There are many opinions surrounding psychiatry and if it helps. Those with substance abuse disorders have often manipulated psychiatrists into feeding their drug habit. Those with a dual diagnosis have found that psychiatry or mental health therapy doesn’t solve the problem.
However unsuccessful many have been when resorting to psychiatry in the past, no one should rule out the possibility that it could work for them. Psychiatrists who are trained in addiction treatment therapy are in a unique position.
They can help to identify concurrent psychiatric and substance abuse disorders in people that are seeking treatment for both issues. This dual diagnosis may be especially challenging to treat because often the two issues are one and the same. Given the reciprocal impact of substance abuse and psychiatric disorders upon one another, there’s a critical need for specialists trained in dual diagnosis treatment.
Those that struggle with common dual diagnosis issues may find that psychiatric help is the answer. Let’s take a look at what psychiatry is and how it might help.
What is Psychiatry?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor that is an expert in mental health. Psychiatrists specialize in diagnosing and treating people with mental illness. They have a deep understanding of both physical and psychological health, as well as how they affect one another.
Psychiatrists help those with mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, addiction, and more.
What Does A Psychiatrist Do?
A psychiatrist assesses all of your physical and mental health symptoms. They make a diagnosis and work with you on developing a management plan for your recovery and treatment. They provide treatment, prescribe medication, and perform therapeutic procedures.
As a part of their practice, a psychiatrist can:
- Help you manage your mental health condition
- Provide urgent care for a sudden mental illness
- Work with you individually, or with your partner or family members
- Refer you to other mental health professionals
- Admit you into a hospital if necessary
- Provide advice about essential lifestyle changes
Common Reasons Why People See A Psychiatrist
Many people see a psychiatrist for several different reasons. Some of those reasons include:
- Anxiety and depression
- Schizophrenia
- Suicidal thoughts
- Bipolar disorder
- Eating disorder(s)
- Problems adjusting to life on life’s terms
- Obsessive thinking
- Addiction and alcoholism
- Sleeplessness
- Constant negative thoughts
- Hallucinations
- Poor concentration, attention, and
- Delusions
- Intellectual disability, childhood anxiety, or autism
- Violence, aggression, and emotional outbursts
- Addictive behaviors (gambling, sex, shopping, etc.)
- And so much more
Psychiatry and Substance Abuse Disorders
Psychiatrists specialize in the diagnosis and treat psychiatric disorders. Addiction has been psychologically proven to be a mental disorder. So, it’s only fitting that psychiatrists would come across addiction in their practice at one point or another.
There is a sub-specialty of addiction treatment specialties in psychiatry, in which many psychiatrists primarily deal with those afflicted with addiction. Essentially, all psychiatrists deal with dual diagnosis patients and will take part in the treatment of addiction throughout their careers.
Psychiatrists play a significant role during the detoxification process, which is the first stage of addiction treatment. When addicts are safely weaned off addictive substances, then they are detoxifying their bodies to rid themselves of these substances. This will help them to move onto the next phases of their addiction treatment, like therapy.
Treatment of those with a dual diagnosis generally involves medication and behavioral therapy techniques. When substance abuse co-occurs with a pre-existing psychiatric disorder (a dual diagnosis), then there is a bit of a “double-whammy” situation at play.
Those with a psychological disorder, such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, etc. often use addictive substances to help ease the symptoms associated with their mental illness. Drugs and alcohol are a way of coping with their mental anguish, and this form of self-medicating can be dangerous in so many ways.
They can be fatal; that’s a no-brainer. But they can also awaken new mental illnesses to rise out of the woodwork. Drug-induced psychosis occurs when someone ingests enough addictive substances to where it triggers something in their brain and causes psychotic thinking and behaviors.
Oftentimes, this is a temporary occurrence. However, sometimes it’s permanent and it is very difficult to treat medically. There are different psychiatric treatment options available to those in need of help. Don’t ever give up on yourself. You can achieve greatness despite your mental illness. Just give yourself a chance and the gift of recovery to make your way down the road to happy destiny and prosperity.
Get Psychiatric Help Today
If you have a dual diagnosis or are struggling with addiction, then you’ve come to the right page. Our experts at the Medical Centre of Lehigh Acres can get you the help that you need. Schedule an appointment with us so that we can refer you to the best urgent care detox available and get you on track towards living a fulfilled, sober life.
If you are addicted to drugs and alcohol, there is a way out. Addictive substances don’t have to put you in the mental and psychical chokehold any longer if you get help. Despite whether you’ve alienated your friends and family because of the disease of addiction, we will be here for you.
Upon assessment of your current situation, we will conduct a personalized treatment plan for you and refer you to a psychiatrist that specializes in addiction treatment. From there, you have the option of entering an inpatient/outpatient facility and attending 12-step program meetings.
Entering addiction treatment at a recovery center along with attending daily AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings have worked wonders for millions of people struggling with addiction. They’ve even helped those with a dual diagnosis to manage their illness productively and reassuringly.
Become a valued member of society once again. Don’t remain a burden on yourself and your loved ones. Get the help that you need to live the life that you deserve. Book an appointment with us so that we can help you get started.
