Substance Abuse and Mental Health Facilities in Westwood, NJ

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

Mania

NIAAA - the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - reports that alcohol use disorders often co-occur (or happen at the same time) with bipolar disorder. In turn, these conditions can lead to the development of mania.

In fact, more than 30 percent of the people who live with bipolar disorder abuse and are dependent on alcohol. at the same time, around 20 percent of those who have this disorder also meet the criteria for alcohol abuse. You should also keep in mind that alcohol abuse and addiction could worsen your clinical outcomes if you have already been diagnosed with BP - bipolar disorder.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

In case you are living with obsessive compulsive disorder, you might be struggling with obsessions. Some of these common obsessions include having a fear of getting sick, bacteria, viruses, and germs. You might also be obsessed over good and bad numbers. Further, you could experience intrusive thoughts of harm towards yourself or others.

In other situations, there is a risk that you might be obsessed with religious topics and thoughts that you consider to be blasphemous. However, images of sex and sexual acts might also intrude your mind, or you may have an unfounded fear of losing loved ones to illnesses and injuries.

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.