Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus, OH

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Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program Online

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program Near You

KAV Mental Health & Psychiatry is an outpatient clinic that offers virtual treatment for addiction and mental health disorders for individuals from the greater Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus, OH areas. Our experienced team uses proven clinical and medical methods to help patients understand their dual diagnosis and find effective ways to manage it.

We understand how difficult living with the complicated symptoms of a dual diagnosis is. We focus on each condition in a patient’s dual diagnosis on its own terms, providing personalized treatment plans to manage symptoms. Learn more about dual diagnosis and how KAV Mental Health & Psychiatry can help people suffering from co-occurring disorders.

What Is a Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis, also known as co-occurring disorder, is a term for when a person is suffering from a substance abuse disorder (SUD) and a mental health disorder. Unfortunately, these combinations of mental health disorders are common – according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, almost 40% of Americans with an addiction also have a mental health disorder. Even though there’s clearly a lot of correlation, this does not necessarily mean one caused the other, even if one condition appeared first.

Mental health disorders and addiction feed into each other in complex ways. It’s important to identify and treat each condition, because recovery is challenging if one is treated but not the other. For example, if you address someone’s anxiety but not their addiction, substance use may retrigger their anxiety. On the other hand, if you only treat the SUD, then anxiety may lead them back to substance abuse.

Types of Dual Diagnoses

Addiction can accompany any mental health disorder, but there are some disorders that are more common than others in dual diagnosis:

Those with bipolar disorder will have varying symptoms depending on the subtype of disorder they have and whether they’re in a depressive or manic episode. Age can also affect some symptoms.

Young man listening to music on earbuds
  • Anxiety, depression
  • Fatigue, low energy
  • Insomnia
  • Mood changes or uncontrollable emotions
  • Neglecting hygiene
  • Poor health, fluctuating weight
  • Legal or financial problems
  • Panic attacks, unfounded feelings of paranoia
  • Difficulty establishing and maintaining relationships
  • Stealing from friends or family
  • Avoiding hobbies and activities they used to enjoy
  • Trouble with concentration

Causes and risk factors vary by condition, but include stress, genetics, and the patient’s environment. Trauma or traumatic life events can also lead to a dual diagnosis, as the person may turn to substances to cope, particularly if they have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Some conditions in a dual diagnosis, such as depression or anxiety, increase the risk of the patient turning to alcohol or substances to ease their symptoms, known as self-medicating. Other times, events related to substance abuse, or the substance itself, can lead to the development of mental illness. But often, the substance abuse and the mental illness can first appear at the same time.

Dry Eyes Treatment Center

Those with bipolar disorder will have varying symptoms depending on the subtype of disorder they have and whether they’re in a depressive or manic episode. Age can also affect some symptoms.

  • Anxiety, depression
  • Fatigue, low energy
  • Insomnia
  • Mood changes or uncontrollable emotions
  • Neglecting hygiene
  • Poor health, fluctuating weight
  • Legal or financial problems
  • Panic attacks, unfounded feelings of paranoia
  • Difficulty establishing and maintaining relationships
  • Stealing from friends or family
  • Avoiding hobbies and activities they used to enjoy
  • Trouble with concentration
Young man listening to music on earbuds

Causes and risk factors vary by condition, but include stress, genetics, and the patient’s environment. Trauma or traumatic life events can also lead to a dual diagnosis, as the person may turn to substances to cope, particularly if they have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Some conditions in a dual diagnosis, such as depression or anxiety, increase the risk of the patient turning to alcohol or substances to ease their symptoms, known as self-medicating. Other times, events related to substance abuse, or the substance itself, can lead to the development of mental illness. But often, the substance abuse and the mental illness can first appear at the same time.

