What to do to overcome dual pathology?

Tips on how to manage the symptoms of dual pathology and improve your health.

Dual pathology is one of the most dangerous complications in the field of psychiatry and clinical psychology. It is the overlap between an addiction and another psychological disorder: for example, what happens when developing depression and then alcoholism.

In these cases it is crucial to get to work as soon as possible to manage their symptoms and weaken them as much as possible, not least because the worsening of the state of physical and mental health is very accelerated if nothing is done.

So here are some key ideas on what to do to some key ideas to know what to do to overcome dual pathologyby way of summary.

Overcoming dual pathology: 5 key ideas.

Normally, the fact of having developed a psychological disorder is already a reason to seek treatment from mental health professionals as soon as possible. In the case of dual pathology, where there are at least two disorders, it is even more important to start therapy as soon as possible.The two problems reinforce each other and cause more harm than they would do separately.

Thus, people with dual pathology need professionals to offer them personalized treatment both when assessing what is happening to them and when proposing measures, and to follow up on their case.

However, beyond what is done during therapy sessions, there are a number of key ideas to keep in mind in order to overcome dual pathology in general. These are as follows.

1. Nothing substitutes for therapy

It is crucial to be very clear that no activity or routine has the power to substitute for professionally conducted therapy.. Therefore, although for some people it may mean leaving their comfort zone, it is necessary to contact therapy centers where psychologists and/or psychiatrists work and commit to a process of change with the help of these specialists.

2. Beware of trap thoughts

Addictions are maintained over time, among other things, thanks to their power to make us fall into trap thoughts: excuses that we give ourselves to relapse again and again or to not even try to leave the dependency behind us.. An example of this can be found in the previous key idea: the erroneous belief that there is no need to go to therapy, which is nothing more than a way to prevent the addiction from ending.

3. Each disorder is a world

Although the concept of "dual pathology" may imply that all people diagnosed in this way experience the same thing, the truth is that the symptoms of this psychological disorder depend entirely on which disorders are involved: it is not the same to have alcohol addiction and adhd as to have addiction to benzodiazepines and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

For this reason, one must be careful with the advice that other people with dual pathology may give, and at the same time not get carried away by the preconceived ideas that may arise when relating to other patients with the same "label": it is necessary to become aware of the heterogeneity that exists behind this term.

4. Everything else takes a back seat

Health comes first, so the treatment process of dual pathology must be the priority. At the end of the day, addictions are characterized by making everything else cease to be so important to us, so if we do not commit ourselves to therapy, we will spontaneously and almost without realizing it, throw in the towel at the slightest opportunity.So if we do not commit ourselves to therapy, we will spontaneously and almost without realizing it, throw in the towel at the slightest opportunity.

5. It is necessary to rely on the context

Managing the symptoms associated with dual pathology is not a question of willpower, It is a matter of having the right information, having the necessary professional help, and doing everything possible to transform our environment into a place that helps us to overcome this psychological disorder. For example, something as simple as coming home and emptying all the bottles of alcoholic beverages down the sink can make a difference, as well as regaining friendships with those people who tried to keep us away from addiction.

Looking for help?

If you are suffering from an addiction-related problem, it is important that you take control of the situation as soon as possible, and for this it is necessary to have professional help. In case you live in the area of Barcelona and surroundings, we invite you to get in touch with our team of professionals at CITA Clinics.

We are specialized in the treatment of addictions and dual pathology, both inpatient and outpatient, and we have presence both in Barcelona and in Dosrius (Mataró).

To see our contact details or read more about this addiction treatment center, click here.

Bibliographic references:

• Regier DA; Farmer ME; Rae DS; Locke BZ; Keith SJ; Judd LL; Goodwin FK (1990). "Comorbidity of mental disorders with alcohol and other drug abuse. Results from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) Study". JAMA. 264 (19): pp. 2511 - 2518.
• van Emmerik-van Oortmerssen, K.; van de Glind, G.; van den Brink, W.; Smit, F.; Crunelle, CL.; Swets, M.; Schoevers, RA. (April 2012). "Prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in substance use disorder patients: a meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis". Drug Alcohol Depend. 122 (1–2): pp. 11 - 19.
• Wright, S.; Gournay, K.; Glorney, E.; Thornicroft, G. (2000). Dual diagnosis in the suburbs: prevalence, need, and in-patient service use. Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology. 35 (7): pp. 297 - 304.