Turning Point of Tampa Treats Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders
Substance abuse and a mental health disorder (dual diagnosis) such as depression and anxiety are closely linked, although one does not necessarily directly cause the other. About half of people who have a mental disorder will also have a substance use disorder at some point in their lives and vice versa.
Signs and symptoms exhibited depend on the co-occurring disorders themselves. Symptoms will include those often found with a drug or alcohol use disorder as well as those that are indicative of a specific mental health disorder. Drug and alcohol screening tools now make it easier for mental health clinics to identify co-occurring substance abuse problems.
For many of our clients a dependency on drugs, alcohol or an eating disorder can also be deeply intertwined with a dual diagnosis (also referred to as a “comorbidity” or “co-occurring” diagnosis). At Turning Point of Tampa, our mental health professionals address all these circumstances and treat the individual.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that causes a person to have extreme mood swings.
People with bipolar disorder experience periods of mania or periods of a major depressive episode. A manic episode consists of an elevated, irritable, or expansive mood. Depressive episodes are low, sad, intense emotional reactions or empty feelings.
Bipolar disorder typically manifests in early adulthood and has a genetic component. It is often diagnosed alongside other mental health disorders like anxiety and substance abuse.
There is no medication that successfully treats the condition, although they may help reduce some specific symptoms, such as intense anxiety. Evidence-based models of psychotherapy are the treatment of choice.
What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?
Borderline personality disorder is a mental illness characterized by unstable moods, self-image, behavior, and relationships. People with borderline personality disorder are often impulsive, have intense emotions and have unstable personal relationships.
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that causes people to have an unstable self-image and intense emotions.
Borderline personality disorder can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those displayed by other mental illnesses. The most common symptoms are:
- Intense fear of abandonment
- Unstable self-image
- Manic depression
- Suicidal thoughts
- Intense emotions that can change quickly from one feeling to another or even from one person to the next.
The cause of borderline personality disorder is unknown, but it is likely that it is due to a combination of factors including genetics, brain chemistry, and life experiences.
How are Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder Alike?
Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are both considered mental health conditions where people experience mood swings, mood disorders, and impulsive behavior.
The primary reason that some experts have proposed that bipolar and borderline personality disorder may be related is that they share the common feature of mood instability and extreme shifts in mood. Bipolar disorder is associated with mood episodes from depression to mania, a mood characterized by extremely high mood, emotional dysregulation, depressed mood, problems with emotional regulation, a decreased need for sleep and an increase in activity, or hypomania, which is similar to manic symptoms but less severe mania.
Unlike people with bipolar disorder, people who suffer from BPD have a personality disorder. Personality disorders involve patterns of thinking and behavior that affect all aspects of a person’s life. People with BPD often have an insecure attachment style —meaning that they have a hard time trusting others. BPD and bipolar disorder can both be characterized by mood changes, but the quality of the mood changes can be very different.
Diagnosing Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder
According to the (DSM-5), there is a list of nine common symptoms of BPD. If you experience five of them, you may be diagnosed with the disorder.
Co-Occurring Mental Health Mood Disorders and Substance Use Disorder
Mental health and substance use disorder are common problems that affect millions of people worldwide. Mental health refers to the emotional and psychological state of an individual. Substance use disorder is a condition where an individual’s use of alcohol or drugs causes distress or harm to their physical and mental health.
People suffering from these disorders might not be able to work, socialize, or take care of themselves properly. They might also have trouble with relationships, school, or family life.
According to The World Health Organization (WHO) mental health is defined as: “A state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential and can cope with the normal stresses of life.” It defines substance abuse as: “A patterned use of psychoactive substances characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite the negative consequences.”
Mental Health Issues and Eating Disorders
In our society, mental health issues and eating disorders are often swept under the rug. It is a shame that these issues are not discussed openly and people who suffer from them are left to feel alone. This section will discuss what mental health issues and eating disorders are, how they affect people, and how we can help those who have these conditions.
Eating disorders have been increasing in recent years among both men and women. It is estimated that at least 20 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their life; 10 million of which will be men.
Treating Mental Disorders
Both BPD and bipolar have good treatment options, but they are very different options, so putting time into getting a correct diagnosis is essential.
People who are concerned should seek out professional medical advice and/or a psychological evaluation to determine if their symptoms warrant a diagnosis. There are different symptoms for bipolar disorder than there are for borderline personality disorder. These are serious health conditions that need individualized support and care in order to optimize recovery.
Treating Substance Use Disorders and Personality Disorders
Substance use disorders and personality disorders are both mental health issues that need to be treated. They have a lot in common, but also some differences.
For instance, substance use disorder is a type of mental illness that is characterized by the repeated use of substances despite the negative consequences it has on one’s life.
Personality disorder is a mental illness that affects how people think, feel and behave. It can cause people to have difficulty functioning in their day-to-day lives.
Both substance use disorders and personality disorders can be treated with behavioral therapies such as counseling, psychotherapy, and group therapy.
Getting Help at Turning Point of Tampa
If you know someone who is dually diagnosed and needs a safe environment and help, please contact us at (866) 878-6869 or email us at admissions@tpoftampa.com.
Dual Diagnosis
Dual diagnosis is a term that refers to people who have both a mental health condition and substance abuse disorder.
A dual diagnosis is when someone has two diagnosable conditions at the same time. One of those conditions is typically a mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. The other condition is usually an addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Diagnosis Treatment Centers
In order to diagnose a substance abuse disorder, an assessment is done by clinicians that have the experience and education to examine the difference between use, misuse, abuse, and addiction. Questions often asked will include how often the patient used drugs, what types of drugs they used, when they used them, and how much they used.
The treatment for substance abuse varies depending on the type of drug that was abused. For example, amphetamines are often treated with medications that help reduce cravings and prevent relapse.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a psychotherapeutic treatment that combines mindfulness with cognitive behavioral therapy. MBCT was developed by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams, and John Teasdale. It was designed to prevent the relapse of depression. MBCT has also been found to be effective for preventing the onset of depression.
MBCT is based on Jon Kabat-Zinn’s mindfulness meditation program, which he developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1979. The program teaches people how to live more mindfully by paying attention to their breathing and bodily sensations and bringing awareness to their thoughts and emotions. MBCT integrates this mindfulness practice with cognitive behavioral therapy techniques that are used for treating depression such as restructuring negative thinking patterns and learning how
Alcoholism and Anxiety
Alcoholism and anxiety are two psychological disorders that are often co-morbid with one another. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that people who have alcoholism are twice as likely to have anxiety.
People with alcoholism often turn to alcohol in order to cope with their anxiety. They may drink heavily in order to avoid the feelings of panic, fear, and worry associated with anxiety. Alcohol can also be used as a way to self-medicate in order to avoid the symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol, which can cause feelings of depression and irritability.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that people who have alcoholism also experience high levels of stress due to their inability or unwillingness to stop drinking despite the consequences it has on their life.
