relies upon an invitation to the network of possible support people to attend counseling sessions.

Essential support tools are detailed, a review of how an intervention works, then a plan is put into action for the last counseling session. Finally, a counseling session (intervention) includes the support system, the loved one with a substance use disorder, and a therapist. Connecting the loved one with a substance use disorder to a treatment option in a confrontational setting aims to achieve a safe and powerful resolution.

Dr. Vernon Johnson, a priest with an alcohol use disorder developed The Johnson Intervention Method in the 1960s. In addition, he used self-reflection on his personal experience with treatment to determine a safer option. He concluded there did not have to be an experience of “rock bottom” and that family and friends could lead a loved one to treatment.

The 7 Components of the Johnson Intervention Method

Team: An intervention team includes the professional interventionist, family, friends, or other loved ones.
Plan: A carefully outlined plan provides the role of each participating person, the time, and the place.
Focus is care: The intervention focuses on the well-being or care of the loved one, not blame.
Focus on substance use only: The main focus is substance use issues only.
Evidence: Verbalizing details of the proof and how substance use has impacted the lives of the family and loved ones.
The goal: The primary goal of the intervention is treatment.
Options of treatment: Having more than one treatment option is ideal for the loved one to feel like there is some control.

The Johnson Intervention’s Method Benefits

The Johnson Intervention Method has proven to be one of the most effective methods of connecting someone with a substance use disorder to treatment. In addition, the benefits of this therapeutic technique lie in proof that outpatient treatment and other variations of treatment Dr. Johnson’s method led to a substantial increase in usage.

The Johnson Intervention Method, compared to 4 different modes, proved his clients were more likely to attend and complete treatment. As a result, the other 4 methods had some success, but engagement with the family and loved ones of the client seems to be the most successful option.

Why Interventions Are Useful for Addiction

Conversely, the benefit extends even further for using the Johnson Intervention Method, as some people believe that the user must reach rock bottom before they reach out for help. Guiding a loved one to treatment using this method prevents rock-bottom situations and brings therapy to end the addiction before the worst-case scenario.

Often referred to as an answer to denial, proof of the crisis the loved one is experiencing in addiction can allow acknowledgment of their reality. Finally, success in avoiding a life-threatening situation in addiction is the first win in accepting treatment.

The Johnson Intervention Method is a nonjudgmental, caring, loving, and compassionate method of offering treatment to a loved one. An essential component is the team’s objectivity in spelling out their loved one’s reality. Those experiencing a substance use disorder have many defenses to accept the treatment offer. It shows how much the team cares, and their concerns are spoken without hate.

Explore Intervention Using the Johnson Intervention Method in Tennessee

Freeman Recovery Center offers the Johnson Intervention Method for alcohol use disorder treatment. We also have drug rehab and dual diagnosis treatment to choose from. Visit our website to answer more questions, and message us through our Contact Us page. Once the detox is complete, outpatient or inpatient treatment can follow. Intervention may be just the answer for bringing your loved one with an addiction to seek treatment.

The Johnson Intervention Method is a powerful and engaging method of bringing a loved one with a substance use disorder to treatment. Freeman Recovery Center in Tennessee offers the option of using this method with your loved one. The success rate of the Johnson Intervention Method has been proven very effective in the successful acceptance of treatment and completion.

Contact our staff to begin the process today.

woman with dual diagnosis of substance use and mental health disorder

What Does Dual Diagnosis Treatment Include?

Written by Freeman Recovery on June 2, 2023. Posted in Addiction Recovery, Addiction Treatment, Co-Occurring Disorders, Dual Diagnosis, Mental Health.

Those diagnosed with mental health and substance use disorder may be interested in dual diagnosis treatment. It is not uncommon for those with a substance use disorder to also be experiencing a co-occurring mental health disorder. Therefore, finding a treatment center that offers evidence-based therapies for both diagnoses must be a significant priority. Those seeking treatment must consult a medical or mental health professional for a correct diagnosis.

Treatment centers offer the most up-to-date therapies for both conditions in one comprehensive plan. Some centers concentrate only on substance use disorders. Dual-diagnosis treatment experts realize substance use disorders can stem from mental health issues. Thus, evidence-based therapies will complement each other.

