It’s very common for someone with a substance use disorder to have a co-occurring mental health disorder such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
The relationship between mental health disorders and addiction is bidirectional, meaning either can appear first. For example, someone with depression might turn to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate and deal with untreated symptoms. On the other hand, addiction can come first, leading to the development of a mental health disorder because of the effects the substance has on the brain.
Either way, someone with co-occurring disorders must receive dual diagnosis treatment for both conditions for the best long-term recovery outcomes. If you receive addiction treatment, but your underlying mental health disorder isn’t treated and well-managed, then you are at higher risk of relapsing.
Centric Behavioral Health specializes in dual diagnosis treatment for addiction and mental health disorders.