Maybe you’ve been Googling dual diagnosis rehabilitation centers in New England lately. Perhaps you don’t know much about them and are trying to do research. Could they be worth it? After all, you or your loved one has been struggling with co-occurring disorders for some time, and the things you’ve already tried likely haven’t changed the situation.
If you’re thinking about seeking professional help for your struggles, you don’t need any misconceptions about dual diagnosis rehab centers getting in the way of your long-term healing. That’s why we’re here to clear up the common dual diagnosis treatment myths—so you can have the knowledge (and confidence) you need to get started with recovery.
What are Dual Diagnosis Rehabilitation Centers?
For starters, it’s important to properly understand what dual diagnosis rehabilitation centers do before you pursue treatment. A dual diagnosis treatment facility is equipped with the expertise and programming to address your co-occurring disorders—when you simultaneously have a substance abuse disorder and a mental health disorder—at the same time. So instead of solely focusing on professional treatment for one struggle, you can address both under one roof.
At Sana at Stowe, our Vermont-based dual diagnosis treatment center is able to provide a comprehensive plan of recovery personalized to your needs. Our residential dual diagnosis treatment program incorporates detox and withdrawal management, individual and group therapy, medication management, and a holistic treatment plan to put you on the best path towards lasting recovery. As you’re looking into dual diagnosis rehab centers, it’s important that the facility you’re considering provides these services.
Common Myths About Dual Diagnosis Rehabilitation Centers
We understand that getting professional dual diagnosis treatment can be intimidating, especially when misconceptions about rehab facilities are in the back of your mind. Here are some common myths about dual diagnosis rehabilitation centers we encounter—and the real truths behind them:
Myth #1 – All You Need is Detox Help
Some people think that struggling with an addiction is a quick fix. Once you’re able to detox from your substance, then everything else (including your mental health) will fall into place and you’ll be fine. If this were the case, then why would dual detox treatment centers be needed across the country?
While detox is often one of the initial steps in your dual diagnosis treatment plan, it isn’t the only step you need. Both addiction and mental health disorders go much deeper than that. Your substance abuse isn’t just about your behaviors. A comprehensive dual diagnosis treatment center will address the underlying causes of your co-occurring disorders, not just your symptoms. By treating your struggles at the source, you’re in a better position to achieve long-term healing.
Myth #2 – Your Co-Occurring Disorders Aren’t Related
If you’re struggling with addiction and mental health challenges, you may think that they’re both unrelated separate issues. With this mindset, you could be inclined to address the most glaring issue first and focus on the other disorder at some point down the road. After all, addressing one issue at a time may give you more treatment facility options.
However, this thinking often backfires. Your co-occurring disorders are actually interrelated and usually feed off of each other. Your ongoing anxiety or depression, for example, could be causing you to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol to feel better. Or your severe addiction could be leading to recently-developed mental health challenges. That’s why it’s important to get help at dual diagnosis rehab centers equipped to address both issues together. Otherwise, the other disorder is left untreated and only gets worse over time.
Myth #3 – Knowing Which Disorder Came First is Irrelevant
If you have co-occurring disorders, it can be easy to discount how you got them. Now that you have them, it doesn’t matter which one started first, you may think. And a dual diagnosis treatment facility that agrees with this mindset isn’t taking the personalized approach to your care that you need.
Knowing which disorder came first is in fact very relevant to the course of your treatment. Starting with a mental health disorder that’s exacerbated by addiction will mean a different treatment approach than someone who’s heavy drinking or hard drug use has led to mental health struggles. This is why it’s important to work with dual diagnosis rehabilitation centers that take time to listen to your story and personalize their programs to your unique needs.
Myth #4 – You Won’t Relapse Ever (But You’re a Failure if You Do)
Once you’re enrolled in a dual diagnosis treatment facility, you may think that you’ll never struggle again. Or that it only gets easier from here. At the same time, you may worry that a relapse would mean total failure—that your progress would be thrown out the window as you go back to the drawing board. However, none of these things are true.
Your recovery is a journey. Even with the best treatment programs, a relapse can still happen. And when it does, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. You keep working on your recovery, getting better and better each day. That’s why many dual diagnosis rehab centers incorporate rehab aftercare and alumni options into their treatment programs so you can continue to stay the course even if you’ve relapsed.
Myth #5 – Dual Diagnosis Rehabilitation Centers are Too Expensive
Some people let fear of costs keep them from ever getting the help they need. While some dual diagnosis treatment centers can charge high out-of-pocket costs, others will work directly with your insurance to keep costs low. At Sana at Stowe, our Vermont-based dual diagnosis treatment facility is often able to get most of its costs covered by insurance for our patients.
True Recovery Awaits at Our Dual Diagnosis Treatment Facility in Vermont
Don’t let myths about dual diagnosis rehabilitation centers keep you from getting the help you need to finally heal. If you’re ready to overcome your co-occurring disorders and reclaim your life, contact our team at Sana at Stowe today.