Dry Eyes Treatment Center

Signs & Symptoms of a Dual Diagnosis

Young man listening to music on earbuds

The signals of a dual diagnosis can be complicated to identify, as many symptoms overlap between conditions. Some common symptoms that could indicate a dual diagnosis include:

  • Anxiety, depression
  • Panic attacks, unfounded feelings of paranoia
  • Fatigue, low energy
  • Insomnia
  • Mood changes or uncontrollable emotions
  • Neglecting hygiene
  • Poor health, fluctuating weight
  • Legal or financial problems
  • Difficulty establishing and maintaining relationships
  • Stealing from friends or family
  • Avoiding hobbies and activities they used to enjoy
  • Trouble with concentration

Causes & Risk Factors of a Dual Diagnosis

Dry Eyes Treatment Center

Causes and risk factors vary by condition, but include stress, genetics, and the patient’s environment. Trauma or traumatic life events can also lead to a dual diagnosis, as the person may turn to substances to cope, particularly if they have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Some conditions in a dual diagnosis, such as depression or anxiety, increase the risk of the patient turning to alcohol or substances to ease their symptoms, known as self-medicating. Other times, events related to substance abuse, or the substance itself, can lead to the development of mental illness. But often, the substance abuse and the mental illness can first appear at the same time.

Long-Term Effects of a Dual Diagnosis

For people with a dual diagnosis, it is very difficult to overcome a mental health disorder without also addressing the substance abuse, and vice versa. Often, the SUD and the mental health disorder will feed into each other — for example, when a person with anxiety turns to substances to calm themselves, but then finds themselves increasingly stressed by issues stemming from their substance abuse.

This cycle of both conditions feeding into each other can make the symptoms of either disorder much harder to manage, and impact one’s ability to maintain relationships, a job, or their own wellbeing. Due to the complexities of a dual diagnosis, people with one are more likely to experience homelessness, social isolation, incarceration, antisocial behavior, and self-harming or suicidal tendencies.

Patient receiving mental health and addiction treatment with a KAV telemedicine doctor

Dual Diagnosis Treatment & Therapy at KAV Mental Health & Psychiatry

We provide compassionate, personalized care and a comprehensive approach to each condition, often with a combination of medication and counseling. We also use medicated-assisted treatment (MAT) in the form of Suboxone for opioid addiction, as it allows the patient to bypass the difficult detox process and begin recovery sooner.

We offer comprehensive individual counseling where patients can work one-on-one with licensed counselors to disentangle the individual issues of their dual diagnosis and understand how each condition feeds into each other, as well as learn to manage negative thoughts with healthier coping mechanisms. Patients can also participate in group therapy, where they can connect with other people struggling with their dual diagnosis and reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness in recovery.

Our HIPPA-complaint online services provide all the benefits of our in-person treatment from the comfort of your home. Our doctors take appointments 6 days a week with same-day appointments available, so no matter what you’re struggling with, you won’t have to wait long for help. Our addiction and mental health doctors will help monitor your progress at your own pace.

Testimonials

“This place has been a blessing from day one. As a mother of 3, it’s not always the easiest to get away from the kiddos. I love the fact that I don’t have to leave my home to meet with my therapist. The online counseling aspect is really convenient and was honestly the only way for me to get the help I needed. I plan on continuing my monthly sessions because I keep seeing more growth and positive change in myself each time.”

– A.T.

“Depression controlled my life for a very long time, and up until a few months ago I was hopeless of that ever changing. KAV helped me find balance again. They helped me find peace. I rediscovered what being happy feels like. Though I still have bad days, I now have the tools and support systems to get me through them. I finally feel in control of my life again, and for that I am grateful.”

– J.C.

“I started feeling really anxious and depressed after the birth of my first child, which was when one of my close friends told me about KAV. My first visit with the doctor was great. She asked me a lot of questions, was super attentive, and gave me the time to talk through my issues. I could tell that she genuinely cared about trying to help me. We talked about different medication options and she suggested therapy. I was hesitant at first, but I’m really glad I said yes because my counselor has really helped me explore all this new anxiety. It changes every day with a baby, but I do feel like I’m in such a better place now, and so much more available for my daughter.”

-E.M.

“Pain pills took me down a really dark path for many years. I’ve been to rehab several times, but could never stay clean for long after I got out. I thank the doctors and counselors at KAV every day for helping me turn my life around. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve been sober for 14 months and have the belief in myself that it will stay that way. Most importantly, I can be the father and husband my family needs. Thank you KAV — you all truly saved my life!!!”

– J.K.

“Paying attention for long periods of time has been a struggle for as long as I can remember. It’s made things like school…relationships…holding down a job…etc pretty tough. Prior to coming here I’d heard of ADHD but never really looked into it…but after just a few visits my doctor and counselor helped me better understand it and get it under control. It’s been a really good experience so far…I only wish I would’ve pursued getting help like this sooner.”

– L.B.