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What to Look for in Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Chicago, IL

Addiction is different for everyone, and many factors influence drug or alcohol misuse. To get the right treatment, your rehab must address these underlying issues. For over 8 million people in the United States, substance use disorder is linked to mental illness.

At Gateway Foundation in Chicago, IL, our location near Independence Boulevard specializes in dual diagnosis treatment. We provide therapy and other addiction services to help those with a dual diagnosis find success in recovery.

What Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?

Those with a dual diagnosis struggle with both an addiction to drugs or alcohol and a mental health condition. Also called a co-occurring disorder, the appearance of these conditions shows just how closely linked mental health is to addiction.

Sometimes, individuals struggle with mental issues such as depression or anxiety, and they use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate. Other times, the addiction precedes the mental health disorder, as the substance alters a person’s brain chemistry and leads to psychological symptoms. Whichever comes first, addiction and mental illness tend to worsen each other, and the symptoms become tangled.

How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Helps With Addiction

When you struggle with both a mental health issue and addiction, it’s essential to find treatment that can address both conditions simultaneously. At Gateway Foundation in Chicago, IL, our interdisciplinary team includes physicians, psychologists and other licensed addiction professionals, allowing us to provide integrated care and better overall outcomes. Dual-diagnosis treatment helps those struggling with addiction in various ways:

  • Helps patients find answers to why they behave and act the way they do
  • Takes a holistic approach to patient care
  • Treats the underlying cause, rather than just the symptoms
  • Reduces the risk of relapse
  • Provides patients with a comprehensive, highly individualized treatment plan
  • Allows patients to address their past so they can focus on their future

Who Should Seek Dual Diagnosis Treatment?

Certain mental health conditions tend to present themselves more often alongside substance misuse, including:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • ADHD
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Borderline personality disorder
  • Eating disorders

Dual Diagnosis Support at Gateway Chicago Independence, IL

Rehab centers should never ignore mental illness symptoms within an individual’s long-term recovery. At Gateway Foundation’s Chicago Independence center, our intake team reviews your mental health alongside your substance use patterns to develop a highly individualized treatment approach.

Dual diagnosis treatment provides therapies and other services focused on improving your mental health and helping you break free from addiction. Many of our programs address both these issues simultaneously, ensuring our patients leave rehab with a better understanding of their addiction and mental health so they can continue tackling their recovery journey at home.

Some techniques we find more effective for treating dual diagnosis patients include:

  • Medication-assisted treatment
  • Psychiatric care
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Trauma therapy
  • Coping skills therapy
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Learn More About Our Chicago, IL, Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center for Addiction

The only way to know for sure if a dual diagnosis is present is to consult with an addiction treatment center specializing in co-occurring addictions and mental health disorders — such as Gateway Chicago Independence. Learn more when you contact us online today.