Dual-Diagnosis Treatment for Substance Abuse and Mood Disorders in Tennessee

Statistics on Dual Diagnosis and Co-occurring Mood Disorders in Tennessee

In Tennessee, mood disorders like depression affect a significant portion of the adult population, with 43.5% reporting symptoms of depression or anxiety in early 2021. However, about 25.6% of those people were unable to access therapy or counseling, highlighting a gap in mental health services. 

In Davidson County, residents report more frequent poor mental health days than the state average, indicating localized challenges. Nearly half the people with severe mental illness also struggle with substance use, and 29% of those in mental health treatment face co-occurring substance use disorders. Thankfully, Tennessee has 205 treatment facilities that provide integrated care for mental health and addiction. This underscores the importance of Tennessee dual-diagnosis programs for mood disorders, ensuring comprehensive support for people dealing with both conditions.

What Causes Mood Disorders to Develop?

Mood disorders develop due to a combination of biological, genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. A family history of clinical depression, bipolar disorder, or other mental health conditions may make you more likely to experience similar challenges. Imbalances in brain chemicals like serotonin, major life stressors, trauma disorder, and chronic substance misuse can also contribute to the onset of mood disorders. 

In some cases, drug addiction or alcohol abuse can trigger mood instability or worsen existing symptoms. If you’re living with both a mood disorder and substance use disorder, integrated treatment for mood disorders and addiction can help address the root causes. Understanding what’s behind your emotional shifts is a key step in recovery and developing healthy emotional regulation strategies.

Can Addiction Worsen Symptoms of Mood Disorders?

Yes, addiction can worsen symptoms of mood disorders, making your emotional struggles more difficult to manage. If you are dealing with depression or another mood disorder, substance abuse may intensify mood swings, increase feelings of hopelessness, or trigger manic episodes. 

Using alcohol or drugs can disrupt the balance of brain chemicals like serotonin, which plays a crucial role in emotional regulation. Over time, substance misuse can deepen clinical depression or increase mood instability, creating a vicious cycle that’s difficult to break. You might find it harder to focus on recovery or maintain stable emotions without proper support. Understanding how addiction affects your mood disorder is an important step toward seeking integrated mood disorder and substance abuse rehab that addresses both conditions together.

Is There a Link Between Mood Disorders and Higher Addiction Risk?

Yes, there is a link between mood disorders and a higher risk of addiction. If you’re living with conditions like depression or bipolar disorder, you may be more vulnerable to developing substance use problems. Mood instability and emotional struggles may lead you to use drugs or alcohol as a way to self-medicate or cope with symptoms like depressive episodes. 

Unfortunately, this coping strategy often leads to addiction and worsens both conditions. Understanding this connection helps you recognize the importance of addressing your mental health and addiction together. Dual-diagnosis treatment for mood disorders and addiction is key to breaking this cycle and supporting long-term recovery and emotional well-being. If you’re seeking depression and addiction treatment programs or other co-occurring mood disorder treatment programs, reach out to Freeman Recovery Center today.

Residential Rehab Programs 

In a residential rehab program, you live at the facility full-time while receiving intensive support for co-occurring mood disorders and addiction. This structured environment helps you focus on recovery without outside distractions. You’ll participate in psychotherapy, addiction counseling, and wellness activities that improve emotional regulation and manage symptoms of depression or other mood disorders alongside substance abuse.

Intensive Outpatient/Outpatient Programs

With intensive outpatient or standard outpatient care, you can continue your daily responsibilities while receiving ongoing mood disorder dual-diagnosis rehab in Tennessee. These flexible programs allow you to attend substance abuse therapy sessions and meet with mental health professionals regularly. You’ll work on managing your emotions, building coping skills, and staying focused on recovery outside a residential setting.

Partial Hospitalization Programs

Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) offer you a structured treatment schedule during the day while allowing you to return home in the evenings. PHPs involve intensive therapy sessions and medical support to stabilize your mood and address addiction. It’s ideal if you need more support than outpatient programs provide but don’t require 24-hour residential care.

Signs of Substance Abuse

If you’re struggling with substance abuse, you might notice strong cravings for the substance that feel hard to resist. Over time, you may develop a tolerance, meaning you need more of the substance to achieve similar effects. When you try to stop or cut back, withdrawal symptoms like shaking, sweating, or anxiety might occur. 

