The term “co-occurring disorders” or “dual diagnosis” describes a situation in which a person is dealing with two issues concurrently, typically a mental health issue and a substance misuse problem. An eating disorder paired with a drug misuse issue is just one example of the many diverse combinations that a coexisting ailment can take. A person who is depressed may simultaneously be battling drug addiction to substances like heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and so on.

Nevertheless, while treating a patient with a dual diagnosis, clinicians occasionally try to deal with one issue at a time. Studies, however, indicate that they have not been effective in eliminating the underlying reasons. However, treating both issues at the same time increases recovery chances and shortens the road to sobriety.

Food, narcotics, and other intoxicants are undoubtedly not the only sources of dual diagnosis problems. Studies have shown that the inability to manage emotional discomfort is the root cause of the majority of mental health conditions and substance misuse issues.

Sequential therapy does not work for dual diagnosis

Doctors and other medical professionals have never handled a dual diagnosis issue concurrently in the past. Contrarily, the ailment that was known to have the most adverse effect on a person was given priority over others and was treated as the primary condition. In addition, doctors would only treat the original ailment until it was stabilised before turning their attention to the secondary condition.

In many instances, the prolonged use of sequential techniques of therapy was related to the dearth of medical professionals who were proficient in a variety of fields.

Because of this, one condition got all the attention while the other was all but ignored. For instance, sequential treatment for a dual diagnosis case combining chronic alcoholism and depression frequently placed the greatest emphasis on the drinking issue due to its obvious physical effects.

Consulting a professional

Due to the complexity of co-occurring diseases, diagnosing and treating them can frequently be difficult. To effectively address both drug usage and psychiatric issues, it is crucial to treat both disorders at the same time with the help of good options like https://sunrisenativerecovery.com/. It is crucial to get the required medical care if you or a loved one has co-occurring disorders before things spiral out of control.