What Is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis concludes the diagnosed person has both a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health condition at the same time. For example, this can include someone who abuses alcohol and has depression. Symptoms of both disorders could be confused, and it can also be challenging to determine which disorder came first.

However, more than 50% of those with a significant mental health disorder are also diagnosed with a substance use disorder. Therefore, finding dual diagnosis treatment is imperative to treat the whole person and both disorders. The most common dual diagnoses include substance use and anxiety or mood disorders.

However, more than half with a substance use disorder suffer from an emotional, psychological, or psychiatric condition. Dual diagnosis treatment provides experienced mental health professionals who understand how the 2 disorders are linked. On the other hand, ADD, ADHD, schizophrenia, and some personality disorders cannot be excluded.

Mood and anxiety disorders often co-occur with a substance use disorder. Someone can abuse drugs or alcohol while experiencing any of the following:

Bipolar disorder
Major depressive disorder
Dysthymia disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Social anxiety disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder

The Dual Diagnosis Process and Timelines

An assessment or evaluation from a medical or mental health provider will provide a diagnosis for dual diagnosis treatment. The assessment will include a wide range of screening tools a healthcare provider uses. However, it is helpful for the patient to be honest during the evaluation to have all pertinent data in forming the diagnoses. Unfortunately, a 2002 study found that only 12% of the 4 million dual-diagnosis adults received treatment for both conditions.

Medical professionals must make a thorough assessment for a substance use disorder because alcohol, drugs, and other substances can change brain chemistry and function. Conversely, those experiencing an undiagnosed mental health disorder may begin using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate.

Mental health disorders have affected the brain’s reward center, increasing the probability of addiction. It is difficult to establish which diagnosis came first, but dual diagnosis treatment offers the best chance for recovery.

After completing an assessment and confirming the diagnosis, the dual diagnosis treatment timeline includes several processes. Once the admissions process is complete, the results from the review allow for a comprehensive treatment plan. However, detox must occur before further treatment can begin. The decision for inpatient or outpatient treatment after detox determines the length of the program.

Who Is A Dual Diagnosis Treatment For?

Dual diagnosis treatment is for people with a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health disorder. Unfortunately, establishing treatment for only one disorder almost always meant that the second condition was often left untreated. Therefore, 2 or more diagnoses are the qualifiers for dual diagnosis treatment. Quite often, depression, anxiety disorder, and substance use disorder all exist together.

What Are the Benefits Of Dual Diagnosis Treatment?

Studies have proven that dual diagnosis treatment is most successful when both conditions treat simultaneously, as one condition feeds off the other. In addition, the separate issues often feed off one another, making it essential to address both for success. Consequently, each type of therapy for both diagnoses supports the other for a successful long-term recovery and prevention of relapse.

Signs and Symptoms of A Dual Diagnosis Disorder

Drug tests offer a definitive answer concerning the type of substances with a substance use disorder; determining what mental health disorder is involved is more challenging. However, signs and symptoms can be shared with many mental health disorders, so screening tools are available for mental health professionals to diagnose. Finally, with dual diagnosis treatment, the symptoms of both conditions can be similar.

The signs and symptoms of a mental health condition could include any of the following:

Mood swings
Confusion
Depression
Difficulty concentrating
Withdrawal from relationships
Suicidal thoughts

The symptoms of drug or alcohol abuse could include any of the following:

Risky behavior
Isolation from friends and family
Changes in behavior
High tolerance for the substance
Withdrawal symptoms
Continually using the substance despite the dangers
Feelings of needing to be on the substance to function normally

Effects of Undiagnosed Dual Diagnosis

When a dual diagnosis is not correctly identified, the patient can suffer substantial physical and mental consequences. For example, those who have substance use disorder and depression have a much higher risk of developing suicidal thoughts and overdose. On the other hand, an untreated mental health disorder can lead to unemployment, disability, homelessness, poor quality of life, and even incarceration. Many social problems begin with mental health disorders left untreated.

Both substance use disorder and mental health conditions left untreated can negatively affect relationships with friends, families and coworkers. Physical health can be adversely affected due to a lack of self-care and the ability to recognize the seriousness of symptoms. Escalation of either condition could have very dire results. Therefore, dual diagnosis treatment is essential for seeking help in recovery.

