Chemical Dependency
Dual Diagnosis
Our Program
Casa Palmera is based upon a holistic approach to healing. We address each of your dual diagnosis problems individually because we see the importance of specialized care. Our staff recognizes that healing does not come from putting one addiction, disorder, pain or traumatic experience above the other, our staff recognizes that physical healing starts from within. If the psychological issues of a problem are not addressed then relapse will most likely prevail.
Through our various therapies, you will be given the opportunity to address your co-occurring disorder from a variety of angles. By giving you this opportunity, Casa Palmera promotes personal growth, learning and challenges and prepares you for the burdens of life. Therapies include:
- Yoga therapy
- Body image therapy
- Thought field therapy
- Acupuncture therapy
- Art therapy
When you arrive you will have the opportunity to take our Clinical Diagnostic Assessment. This assessment will determine which therapies and special programs will be best for you or your loved one’s overall recovery from dual diagnosis. Throughout your stay here, regular assessments will be made to monitor your progress and to see if any changes should be made to make your personalized programs more effective.
What is Dual Diagnosis?
The technical term for dual diagnosis is the presence of both a mental disorder and either drug or alcohol abuse. Although the exact number of people suffering from dual diagnosis can never be counted, approximations of various surveys estimate that approximately 53% of people who use drugs and 37% of people who abuse alcohol are known to have had at least one psychological disorder.
At our facility here at Casa Palmera we recognize dual diagnosis as a pair of disorders which may cover a wide span of problems. Such problems include trauma, chemical dependency, eating disorders and pain. Each of these disorders affects a person mentally, physically, spiritually and socially. Additional names for dual diagnosis include co-occurring disorders and concurrent disorders.
It is often difficult to treat someone with two or more of these problems because most facilities have specialized programs which treat only one type of disorder or addiction. If a treatment center is found which provides various treatment opportunities, this rehab facility will often only address one “primary disorder” and give little or no attention to other problems. Dual diagnosis at Casa Palmera is beneficial because it allows a patient to find treatment for each of their problems equally. By incorporating each complication into the same program and giving both problems the same amount of attention, treatment will move along much smoother. This creates a better overall recovery rate, especially if symptoms of each problem overlap one another.
Types of Dual Diagnosis
Types of complications or disorders which may be included in a case of dual diagnosis include:
Chemical Dependency – This type of addiction includes both drug and alcohol abuse. All types of drug use are included. Some of these drug types are marijuana, ecstasy, methamphetamine, cocaine, GHB and heroin.
Eating Disorders – Someone with an eating disorder is often likely to develop other complications. Popular eating disorders which may develop include anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.
Pain – In many instances pain in associated with trauma although it can occur with just about any other type of disorder or addiction. Pain may come in the form of back and neck pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, muscle and bone pain or as a number of different problems.
Trauma – Trauma is often present before or occurs at the same time another complication begins. In fact, experiencing trauma is a reason why someone might develop an eating disorder, or turn to drugs and alcohol for relief. This problem can be acute or chronic and can occur in the form of post traumatic stress disorder, a dissociative disorder or possibly as a personality disorder.
What are the effects of Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis can cause a great deal of problems which vary according to what addictions, disorders, pains or traumatic experiences are involved. Common dilemmas which arise out of the struggle with dual diagnosis include:
- Distressed feelings
- Strained relationships
- Poor performance at work and in school
- Continuation of negative behavior despite known risks
- Financial difficulty
- Frequently irritable or argumentative
- Avoidance of social interaction
Your Situation
We at Casa Palmera agree that having two different types of complications in your life, causing dual diagnosis, is not an easy thing to deal with. Often times when we suffer from two different problems, one takes a higher priority than the other. Due to this problem your trauma, pain, addiction or eating disorder suffers even greater; this in turn brings down both problems once more.
By seeking the type of treatment offered at Casa Palmera in which co-occurring disorders are addressed and receive the same priority, you are giving yourself the opportunity to recover. Dual diagnosis can do this for you through its even distribution and focus of attention on both complications.
Additional benefits of attending our program at Casa Palmera include:
- Participating in our expressive therapies
- Development of inner strengths and capabilities
- Learning more about personal struggles
- Increase in knowledge
- Reversing of negative behaviors
- Better quality of sleep
- Addressing the role dual diagnosis plays in life
- Development of goals in one’s personal life
- Reduction of stress
- Support of fellow residents
Seeking Help
Whether you realize it or not, concurrent disorders have a major impact on life. This impact is largely negative and anyone suffering from such a disorder would find great relief from the help of a friend and through a successful treatment center. Casa Palmera extends its arm out to you and offers you an opportunity for recovery. Our professional staff here at Casa Palmera offers you hope and brighter future. No one deserves to live a life of pain or of psychological torment; call us and find relief today. You deserve it.
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Suggested Reading:
- Trauma and Anxiety Disorders Read More »
- The Link between Eating Disorders and Trauma Read More »
- The Facts about Children and Trauma Read More »
- 7 Ways to Heal Your Childhood Trauma Read More »
Did you know?
Pain and trauma sometimes occur at the same time. One example is in the case of a car accident- Trauma can result from the frightening experience of a car crash and its unexpected nature; Pain can occur as the result of whiplash, damaged organs, a spinal injury or one of numerous circumstances. Sexual and physical abuse, kidnapping, and terrorist attacks are other situations in which trauma and pain occur together.
