Addiction affects millions of Americans each year. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 48.7 million people struggled with addiction in 2022.
Oftentimes, addiction stems from underlying mental health issues that are causing difficulties in one’s daily life. They might begin abusing drugs or alcohol as a form of coping with their symptoms. Some of the most common mental health conditions to co-occur with addiction are mood disorders.
Mood disorders are a group of mental illnesses that cause disruptions in one’s emotions and mood swings. Examples of common mood disorders include major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, which cause depressive and manic episodes.
Thankfully, people with mood disorders and co-occurring addiction can receive treatment for both conditions simultaneously. Dual-diagnosis rehab centers in Florida offer treatment plans that include services for mental health and addiction recovery. During one of these programs, you might engage in medical detox, evidence-based therapies, and relapse prevention planning.
What are Mood Disorders?
Mood disorders are mental health conditions that affect your emotional state. Symptoms of mood disorders might include persistent feelings of sadness, extreme mood swings, or manic and depressive episodes.
Mood disorders include the following types of mental health disorders:
- Depression and its subtypes
- Bipolar disorder and its subtypes
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD)
- Substance-induced mood disorder
While anxiety disorders cause mood changes, they are not considered mood disorders. Instead, they have their own specific umbrella of different anxiety-related conditions.
People with mood disorders experience significant challenges in their daily lives. For example, the symptoms of bipolar disorder can make it difficult to hold a job, maintain relationships, and simply cope with everyday emotions. People with bipolar disorder must seek professional help to learn to manage their condition.
How are Mood Disorders and Addiction Connected?
According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), 32% of people with mood disorders also struggle with addiction. While addiction is common among people with depression, it affects those with bipolar disorder at staggering rates. The study outlines that 56% of people with bipolar disorder had a substance use disorder.
The relationship between mood disorders and addiction can be complicated. Some people develop an addiction as a manner of self-medicating the symptoms of their mental illness.
On the other hand, addiction can lead to the development of a substance-induced mood disorder. The NLM estimates that 40 to 60% of people with alcoholism develop substance-induced depression.
Whether your mood disorder or addiction comes first, it’s important to seek professional treatment.
How Does Treatment for Addiction and Mood Disorders in Florida Work?
Dual-diagnosis rehab centers combine mental health and addiction treatment services. To treat mood disorders and addiction, a combination of medical detox, evidence-based therapies, and relapse prevention planning is employed. These centers offer assistance from highly qualified mental health, addiction, and medical staff members.
Assessment and Diagnosis
The first step in treatment is an initial assessment. The admissions counselors will ask you questions about your physical and mental health as well as your history of substance abuse. Additionally, you will be given screening tools to determine what type of mood disorder you suffer from.
Once this information is gathered, an individualized treatment plan will be created. Your treatment plan will include things like how long you require services, what therapies you would benefit from, whether you will require medication, and more.
Medical Detox
Next, you will begin medical detox. If you have a substance use disorder, that means your brain and body are dependent on drugs or alcohol to function properly. Suddenly stopping them will result in withdrawal symptoms.
The goal of medical detox is to help you overcome withdrawal safely and comfortably. Medications will be used to control withdrawal symptoms and cravings. As a result, you will be better able to focus on other aspects of recovery from co-occurring mood disorders and addiction.
Medication Management
Many mood disorders are managed through a combination of therapy and medication. If you require medication to manage your symptoms, your doctor will prescribe you something that is non-habit-forming. In other words, all of the medications used during dual diagnosis rehab will not trigger your addiction.
For example, people with depressive disorders might begin taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Those with bipolar disorder may be given mood stabilizers or antipsychotics. These medications can help you manage the symptoms that are not being resolved by therapy.
Individual Therapy and Group Counseling
One of the most important parts of treatment for mood disorders and addiction in Florida is therapy. You will participate in both individual counseling and group therapy.
Counseling is used to help you learn to manage the symptoms of your mood disorder. Additionally, behavioral therapies teach you how to replace substance abuse with positive coping mechanisms.
One of the most common therapies used during treatment for mood disorders and addiction is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This therapy teaches you how to improve negative patterns of thought and behavior.
Relapse Prevention and Aftercare
Lastly, you will engage in relapse prevention planning. This strategy teaches you how to prevent yourself from experiencing an addiction relapse. A key part of relapse prevention is taking advantage of the aftercare services offered by your dual diagnosis rehab program.
Aftercare services include:
- Continued therapy
- Medication management
- Referrals to outpatient or sober living programs
- Recommendations on local support groups to attend
- Access to an alumni support group
- Case management services like vocational or housing assistance
Get Connected to Addiction and Mood Disorder Treatment in Florida
If you or a loved one suffers from co-occurring mood disorders and addiction, it’s time to seek help. At Mandala Healing Center, we offer evidence-based treatments that will address each of your conditions simultaneously.
Contact us today to learn more about treatment for mood disorders and addiction in Florida.