A co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis is an interchangeable term used to identify an individual who has one or more mental health disorders, along with substance use disorder (SUD). As noted by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS), co-occurring disorders are not an exception, but rather the expectation for people diagnosed with SUD.

Historically, the recovery community has focused on single-diagnosis treatment plans, but those care plans have not accounted for the whole person. They have not accounted for how mental health disorders impact SUD and vice versa. According to an article from the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, co-occurring disorders have a higher chance for negative outcomes in recovery because there has been a lack of understanding on how to treat and support co-occurring disorders.

Common Co-Occurring Disorders

There is a wide range of mental health disorders and conditions that can occur with SUD. As noted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), some of the common disorders that can occur with SUD include:

Anxiety disorders
Depression
Personality disorders
Bipolar disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Schizophrenia

While there is a strong correlation between mental health disorders and SUD, each disorder is not directly responsible for the other. A mental health disorder does not directly cause a person to develop SUD. Moreover, SUD does not directly cause a person to develop a mental health disorder.

NIMH states that researchers have found three possible connections to the co-occurrence of disorders:

Common risk factors
- Family history
- Trauma
- Stress
- Brain chemical imbalance
Mental health disorders contributing to substance use
- Using substances to self-medicate symptoms
- Brain changes that enhance the feelings of reward from substances
Substance use contributing to mental health disorders
- Using substances may lead to brain structure and function changes

Treating Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Together

It is important to acknowledge how co-occurring disorders impact recovery outcomes. According to an article from Alcohol Research: Current Reviews Journal, when SUD co-occurs with one or more mental health disorders, it leads to poorer physical, emotional, and mental outcomes. Treatment plans that only focus on SUD leave little space, if any, to treat the whole person in body, mind, and spirit.

As noted in an article from Help Guide, the symptoms of co-occurring disorders affect each other, so when one is not treated, it can negatively impact the disorder that is being treated. If the mental health component of SUD is not addressed, it makes it difficult to meet clients where they are and understand how substance use became a part of their life.

As we know, being an individual person is complex. The risk factors that contribute to mental health disorders or SUD vary from one person to another. Therefore, it is important to take an approach to care that considers the whole person and how aspects of life such as experiences within the eight dimensions of wellness impact you and the choices you make.

8 Dimensions of Wellness

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the eight dimensions of wellness are important in treating every aspect of a person’s life:

Physical
Emotional
Social
Intellectual
Spiritual
Environmental
Financial
Occupational

Treatments for Co-Occurring Disorders/Dual Diagnosis

At Emerge Recovery TX, we believe in treating the whole person in body, mind, and spirit. Through our programs and services, you can develop lifelong skills to support you in building healthier thinking and behavior patterns. We are committed to providing a wide range of evidence-based treatments and holistic modalities designed to support you on your recovery journey.

Evidence-Based Treatments

Some of the evidence-based treatments we provide include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Recognize unhealthy patterns
- Build problem-solving skills
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Develop tools to manage and regulate emotions
Individual therapy
- Outline goals
- Accomplish goals
Group therapy
- Utilize group curriculum from evidence-based treatments
Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Willingness to change
- Develop the confidence to change
- Commit to prioritizing change
12-Step program
- Build a connection between the clinical and 12-Step perspectives to support clients
Relapse prevention
- Weekly monitoring
Contingency management (CM)
- Reward goal achievements
- Build healthier behaviors
Family behavioral therapy (FBT)
- Encourage participation from important people in the client’s life
- Sessions may occur in person, via video, or over the phone
Experiential therapy
- Gain insight into inner thoughts, feelings, and experiences
- Build an understanding of your internal self
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Access traumatic memories in specific ways
- Utilize guided eye movement to access memories
- Reprocess traumatic experiences for natural healing
Psychodynamic therapy
- Engage in self-reflection and self-examination
- Identify unhealthy relationship patterns
- Form a therapeutic alliance

Holistic Modalities

Some of the holistic modalities we provide include:

Trauma-informed yoga
Meditation
Sound bath therapy
Mindfulness

To learn more about our evidence-based treatments, visit our Evidence-Based Treatment page.

Co-Occurring Disorders/Dual Diagnosis at Emerge Recovery TX

Treating a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder is a foundational part of the work we do at Emerge Recovery TX and our sister services at Grace Recovery TX. We know trauma plays an important role in how you process and react to experiences. With our women-only services and commitment to building psychological flexibility, we can meet you where you are on your recovery journey to treat your whole person in body, mind, and spirit. Utilizing a wide range of treatment and holistic modalities like acceptance and commitment therapy, we can support you as you heal and build a life you are excited to live:

Develop coping skills and strategies
Form short and long-term goals
Build healthier thinking and behavior patterns
Engage in healthier relationships
Learn to hold yourself accountable
Gain independence and resiliency

To learn more about Emerge Recovery TX and our approaches to care, visit our Programs page.

Our approach to co-occurring disorders can support you in developing healthier thinking and behavior patterns for long-term recovery. At Emerge Recovery TX, we are committed to supporting you with evidence-based and holistic modalities that care for all of you in body, mind, and spirit. Call us today at (737) 237-9663 to learn more.