Dual Diagnosis

Seeing the big picture of a sober lifestyle can be challenging at the beginning stages of a recovery journey. For many of those struggling with alcohol abuse or drug addiction, considering a life free of substances is daunting until skills are in place to understand how long-term sobriety can be applied to day-to-day life.

While addiction affects individuals in a variety of ways – one thing is certain: the most successful recovery programs integrate relapse prevention into the treatment. For most patients working to overcome substance abuse, a singular program is not enough for sustained sobriety. Instead, patients should focus on finding programs that gradually introduce them back into day-to-day life while helping them reach their physical and mental health goals.

There is a direct link between depression and substance use. If you or a loved one struggles with mental health challenges, you may be familiar with the draw towards substances to temporarily numb negative feelings. Conversely, individuals dealing with addiction may experience depression and anxiety due to the impact drugs and alcohol have on their lives.

Obsessive thoughts and worries happen to everyone at some point or another. For example, most people will experience the sudden feeling that we’ve left the stove on or that the front door is unlocked.