Explore the Importance of Treating Dual Diagnosis in Tennessee

If you are experiencing a substance use disorder and are seeking treatment, our experts can help determine if you have a dual diagnosis. Freeman Recovery Center in Tennessee offers a comprehensive treatment plan and a compassionate staff who understand the difficulties 2 diagnoses can present. Visit our website and see the beautiful location of our center. While you are gathering more information, fill out an inquiry form to allow us to contact you for answers to your questions.

Call today.

physicians at our medically monitored detox in Nashville, TN

What Is Medically-Monitored Detox?

Written by Freeman Recovery on May 19, 2023. Posted in Addiction Recovery, Addiction Treatment, Dual Diagnosis, Inpatient Rehab, Rock Bottom.

It is a fact that a medically-monitored detox program can be the safest and most comfortable form of detox program. In addition, medically-monitored detox offers the option of medication to lessen the intensity of withdrawal symptoms.

However, detox can be a deal breaker and cause relapse, so making the client comfortable is vital. Finally, only some treatment centers offer this option, so ask what your center option uses.

What Is Medically-Monitored Detox?

Substance use disorders create chemical changes in the body and mind. In removing the substance, the brain must readjust to the chemical changes and the levels of neurotransmitters. In addition, the body is going through challenges without the substance. Consequently, the medically-monitored detox program provides medical supervision around the clock during detox.

Someone must monitor dangerous withdrawal symptoms to keep the client safe and comfortable. Likewise, withdrawal symptoms can vary from person to person, so having a doctor present with a medically-monitored detox can be lifesaving.

However, factors such as patient age, health, and the number of substances used can affect the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Finally, the history of previous detox experiences might influence expected outcomes.

Symptoms may include any of the following symptoms:

Digestive issues
Anxiety
Rapid heart rate
Excessive sweating
Depression
Tremors
Confusion
Stroke

Medically-monitored detox assures patients the best safety, health, and future sobriety support. However, withdrawal symptoms gradually develop hours after the user’s last dosage. Therefore, peak discomfort and intensity usually occur 3 or 4 days into detox. Finally, the detox process can be as brief as 5 days or longer, depending on several factors.

What Does the Detox Process Include?

Licensed medical professionals supervise a medically-monitored detox program and have the ability to prescribe medications to assist with uncomfortable symptoms. Once the detox begins, the patient no longer has access to the substance involved with the addiction.

Instead, the supervising physician can reference the substance being detoxed from and decide the best options for medication, which fall into 2 opioid categories. Psychological benefits of medically-monitored detox programs include early intervention techniques to carry on with the treatment program after detox.

Markedly, those who are introduced to recovery techniques early on in detox have less chance of relapsing. Consequently, learning positive coping mechanisms and breathing techniques help to gain self-confidence early on and can help immediately after detox. Finally, those experiencing the detox can begin recognizing the truth in the mind-body connection.

Medication-Assisted Treatment with Partial Agonists and Antagonist Opioids

Partial agonists produce similar drug effects in the body, although less intense. However, when the body stops responding to the partial agonist, usage is ended. Buprenorphine is commonly used. In addition, antagonists block opioids through attachment to opioid receptors in the brain but don’t activate them. Finally, medical personnel frequently administers Naloxone.

Clinical treatment staff works harmoniously with medical professionals to address the processing of challenging emotions and feelings that can occur with detox. In addition, medical staff monitors blood pressure, respiration, and other vital body processes throughout detox. As a result, completion of a medically-monitored detox delivers the client to their treatment program to begin therapy. In conclusion, the patient is free from their substance and can progress in sobriety.

Medically-Monitored Detox Can Address Detox Fears

Those who seek treatment have overwhelming fears of what will transpire during detox. Medically-monitored detox provides professional therapists and treatment staff who can address the fear of withdrawing from their substance.

On the other hand, before the detox begins, an educational session can handle the process safely and compassionately. Above all, patients are always supervised during detox; everyone managing the detox is trained to help process emotions and feelings in intense moments.

