A dual diagnosis involves a mental health disorder and substance abuse problem that occurs simultaneously. For example, an individual with depression is more likely to drink alcohol to self-medicate symptoms of irritability, insomnia and feelings of helplessness. Research also shows that while excessive alcohol consumption does not produce behavioral conditions, drinking can exacerbate the symptoms of a mental illness.
Having a drinking problem or mental illness does not guarantee a person will develop a co-occurring disorder. However, it can significantly increase the likelihood of a dual diagnosis later down the road.
With dual diagnosis, the symptoms of alcoholism and a mental illness often feed off of each other. Because of this, any amount of alcohol will affect a person’s emotional well-being and vice versa. If left untreated, a co-occurring mental illness and alcohol dependency can spiral out of control, taking a toll on both the individual suffering and their loved ones.
There are many mental health conditions that can co-occur with alcohol abuse. Some of the most common conditions include depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Each mental illness affects alcoholism in a different way, depending on the longevity and severity of the disorder.
Read more at AlcoholRehabGuide.org.
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