What is Dual Diagnosis and Why is it Difficult?

Here's what's happening on the HealthyPlace site this week:

• What is Dual Diagnosis and Why is it Difficult?
• What is the relationship between mental illness and substance abuse?
• Is Dual-Diagnosis Treatable?
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
• Video: Dating When Depressed or Hypomanic: Good Idea or Not?
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• Mental Health Quote

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Facebook Live This Wednesday

Managing stressful relationships during the holidays. That’s our topic for our Facebook Live this Wednesday at 8p ET / 7 CT. Our host, therapist, Emily Roberts, will be sharing helpful info and taking all of your personal mental health questions on any topic. Join us.

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What is Dual Diagnosis and Why is it Difficult?

Dual diagnosis, also called co-occurring disorders, is the term used when someone has both a mental health disorder(s) and a substance use disorder(s). Diagnosing and treating co-occurring mental- and substance use disorders can be difficult.

What is the relationship between mental illness and substance abuse?

According to SAMHSA, people with mental illness are more likely than people without mental illness to experience an alcohol- or other substance-use disorder. In fact, in 2014, almost eight million adults in the U.S. had a dual diagnosis.

There’s a connection between the two, but there isn’t a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Substance use doesn’t cause mental illness, nor does mental illness cause substance use and abuse.

It’s not uncommon for people with mental health disorders to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol as an attempt to deal with their symptoms and function better. Unfortunately, the opposite happens and people become trapped in co-occurring disorders.

Is Dual-Diagnosis Treatable?

Dual diagnosis is indeed treatable. Initially, practitioners use screening tools to help separate mental health and substance use issues. Then, each diagnosis receives its own unique attention and treatment.

Someone experiencing dual diagnosis faces many challenges. With the right treatment and support, he or she can overcome the challenges and experience mental health.

Related Articles Dealing with Dual Diagnosis

• AUDIT Alcohol Screening Test
• Drug Abuse Screening Test
• Dual Diagnosis: Substance Abuse Plus a Mental Illness
• Dual Diagnosis: You Must Treat Addiction and Mental Illness
• Dual Diagnosis

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: : If you struggle with dual diagnosis, what effect did the addiction have on your mental illness? We invited you to participate by sharing your thoughts, knowledge, and experiences on the HealthyPlace Facebook page and on the HealthyPlace Google+ page.

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From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• The Excessive Labeling of Our Bipolar Emotions
• Couples Counseling Made Me Realize I Have Problems Of My Own
• My Life Is Chaos but I Must Cope with Anxiety Anyway
• Food Isn’t Good or Bad and What You Eat Doesn’t Define You
• Medication in Binge Eating Disorder Recovery Helped and Hurt
• How I’m Coping with the Side Effects of a New Medication
• Dissociation from Trauma Saved My Life, and I Am Thankful
• Reasons to Leave a Verbally Abusive Relationship
• Holiday Stress with Schizoaffective Disorder Coping Tips
• Gratitude Helps Anxiety So Play This Gratitude Game Today
• Correct Negative Thoughts and Self-Talk with Positive Truths
• Use These Writing Exercises to Tackle Low Self-Esteem
• Personal Rituals Can Protect Trauma Survivors from Stress

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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From HealthyPlace YouTube Channel

I'm Hannah. I Have Bipolar 2

Dating When Depressed or Hypomanic: Good Idea or Not?

Dating when you’re experiencing bipolar rapid cycling. Now, there’s a real challenge! I thought I’d share my experience with it. . (Watch Hannah)

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Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. Stigma Against Parents Who Raise a Child With Mental Illness
2. Retrieving Memories Lost to Dissociation Caused by Trauma
3. The Stigma of Taking Mental Health Sick Days from Work

If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

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Mental Health Quote

"No matter how bad things are right now. No matter how stuck you feel. No matter how many days you’ve spent crying and wishing things were different. No matter how hopeless and depressed you feel. I promise you that you won’t feel this way forever. Keep going."

Read more depression quotes.

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