The following fears are most common during detox and immediately after:

Fear of the withdrawal, mental and physical symptoms, and pain
Fears of what happens after detox or what steps will occur in treatment after detox
Fear of the unknown, when the entire world is changing, is challenging to be fearless

The Pros and Cons of Inpatient Detox

The advantages of attending a medically-monitored detox with an inpatient treatment program begin with constant medical and mental care. In addition, inpatient treatment facilities have quick accessibility to handle severe complications. As a result, relapse prevention is much better.

Altogether, the most significant advantage is there is no chance of accessing drugs or alcohol while in an inpatient facility, and the success rate is higher with inpatient detox programs. One disadvantage of detoxing in an inpatient program is the higher cost. However, outpatient detox can cost less and still offer medically-monitored detox.

In either case, detox is imperative as long as it is safely monitored. Another disadvantage of some inpatient treatment centers is that patients may be separated from their personal items. In other words, some centers want the clients to depend on the staff for their needs.

What Happens After Detox?

Detox is the beginning step to finding sobriety and establishing a new healthy lifestyle. Freeman Recovery Center offers a variety of therapy options that can begin immediately after detox. First, clients can learn how to live sober.

Subsequently, individual therapy is essential for learning about behavioral patterns, thought processes, and situations that led the individual into addiction. And finally, group therapy builds bonds and a support system for sharing everyday experiences and successes in recovery.

Find Medically-Monitored Detox Help at Freeman Recovery

If you are ready to accept help and seek treatment, Freeman Recovery Center in Tennessee offers the options you desire with medically-monitored detox. In addition, if you are trying to help a family member, explore the evidence-based therapies we offer.

Furthermore, our intake personnel and admission experts can answer any questions and get you through the financial requirements for treatment. Connect through our portal and feel safe with our medically-monitored detox programs.

a man with both alcoholism and depression sits on his couch

Is There a Link Between Alcoholism and Depression?

Written by Freeman Recovery on March 10, 2023. Posted in Addiction Recovery, Dual Diagnosis, Mental Health.

The link between alcoholism and depression is clearly defined. The only question remaining is the individual factor of what illness came first. Did depression present such severe symptoms that the individual used alcohol as a coping mechanism? On the other hand, was the individual with an alcohol use disorder engulfed in depression following physical and psychological from the addiction? Dual diagnosis is a common dilemma; both entities’ treatment must be addressed and implemented simultaneously.

Are you experiencing severe depression and feeling lost in sadness and hopelessness? Some people are overwhelmed with their life situations and feel unable to cope. Alcoholism and depression often go hand in hand, with symptoms escalating and no relief, affecting every aspect of a person’s life.

Alcoholism: What if it Comes First?

The relationship with alcohol can go from abuse to addiction quickly. Specific thinking patterns, behaviors, and psychological factors are involved with an alcohol use disorder. Those with a healthy relationship with alcohol do not experience any of these signs or symptoms. Therefore, in understanding the connection between alcoholism and depression, it’s essential to understand alcoholism and alcohol-specific treatment.

Severe alcohol use affects brain chemistry. For example, serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters regulate mood, happiness, and well-being. Those using excessive amounts of alcohol cause the brain’s vital balance to fluctuate, triggering symptoms of depression and health issues. These kinds of effects on the brain can trigger mental illness, demonstrating the link between alcoholism and depression.

The following thinking patterns and behaviors are a direct indication of alcohol use disorder:

Lifestyle, occupational, and relationship difficulties because of drinking
Irrational thinking allows for consuming alcohol in unsafe situations
Building a high tolerance to alcohol
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when drinking subsides or stops
An inability to go through the day without drinking

In the case of an individual with an alcohol abuse disorder, first, drinking can initiate changes in the brain to cause depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. Dual diagnosis is more complex to treat than addiction alone or depression alone. Alcoholism and depression can escalate to dangerous levels that are physically disabling and lead to suicidal thoughts and self-harm behaviors. Finding a treatment center that can treat both illnesses is crucial for success in recovery.

Depression: What if Mental Illness Occurs before Alcoholism?

