The number of people with a mental health issue combined with an addiction is believed to be very high. In fact almost half of those with a mental illness are also believed to be addicted to alcohol or drugs. In the past these people were just treated for their addiction with no real thought to their mental health problem. This is now viewed as not the best way to deal with the problem. That is why dual diagnosis treatment in Connecticut is becoming increasingly sought after.
Some people are not aware that they have a dual diagnosis until they seek help for their addiction problems. This could be that they developed this other problem as a result of the substance abuse or that they have been self-medicating a mental health problem that they didn’t even realize that they had. Some people develop symptoms in their teens but don’t fully realize what is happening; they begin abusing alcohol and drugs and this makes them feel better in the short term. Finding out that you have two problems to deal with can be quite overwhelming for people and this is why dual diagnosis treatment in Connecticut is advisable.
The prognosis for people with a dual diagnosis is often good if they receive treatment for both conditions from the beginning. Some mental health problems can be more difficult to manage, but things are sure to improve beyond what they were like in the midst of addiction. While abusing alcohol or drugs can offer some temporary relief from addiction this is always a short-term effect. After a few years substance abuse will only double the misery and cause increasingly devastating effects for the body and mind. Dual diagnosis treatment in Connecticut is something well worth considering.