Dual diagnosis treatment is care for a mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time, by one team with one plan. At Lotus Recovery Treatment Center in Thousand Oaks, your therapist and psychiatric provider treat both together, so progress with one supports recovery from the other.
What Is Dual Diagnosis?
Dual diagnosis means having a mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time, such as depression with alcohol use or anxiety with opioid use. The two conditions feed each other, so treating only one often leads to relapse in the other. That is why both are treated together, by one team.
When anxiety, depression or trauma shows up alongside drinking or drug use, treating only one of them usually does not last. Our dual diagnosis treatment center in Thousand Oaks, CA treats both at the same time, with one plan and one team.
Dual diagnosis is common. About half of people who have a substance use disorder during their lives also have a mental illness, and the reverse is also true. One condition can hide or worsen the other, so it is often hard to tell which came first. Lotus Recovery runs separate tracks for mental health and substance use, and one team coordinates your care across both. We also serve clients from Westlake Village, CA.
Why Mental Illness and Addiction Occur Together
A strong link between mental health and substance use does not mean one condition caused the other, even if one appeared first. Genetics, environment, stress and trauma all play a part.
Research points to shared risk factors. Part of a person’s risk for addiction comes from their genes, and the same is true for many mental illnesses. Ongoing stress and past trauma raise the risk for both.
Take depression as an example. If it runs in your family, you may be more likely to develop it. When you feel low or worthless, you may reach for alcohol or drugs to dull the pain.
Over time, substance use changes the brain in ways that make depression worse. To cope, you use more, and the cycle tightens. It is very hard to break on your own, which is why we treat both conditions together through behavioral therapy and structured PHP or IOP programs.
Signs of a Dual Diagnosis
The signs and symptoms of dual diagnosis vary depending on the mental illness you have and the substances you are using. However, many of the symptoms are the same across the board, as addiction is still a disease that affects people in similar ways, regardless of the substance itself.
The signs and symptoms of a potential dual diagnosis are:
- Trouble controlling substance use
- Strong cravings
- Risky behavior
- Abrupt personality changes
- Social isolation
- Financial or legal troubles
- Physical tolerance
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Eating/sleeping problems
- Inability to function in daily life
- Unexplained pain
- Exaggerated emotions and expressions
The Most Common Dual Diagnosis Pairings
Some conditions show up together more often than others. Common pairings include:
- Depression with alcohol use
- Anxiety or panic with alcohol, benzodiazepine or cannabis use
- PTSD with alcohol or opioid use
- Bipolar disorder with stimulant or alcohol use
- ADHD with stimulant or cannabis use
Your pairing shapes your plan. A full psychiatric evaluation at the start tells us what is driving what.
How We Treat Dual Diagnosis in Thousand Oaks
Dual diagnosis treatment works best when both conditions are treated at the same time. Our program combines outpatient therapy with psychiatric care. Depending on your substance use and mental health needs, your plan may include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Support groups
- Introduction to the 12 steps
- Life skills education
- Holistic therapies
- Medications (if needed)
Dual Diagnosis Rehab Without Living On Site
Our dual diagnosis rehab is outpatient, so you sleep at home or in sober supportive housing each night. You choose the level of care that fits right now:
- Partial hospitalization (PHP) for daytime structure most weekdays
- Intensive outpatient (IOP) for several sessions a week
- Outpatient or evening sessions once you are steadier
We do not offer detox or residential care. If you need medical detox first, we help you arrange it, then you step into our program.
Choosing a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center
Look for a center that treats both conditions with one team, offers psychiatric care on site and lets you step down to fewer hours as you improve. Lotus Recovery does all three. For depression that has not responded to medication, we also offer TMS treatment.
Our center is at 290 Conejo Ridge Ave in Thousand Oaks, and people across Ventura County come to us for dual diagnosis care close to home. Call (805) 856-6690 to start dual diagnosis treatment. Admissions is open 24/7, same day appointments are available, and most insurance is accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dual diagnosis treatment, and who is it for in Thousand Oaks, CA?
It is care that treats a mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time. It is for anyone whose depression, anxiety, trauma or other condition is tied up with drinking or drug use.
How do you treat both mental health disorders and substance abuse simultaneously?
One team builds one plan. Your therapist and psychiatric provider share information, so therapy, medication and relapse prevention work on both conditions together.
What types of therapy are included in dual diagnosis programs?
CBT, DBT, trauma-focused therapy, group therapy, family sessions and relapse prevention planning. Medication management is added when it helps.
How does dual diagnosis rehab help prevent relapse for co-occurring conditions?
Untreated anxiety, depression or trauma often triggers substance use. Treating those symptoms, building coping skills and writing a relapse prevention plan lowers that risk.
How soon can someone begin treatment for dual diagnosis after evaluation?
Most people can start right after their evaluation, and same day appointments are available.
What is the best treatment for dual diagnosis?
Integrated treatment works best, meaning both conditions are treated at the same time by one team. That usually combines therapy such as CBT or DBT, psychiatric care and medication when needed.
What is the most common dual diagnosis?
Depression or anxiety alongside alcohol use is among the most common. Trauma with substance use is also frequent.