Depression comes in different forms. Unfortunately, each type of depression is equally disabling. In addition, an inability to incorporate healthy and positive coping mechanisms often results in drinking alcohol or drug use to relieve symptoms. Therefore, understanding the types of depression and the symptoms and causes is an essential educational journey. In grasping the connection between alcoholism and depression, education creates a foundation for possible treatment.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Changes in light or daytime hours are the initial cause of this type of depression. However, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD for short, is so much more than the winter blues; it is often referred to. Throughout the winter months, individuals with SAD experience debilitating depression. This depression must be experienced for at least two consecutive years for a diagnosis to be determined. Typical symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder can include:

Overwhelming feelings of sadness
Irritability
Long hours of oversleeping
Gaining weight from changes in appetite

The link between alcoholism and depression with SAD occurs when the user drinks alcohol to relieve sadness and instill happiness. Catch twenty-two occurs when the individual with SAD craves alcohol to be satisfied. The body becomes dependent, and the brain chemistry is once again affected. Stopping the cycle becomes impossible to achieve alone.

Major Depression

Of all the types of depression, major depression is the most severe. Researchers have proven that twenty to twenty-five percent of adults living in the United States experience at least one major depressive episode. Intense sadness and worthlessness overwhelm individuals and interfere with every aspect of their lives. When alcoholism and depression connect, it’s catastrophic. It is essential to evaluate the following symptoms to conclude you may be experiencing major depression.

Irritability and moodiness
Excessive crying
No or little energy and no motivation for anything
Insomnia or hypersomnia
Recurring thoughts of how to commit suicide

Other Types of Depression

There are many types of depression not mentioned here. Individuals experiencing any form of depression can seldom recover without professional help. In each case, the link between alcoholism and depression is clear. Alcoholism aggravates depression, and the symptoms of depression are aggravated by alcohol use. The problem is more prevalent than most realize. Other forms of depression can include:

Psychotic Depression includes symptoms of hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions
Persistent Depressive Disorder or dysthymia has symptoms for at least two years
Bipolar Depression includes complex and challenging management of severe highs and lows

How Are Alcoholism and Depression Diagnosed?

There is no diagnosis until the individual feels compelled to get help. Both mental illness and substance use disorders are crippling and damage the ability to think clearly. Alcoholism and depression are treated by many treatment centers and can be determined through an assessment, medical examination, and lab testing. Medical and mental health professionals have protocols to make a precise diagnosis before treatment can begin.

The medical professional will eliminate all possible health issues that could be causing the depression from a physical standpoint. Both professions use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to reach a diagnosis for depression. Substance abuse disorders have their criteria to be determined in assessments. Alcoholism and depression present at the same time are described as dual diagnoses.

Find Help in Treating Alcoholism and Depression in Tennessee

If you are searching for a qualified treatment center for alcohol use disorder and depression, Freeman Recovery Center in Tennessee has programs to assist you. Dual diagnosis treatment is available, and we can begin an assessment to determine the facts of what you are facing.

Our staff is encouraging and compassionate, understanding the power of mental illness and addiction. We welcome any type of inquiry for more information. Contact us today.

woman struggling with co-occurring conditions of anxiety and substance abuse

Addiction’s Most Common Co-Occurring Conditions

Written by Freeman Recovery on March 3, 2023. Posted in Addiction Treatment, Co-Occurring Disorders, Dual Diagnosis, Mental Health.

Co-occurring conditions refer to experiencing a mental illness while locked in a substance use disorder. While many combinations are possible, some are more common than others. Therefore, when seeking treatment for a substance use disorder, it is vital to simultaneously receive treatment for the co-occurring mental health disorder. In addition, educating yourself on the warning signs will help you understand the difficulties faced in treatment.

Mental health disorders and addiction coexist because those struggling with depression or extreme anxiety may resort to drugs or alcohol for relief. On the other hand, those struggling with an addiction can become depressed because of their helplessness. Co-occurring conditions are often referred to as dual-diagnosis. Damaged mental health is common for those experiencing a substance use disorder.

Why Mental Health Disorders Co-Occur with Substance Use Disorders

There are some possibilities for why co-occurring conditions exist between mental health and substance abuse disorders. However, it’s not always true that one caused the other, and it can be difficult to discern which disorder occurred first. Both mental health disorders and substance use disorders can develop from the same genetic and risk factors. In addition, each type of disorder can trigger the other to occur through self-medication. Finally, altered brain functioning with addiction can, in turn, cause the development of a mental health disorder.

