Recognizing the Signs of a Co-Occurring Disorder

People struggling with addiction often have untreated mental health disorders or co-occurring disorders. They may turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of self-medicating their issues. Treatment centers often focused on the physical aspects of the addiction without addressing a client’s mental health issues. That meant that people ended up leaving rehab with untreated mental disorders that increased their risk of relapsing.

Our team at Fort Behavioral Health provides a co-occurring disorder treatment program that could be what you or a loved one needs to deal with addiction and mental health disorders.

What Is a Co-Occurring Disorder?

A co-occurring disorder is a situation that involves an individual dealing with at least two mental health or substance use disorders. A person can develop an addiction, then start experiencing symptoms of mental illness, or vice-versa. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if an addiction led to an individual’s mental health problems or if the mental health symptoms caused a person to turn to substance abuse.

The Importance of Dealing with Co-Occurring Disorders

People dealing with a substance use disorder may abuse drugs and alcohol harder because they can’t think of another way to deal with their mental health symptoms. Ongoing substance abuse can make the mental health symptoms first while wreaking havoc on a person’s overall health.

Effectively treating a client’s co-occurring disorder at Fort Behavioral Health requires providing therapy and treatment for that person’s addiction issues and mental struggles. Men can be at greater risk of developing a co-occurring disorder. Individuals who suffer from panic attacks or schizophrenia may be more likely to turn to drugs and alcohol.

Ongoing substance abuse can cause changes in the brain already affected by a person’s mental health disorder, leading to more pronounced symptoms. You may be more likely to end up with a substance use disorder if you are dealing with mental health conditions like:

Anxiety disorders
Mood disorders
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Personality disorder

Signs of a Co-Occurring Disorder

Mental health conditions and substance use disorders have specific symptoms. Signs of a co-occurring disorder can include:

Having trouble falling asleep at night or sleeping too much
Find yourself pulling away from family and friends because of your unstable moods or indulging in substance abuse
Missing out on school or work because of problems focusing
Having constant delusions or hallucinations, making it hard to distinguish fantasy from reality
Thinking of harming yourself and committing suicide

You may also experience mental health signs such as:

Inattention to personal hygiene
Taking part in risky behavior
Feeling physical symptoms like pain that have no cause
Heightened irritability
Fluctuations in weight
Problems focusing
Changes in personality or behavior

Substance use signs may include:

Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop drinking or using drugs
Problems coping without drugs or alcohol
Failing to show up for commitments like social events
Not caring about anything other than using drugs
Problems in personal relationships because of substance abuse

If you find yourself experiencing more than one symptom from each category, you should have yourself evaluated for a potential co-occurring disorder.

Therapy Options at Fort Behavioral Health

Once a doctor or mental health professional provides you with a formal diagnosis, you should seek care at a rehab center capable of providing you with addiction therapy and mental health treatment. Fort Behavioral Health in Texas offers therapy treatments that address your substance abuse and mental health issues, including:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy
12-Step programs

Our integrated treatment program conducts a full assessment of your condition. From there, we develop a comprehensive treatment plan to help you overcome your addictive behaviors and manage your mental health issues. Clients receive therapy services to address both issues at the same time.

Get Help For a Co-Occurring Disorder at Fort Behavioral Health

The goal is to help you achieve recovery and keep your symptoms from getting worse. Our team is ready to become part of your team. If you believe you could benefit from our services, contact Fort Behavioral Health in Texas by calling 844.332.1807.

Fort Behavioral Health in Fort Worth, Texas reaches out to the community with adult and adolescent addiction treatment programs. The dual-licensed addiction treatment center provides the programs, therapy, and treatment Texas residents deserve.
Lasting recovery isn’t about Fort Behavioral Health, it’s about you. Our licensed experts help you rebuild your life and relationships. From medical detox staff to master-level clinicians and nutrition specialists, your body and mind begin to heal once you reach out for help in Fort Worth, Texas.