Dual Diagnosis - Alcoholism and Depression Treatment Chicago

It is not unusual when a depressed person starts drinking too. After a painful life experience such as the death of a loved one, loss of a career or dissolution of a marriage most people naturally go through a period of depression. The symptoms of depression are usually characterized by feelings of hopelessness, overwhelming sadness and despair. These emotions can be so overwhelming that most people would do anything to block them out including taking their own life. The average response however is to use a chemical substance like drugs or alcohol to "drown" the pain.

According to the National Institute of mental Health, depression affects more than 17 million Americans each year. A majority of these individuals will turn to alcohol to help them to cope with the misery caused by this condition. This co-existence of conditions is known as a dual diagnosis. Although alcohol temporarily blunt the effects of stress hormones it will eventually exacerbate depression and leave the user feeling worst. Alcohol is a depressant that suppresses the brain and nervous system. Studies show that people who stop consuming even one drink a day showed an improvement in their depressive state after only one month of abstinence.

While there is no scientific evidence to support the link between depression and alcoholism, when these occur together the additional negative effects of alcohol could increase the risk of the individual harming them self. Inebriated people typically have very poor judgement and are prone to indulge in risky behavior. Alcohol paired with depression can be a deadly mix. It is also important to recognize that most individual who are depressed and abusing alcohol are usually not mentally stable to seek the help they need.

The following are warning signs that alcohol is being used to treat depression:

• You reach for a drink when you feel sad and overwhelmed by issues in your life
• You regularly drink alone to make it through the day or night.
• Your drinking affects your relationships with others but you don't really care.
• You often feel disgusted with yourself for drinking but do it anyway.
• You often have suicidal thoughts which cause you to drink even more.
• When other people try to talk to you about drinking you become even more gloomy and reclusive.
• No matter how much you drink you never feel any better.
• You have lost all interest in former activities and spend most of your time either drinking or thinking about drinking.

If this describes you or a loved one it may be time to seek professional help. These warning signs indicate a high risk category for people with alcohol abuse and depression. This is also referred to as dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders that require specialized treatment to overcome. Dual diagnosis is the comorbidity between drug an addictive behavior such as alcoholism and mental a mental illness like depression. According to government records, approximately nine million Americans have been diagnosed with dual diagnosis. The mental disorders commonly linked to this condition are depression, chronic anxiety, bi-polar and personality disorders. Studies show a high success rate in developing overcoming depression and the ability to maintain long term sobriety for patients who receive dual diagnosis treatment. Even so, not all rehab facilities offer this service.

Many of the Drug Treatment Centers Chicago is home to are full service substance abuse disorder facilities that offer dual diagnosis treatment for patients suffering with alcoholism and depression. If you or a family member has been battling depression and alcohol abuse, we can help you find drug treatment facilities that offer help for all your recovery needs. Call Drug Rehab Chicago IL today at (877) 804-1531 for information about Chicago dual diagnosis treatment programsa.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, now is the time to find the help that you need. In the past, many people talked about the "rock bottom" that addicts needed to reach before they were able to seek help and sustain long-term recovery. For some people, however, this rock bottom places comes too late. As soon as you identify the problem is the best time to act. Encouraging a person to get help or supporting them when they are ordered by a court to do so, is the best way to you can provide help to someone struggling with addiction.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

When most people think about rehabilitation facilities, they think only of the inpatient, residential care facilities where patients stay for long periods of time to work on their addiction. While Chicago does have clinics that provide this kind of help, there are alternatives for addicts that cannot afford to stay in one of those centers for an extended period of time. There are many residents of Chicago that lack the necessary kind of insurance needed to make one of those facilities a viable option.

Aside from residential inpatient care, there are outpatient programs that are more flexible and which may be better suited to helping some people. These programs offer just as much education and support, but allow the person to continue working and living in their own residence.

Why is a Treatment Program Necessary?

While some people believe that they can fight their addiction alone, it is much easier and much more effective to enter a program, run by qualified doctors, who understand the nature of addiction and what tools an addict needs in order to stop using, sustain long-term recovery, and fight relapse. If you or a loved one is struggling with depression combined with drug addiction or alcohol abuse, call Chicago Drug Rehab IL at (877) 804-1531 today for help finding dual diagnosis treatment programs that will give you the support you need for recovery.