Different substances tend to be co-occurring conditions with certain mental illnesses. Alcohol use disorders are closely linked to anxiety-related disorders at a rate of twenty to forty percent. Generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder are the most common co-occurring mental disorders with an alcohol use disorder. Because alcohol is so easily obtainable, alcohol use disorders occur more frequently and can be a coping mechanism for extreme anxiety.

Many people with a substance use disorder use drugs to cope with mental health disorder symptoms. Dual diagnosis is a broad category of situations with co-occurring conditions. Determining this diagnosis before choosing a treatment center is crucial to treat both conditions simultaneously. Discussing this during intake phone calls can clear up any confusion and be sure all needs are met.

Common Co-Occurring Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Just as some anxiety disorders facilitate the development of an alcohol use disorder, PTSD is similar. Struggling with symptoms such as hyper-vigilance, high anxiety, and quickly triggered fearful episodes, many with PTSD reach out to alcohol to cope. The inability to understand or resolve past trauma is often the cause of addictions, but trauma therapy can address and treat this disorder. Co-occurring conditions feed each other in more ways than one.

Alcohol use disorders can interrupt the ability to discern how to navigate through life without inviting life-threatening and traumatic events. In addition, co-occurring conditions can erupt in the inability to sleep properly, cope with troubled thinking, and resolve memories that continually erupt in turbulence in emotions. Treatment for alcohol use disorder and PTSD helps to resolve old traumas and end the need for harmful coping mechanisms. Unfortunately, veterans and abuse victims have a high percentage of these co-occurring conditions.

Alcohol Use Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder

A very high percentage of those with an antisocial personality disorder also have a substance use disorder, with alcohol being the most common drug. These co-occurring conditions are fed by an inability to relate to people healthily. Quite often, those with antisocial personality disorder have abnormal or destructive behaviors. Using alcohol in excess only exacerbates the mental health disorder.

Substance Use Disorders and Mood Disorders

Among the most common co-occurring conditions are substance use disorders and mood disorders. Major depressive and bipolar disorders are the most significant disorders affecting behavior. Wrought with challenging behaviors, dysfunctional mood levels, energy, and sleep disruptions, mood disorders cause a need for relief. Substance use is the easiest way to deal with these signs and symptoms.

Increasing the possibility of dysfunctional relationships and substance use disorders with co-occurring mood disorders prolongs the signs and symptoms of each entity. In addition, experiencing long-term co-occurring conditions here increases negative thinking and the chance of suicide. The mood disorder causes a need for relief and results in more drug use. Treatment facilities are most likely able to treat this combination of disorders.

Cocaine Addiction and Anxiety Disorder

Cocaine is responsible for influencing the development of almost ten psychiatric problems. Inducing feelings of paranoia, users can participate in violent behavior patterns. Symptoms of cocaine addiction include hallucinations, insomnia, paranoia, and more. This can spur anxiety and eventually cause the co-occurring condition of an anxiety disorder.

Heroin and Depression

Depression and heroin usage are hazardous because of the changes in brain chemistry. These co-occurring conditions counteract the production of neurotransmitters in the brain and reap the inability to experience happiness without the drug. This combination is, unfortunately, debilitating. In addition, there is a high probability of overdose and suicide with this combination.

Treatment for Co-Occurring Conditions

Treatment for co-occurring conditions is possible and essential to treat simultaneously. Once detox has been completed, treatment must begin immediately. When seeking a treatment center, inquire about their programs for dual diagnosis. Mental health professionals typically resort to behavior modification therapies to change coping mechanisms. Delving into past traumatic experiences to resolve them is crucial for those with those backgrounds.

Find Help with Addictions Most Common Co-Occurring Conditions in Tennessee

Find help with your loved one’s addiction and co-occurring condition if you are in Tennessee by contacting Freeman Recovery Center in Nashville, TN. We are very familiar with how one disorder interacts with a co-occurring condition to escalate the symptoms. We have current treatment protocols and use best practices to treat both the SUD and mental illness. Contact us for more information.