Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Sometimes an individual suffers from an emotional illness which can significantly contribute to their addiction. When a psychiatric diagnosis co-exists with addiction it is termed dual diagnosis. Some of these disorders are: clinical depression, bipolar disorder and/or anxiety. Often times, the abuser is “self-medicating” his/her highs and lows with drugs or alcohol. It is critical to determine and assess if a psychiatric illness is present so the appropriate course of action can be implemented as part of the overall treatment plan. Sometimes this may include the need for prescriptive medications to stabilize the disorder. This can be very difficult for many people since the stigma attached to “mental disorders” is still prevalent in today’s culture. Harmony Place educates clients and their families to the disease. Harmony Place also offers one-on-one counseling and full support throughout, to better assist all members of the family and the client to cope with this knowledge. Specific groups are implemented to deal with the education of the disease, recognition of symptoms and overall illness management.