You might find yourself neglecting responsibilities at work, school, or home because your substance use takes priority. It’s common to lose control over how much or how often you use, even when you want to quit. Continued use despite negative consequences, like damaged relationships or health problems, is another warning sign. Social isolation often happens as you withdraw from friends and family. You might engage in risky behavior, putting yourself in unsafe situations. Physical health issues and mood swings can also signal that substance abuse is affecting your body and mind.

Signs of Mood Disorder

If you’re experiencing a mood disorder, you might notice persistent sadness or a low mood that doesn’t seem to go away. Activities you previously enjoyed may no longer bring pleasure, leaving you feeling disconnected or indifferent. You could find yourself feeling irritable or experiencing sudden mood swings that are hard to control. 

Changes in your sleep, like insomnia or oversleeping, may disrupt your daily routine. Fatigue and lowered energy can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness might weigh heavily on your mind, making it difficult to stay motivated. You may also struggle with concentrating or making decisions, which can affect your work, relationships, and overall quality of life. Recognizing mood disorder symptoms is an important step toward seeking appropriate support.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)

If you often experience intense anger, frequent temper outbursts, and persistent irritability that feels out of proportion to situations, you may be dealing with Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD). DMDD typically begins during childhood or adolescence but can continue into adulthood. It can make emotional regulation difficult and affect your relationships, school, work, or daily functioning.

Unspecified Mood Disorder

You might be diagnosed with unspecified mood disorder when your emotional symptoms don’t clearly fit into a specific category like depression or bipolar disorder but still cause significant distress. If your moods shift unpredictably or interfere with your daily life, this diagnosis can help professionals begin to understand what you’re going through and guide you toward appropriate evaluation and care.

Mood Disorder Due to a Medical Condition

If you have been diagnosed with a medical condition and notice ongoing mood changes, you could be experiencing a mood disorder caused by that illness. This type of disorder is directly linked to your physical health, not just external stress or emotional triggers. It’s important to share any emotional changes with your doctor to ensure you receive the right support.

Adjustment Disorder With Depressed Mood

When a major life change leaves you feeling overwhelmed, sad, or hopeless for an extended period, you might be experiencing adjustment disorder with depressed mood. This condition often develops after a stressful event, making it hard to bounce back emotionally. If you’re struggling to adapt, it’s a sign that you may need extra support to regain your balance.

Adjustment Disorder With Anxiety and Depressed Mood

If you feel constantly on edge and emotionally drained after a major change or stressful event, you could be facing adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood. You might notice worry, sadness, or tension that won’t go away. It can feel like too much at once, and recognizing these patterns is the first step toward feeling more in control again.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) can leave you feeling emotionally numb, disconnected, and weighed down by a sadness that doesn’t lift. You may struggle to find joy in things you once loved or feel like everyday tasks take enormous effort. If these feelings persist, it’s important to understand that you’re not alone and help is available.

Bipolar-Type Schizoaffective Disorder

If you experience intense mood changes along with symptoms like hallucinations or delusions, you might be living with bipolar-type schizoaffective disorder. This condition combines features of both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, which can make daily life confusing or overwhelming. Understanding what you’re experiencing can help you take the first step toward clarity and better emotional stability.

Bipolar Disorder (Bipolar I, Bipolar II)

Bipolar disorder can make your emotions feel unpredictable, swinging between highs that feel unstoppable and lows that are hard to climb out of. Whether you experience full manic episodes or milder shifts in mood, the changes can disrupt your relationships, work, and sense of self. Recognizing these patterns is key to finding balance and stability.

Statistics for Co-occurring Mood Disorder Treatment in Tennessee

• In February 2021, 43.5% of adults in Tennessee reported symptoms of depression or anxiety, but 25.6% were not able to receive therapy or counseling, according to NAMI.
• In Davidson County, Tennessee, residents reported an average of 5.3 days of poor mental health, including depression, stress, and emotional issues, over 30 days, according to the Nashville Community Health & Well-being Survey. The state average is 4.5 days.
• Nearly 50% of people suffering from a severe mental illness are also affected by substance use, according to the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
• According to the Tennessee Co-Occurring Disorders Collaborative, 29% of people accessing mental health treatment in the state had a co-occurring substance use disorder.
• There are 205 substance use treatment facilities in Tennessee offering treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, according to SAMHSA.