Co-occurring Disorders and Other Behaviors

Co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis are key to addressing the root causes of SUDs and addiction.

Medically Reviewed by S. Robert Vorel, MD.

Co-Occurring Treatment

Evidence based care

Summary:

This article reviews how NY Center for Living dual diagnosis treatment centers can help those with mental health disorders and addiction.

It is not uncommon for teens and adults alike to struggle with alcohol or drugs, intertwined with a mental health condition like depression and alcohol abuse, anxiety and benzo abuse, trauma, or a personality disorder. For some, substance use disorder results in mental health issues, while in others, mental health treatment leads to self-medicating.

In either case, treatment needs to involve both. At our dual diagnosis treatment centers, NYC residents can come to NY Center for Living and find sophisticated programs that treat underlying drivers of both at the same time.

Located in Midtown Manhattan, our OASAS-licensed facility specializes in delivering evidence-based, age-appropriate care that transforms the lives of adolescents, young adults, adults, and the families who love them.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment What to Expect at Our Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in NYC

New York Center for Living offers outpatient dual diagnosis treatment options. These outpatient programs make it possible to receive care during the day either every day of the week or a few days per week and then return home each evening. With individual programs for teens versus young adults versus adults, we also encourage comprehensive peer support into that recovery program.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): A structured treatment program that delivers a high level of support without the intensity of inpatient programs. Clients meet several times a week to participate in evidence-based therapies.
Outpatient Treatment: Our outpatient treatment program offers consistent support on a flexible schedule. This program integrates peer support, wellness activities, and a robust alumni program to support long-term recovery.

Our programs are designed to serve the unique needs and experiences of teens, young adults, and young professionals. Each program features evidence-based therapies to ensure care truly makes a difference in our clients’ lives.

What is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis refers to the presence of both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder. The complex relationship between substance use and mental health requires specialized support that takes into account how the different disorders impact each other. Dual diagnosis treatment supports recovery from both conditions by addressing them both and how they interact.

At New York Center for Living, our dual diagnosis treatment programs help clients build healthy coping skills that support long-term symptom management. Our compassionate team will be there to assist you each step of the way.

Common Dual Diagnosis Examples

There are many ways in which addiction and mental health can overlap, fueling one another.

Major Depressive Disorder & Alcohol Use Disorder

One of the most frequent pairings in clinical care is alcohol use disorder and depression. Depression is, on its own, one of the most common mental health disorders and alcohol is a legal way for many to try and numb their symptoms or escape them temporarily.

When someone drinks to self-medicate symptoms of depression, the alcohol actually makes symptoms clinically worse, so that same person is more likely to drink more frequently and in higher doses to cope.

All of this leads to a severe increase in symptoms for both conditions, and the need for dual diagnosis treatment centers NYC based.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder & Benzodiazepine Dependence

Another common example is anxiety and benzodiazepines. Individuals suffering from chronic, unmanaged anxiety, panic attacks, or agoraphobia are often prescribed benzodiazepines (like Xanax or Ativan) for short-term relief. However, these medications are highly addictive which means physical dependents can happen very quickly.

When an individual uses benzodiazepines, as the medication wears off it’s not uncommon to experience rebound anxiety, something that manifests more intensely than symptoms did prior to benzodiazepine use. This can be made worse by the anxiety surrounding the potential of a rebound anxiety, where individuals are more likely to continue using or abusing benzodiazepines to avoid these symptoms.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) & Opioid or Alcohol Misuse

In other situations, individuals struggle with untreated trauma. Trauma leaves the nervous system in a constant state of hyper-vigilance, flashbacks, and emotional pain. It can often cause severe anxiety or depression as well as problems sleeping and eating.

Those who have untreated trauma might use substances like alcohol or opioids to try and quiet the racing thoughts, escape from the nightmares, or induce a temporary feeling of safety. However, as the substance begins to wear off, the stress responses spike, leaving individuals feeling even more triggered than they were before.

This can lead to a vicious cycle of continued alcohol misuse or opioid abuse to try and get through the day. In fact, it’s not uncommon for people to struggle with multiple substances, those used to help induce sleep and avoid the nightmares and then those used to stay alert and awake during the day.

ADHD & Stimulant Misuse

Individuals with undiagnosed or unmanaged Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder frequently struggle with severe executive dysfunction, issues focusing, as well as problems professionally or academically. Some people turn to illicit substances like unprescribed Adderall or cocaine to help force focus during the day.

This might provide a short-term sense of productivity but that unregulated stimulant use can lead to increased impulsivity, sleep deprivation, and a heightened risk of addiction.

In these cases, finding the right type of medication or regulating prescription medication can make a significant difference in an individual’s ability to handle symptoms of ADHD.

Why Choose Dual Diagnosis Treatment

At NY Center for Living, our dual diagnosis treatment centers NYC based give clients the opportunity to treat substance use disorders and mental health disorders concurrently, not sequentially. This integrated approach can help interrupt self-medication cycles, provide accurate medication management, and offer true healing.

Stopping the Cycle of Self-Medication

When clients struggle with things like depression or anxiety disorders, treating substance use disorders individually leads to the inevitable resurfacing of mental health symptoms. This also means that the same individual is more likely to return to those same substances because they don’t have other coping mechanisms.

We aim to stop that cycle of self medication by addressing mental health conditions and substance use at the same time.

Finding Safe Medication Management

Many individuals in need of dual diagnosis care also need professional medication management. Sometimes individuals use or misuse medications to try and self-medicate symptoms but our integrated medical team—including board-certified psychiatrists and addiction specialists—can safely taper a client off addictive substances and transition them onto highly stable, non-addictive alternatives.

Building Healthy Coping Mechanisms

With our integrated care, clinicians teach evidence-based therapies like emotional regulation skills and distress tolerance from dialectical behavioral therapy. This type of program teaches clients how to navigate severe substance cravings and challenging emotions using the same toolkit.

Creating Lasting Change

True recovery isn’t about being able to abstain because of willpower but rather about building a life from which an individual doesn’t feel the need to escape in the first place. This requires healing any underlying psychological issues like untreated trauma or an anxiety disorder. With our dual diagnosis program, clients can receive integrated care that helps them create a sustainable lifestyle.

Take the Next Step Toward Integrated Health

If you or a loved one is struggling, you do not have to choose between mental health therapy and addiction rehab. Our accredited outpatient center specializes in comprehensive, dual-diagnosis programs. Contact our team today.