The signs and symptoms associated with dual diagnoses can vary significantly depending on the types of conditions and dependencies present. However, if an individual’s mental health symptoms worsen while they’re receiving care, that could be a sign they have latent substance abuse disorder. Likewise, if an individual’s substance use problems seem resistant to treatment, that person may have unidentified mental health disorder.
Mental health symptoms can influence the type of addiction or dependency that individuals suffer from. As an example, those with anxiety are more likely to abuse depressants, whereas those with depression or generally low energy are more likely to abuse stimulants. Demographics can drive substance selection, too: older people tend to rely on alcohol to cope with distress, while younger people are more likely to use hallucinogenic drugs. Many variables contribute to the ways dual diagnoses manifest themselves.
These and many other variables impact the ways that dual diagnoses present themselves, which is why it’s critical for those who might need dual diagnosis support to receive professional psychiatric help. If you’re interested in learning more about what that help would look like at CooperRiis, give us a call today.