Dual Diagnosis and Recovery
Why is it important to treat both
the mood disorder and the
alcohol/drug use?
When neither illness is treated, one illness can make the
other worse. When only one illness is treated, treatment
is less likely to be effective. When both illnesses are
treated, the chances for a full and lasting recovery are
greatly improved, and it is easier to return to a full and
productive life.
Why is it important to stay clean
and sober when getting treatment?
Mixing alcohol or drugs with medication can have
serious and dangerous effects. Many medications,
including over-the-counter medications, interact with
alcohol or drugs in harmful ways. It is also unlikely that
you will benefit from talk therapy if you are under the
influence.
What should I expect from
treatment?
You may need to go to more than one doctor and
attend more than one support group. All of your
treatment providers should be aware that you have a
dual diagnosis. Treatment for your mood disorder may
include counseling or psychotherapy, medication and
DBSA support groups where you can share your
experience living with depression or bipolar disorder.
Treatment for your alcohol and/or drug use may include
some type of recovery group. If you are drinking or
using every day, you and your doctor may decide that
you need to check into a hospital or treatment center
so you can be treated for physical withdrawal
symptoms. After treating the withdrawal, you will need
to treat the addiction. This may include a residential or
outpatient alcohol/drug treatment center, a 12-step
group or another group that focuses on living without
substances. In these groups, you will learn how others
stopped drinking or using, how to cope with cravings
and urges to drink or use, and how to live comfortably
without the use of alcohol or drugs.
Talk therapy (psychotherapy) can help you learn to
cope with symptoms of depression and/or mania, and
change the patterns of thinking that may be making
them worse. Therapy can also help you look at your
drinking/using habits and work on staying clean and
sober. You may get therapy from a psychiatrist, a
psychologist, a social worker, a therapist, a counselor, a
nurse or another health professional.
Medication to help with
symptoms of depression and
mania may be prescribed by
a physician or psychiatrist.
You and your doctor will
work together to find the
right medication(s) for you.
Different people have
different responses to medication, and many people
need to try several before they find the best one(s).
Though it may not be easy, be patient when starting
new medications and wait for them to work. Don't lose
hope. Some can take four to eight weeks before you
feel their full effects.
Keep your own records of treatment -- how you feel
each day, what medications and dosages you take and
how they affect you, and any alcohol or drug use.
DBSA's Personal Calendar, available at
www.DBSAlliance.org or by calling DBSA at 1-800-826-3632, can be very helpful with this.
Medications that affect the brain may also affect other
systems of the body, and cause side effects such as dry
mouth, constipation, sleepiness, blurred vision, weight
gain, weight loss, dizziness or sexual problems. You
might feel the side effects before you feel the helpful
effects of your medication. Many times, these side
effects will go away in a few weeks. If they don't go
away immediately, don't be discouraged. There are ways
to reduce or get rid of them.
- Change the time you take your medication to help
with sleepiness or sleeplessness.
- Take it with food to help with nausea.
- Your doctor may change your dosage or prescribe
another medication.
Tell your doctor about any side effects you are having.
You and your doctor should work together to make
decisions about medication. Never stop taking your
medication or change your dosage without talking to
your doctor first.
>> Go to How do DBSA
support groups help?
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