From time to time, BlueSkies welcomes clients to our centre working through dual diagnosis situations. These types of situations are especially sensitive given their delicate nature. Furthermore, not every alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre has the resources and experience to deal with dual diagnosis. We do. Please do not hesitate to enquire if you want to know more about what we do.

What is dual diagnosis? It is a situation in which an individual is dealing with both a drug addiction and mental illness at the same time. Consider a person struggling with schizophrenia and cannabis addiction as an example. Both conditions can be intrinsically intertwined to the point that neither can be treated effectively without treating the other. Dual diagnosis treatment works with the patient to address both problems in order to accomplish wholeness.

At BlueSkies, our therapists, counsellors, and support staff are trained and competent in the area of dual diagnosis. We take pride in the compassionate care and bespoke treatment plans we offer to each of our clients, regardless of the personal issues each one is dealing with. We would be more than happy to work with you or a loved one.

Dual diagnosis scenarios can be challenging to treat due to the nature of cause and effect. In some cases, the drug addiction was established first and, as a result, the mental illness followed. In other instances, mental illness led to drug use and eventual addiction. Still other cases are those in which neither problem directly caused the other; both occurred simultaneously.

Therapists and counsellors working with dual diagnosis cases must do their best to try to determine if one of a patient’s problems led to the other. This is not always an easy task. They must also devise customised treatment plans that address both issues without causing new problems to arise.

As an example, alcohol addiction and depression often go hand-in-hand. For a patient dealing with just one or the other, treatment is pretty straightforward. However, dual diagnosis patients must be treated differently. Some of the drugs used to treat traditional depression, for example, could have adverse effects on alcohol recovery. Likewise, medications used to control alcohol cravings could contribute to depression.

As you can see, treating dual diagnosis is not easy. If you are dealing with a dual diagnosis situation, you need a rehab centre with the staff and resources to properly treat you. The same applies if you are reaching out for help for a loved one. We hope you will consider BlueSkies among your options.

It is relatively common for alcohol and drug addicts to not be able to think clearly about their addictions or the damage they cause. This is because drugs and alcohol negatively affect normal brain function. In a dual diagnosis situation, the impairment to one’s thinking abilities can be pronounced due to the presence of mental illness. This is even more reason why you should not ignore your problems. If you are struggling with drug use and/or mental illness, please get help right away.

Ignoring your problems will not make them go away; it will only make them exponentially worse. The combination of drug addiction and mental illness will only further damage your physical and emotional health, put greater strain on your family relationships, and make it nearly impossible for you to live a normal, full and productive life.

There is help available for dual diagnosis situations. When you contact BlueSkies, we can help you get on that road to recovery and a life free of addiction. Don’t wait any longer, contact us today.