Substance Abuse and Mental Health Facilities in Oak Forest, IL

In case you abusing substances like alcohol and drugs in Oak Forest, they can prove effective at managing - albeit in the short term - the symptoms of your mental health disorder. This form of self-medication, however, can be dangerous because it can lead to addiction.

The temporary relief that you derive from these substances could soon be overtaken by other negative physical and psychological effects. Eventually, you may even find that you have started struggling with more of the common mental health problems that are linked with drug and alcohol addiction.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Typically, obsessive compulsive disorder will mostly emerge during your late teens and early adulthood. Since you might have been experimenting with alcohol and drugs during this time, there is a high risk that you might develop a substance abuse disorder at the same time as your OCD.

The NLM - the National Library of Medicine - also reports that teens living with obsessive compulsive disorder are especially vulnerable and prone to the abuse of these substances. If they engage in this behavior, their obsessions and compulsions could be compounded and cause them to become addicted to these substances.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

If you have been living with post-traumatic stress disorder, you might be more prone to panic attacks and violent outbursts - in much the same way that you would if you were addicted to drugs and alcohol. These can be difficult for your friends and family to witness.

The feelings of guilt over your outbursts, on the other hand, could drive you to start abusing intoxicating substances. However, this form of substance abuse will only cause more problems in the long term - including but not limited to the development of an addiction.

A dual diagnosis treatment program can help you understand the reasons behind your substance abuse and addiction as well as how this disorder is affected and continues to affect the other co-occurring behavioral and mental health disorders that you have also been diagnosed with.

This type of treatment would most likely be highly specialized and integrated. This is because it has to manage all the disorders that you have been struggling with at the same time - or simultaneously. It is recommended that you go through dual diagnosis treatment if you have been living with both addiction as well as any other co-occurring medical or mental health disorders.