Substance Abuse and Mental Health Facilities in Waterloo, NY

In case you abusing substances like alcohol and drugs in Waterloo, 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.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the most common mental health disorders today. It occurs as a result of experiencing or witnessing traumatic events. If you have this disorder, you might start abusing drugs and alcohol to deal with the feelings of stress, anxiety, and fear that arise from this disorder.

If you suffered a traumatic event, you might eventually be able to overcome the agitation, depression, and anxiety that is caused by these experiences. However, if you develop post-traumatic stress disorder, these symptoms will not disappear unless you seek help.

Psychosis

It is possible to develop psychosis as a result of abusing drugs and alcohol. when this happens, you could be said to be struggling with a substance-induced psychotic disorder or a drug-induced psychosis.

This would occur if you suffer psychotic episodes as a result of abusing intoxicating substances. It could also happen because you took a certain drug in excess, mixed substances and suffered adverse reactions, went through withdrawal after stopping substance abuse, or were living with an underlying mental health disorder.

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.