Dual Diagnosis for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder, in and of itself, is a serious condition that can adversely affect the quality of a victim’s life for years to come. Causes of trauma are many and various. They may include a terrible accident, a natural disaster, a violent assault or other situations that cause feelings of terror and/or loss. Some people are able to overcome the symptoms of trauma within a reasonable time. While they will probably never forget the incident, they can prevent the memory of it from unduly affecting their lives after a period of recovery. For others, trauma symptoms continue unabated long after the specific cause. These symptoms might include sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, flashbacks, unreasonable anger or guilt, and more. As unfortunate as this is, trauma is often exacerbated by another co-occurring problem, resulting in a Dual Diagnosis.
What Does Dual Diagnosis Mean for PTSD Sufferers?
Depending on the severity, depression can be considered either a symptom of PTSD or a co-occurring condition. It is most often treated with talk therapy, possibly combined with an antidepressant medication such as Paxil (generic paroxetine) or Zoloft (generic sertraline).
Far too often, trauma sufferers attempt to deal with their symptoms by using drugs or alcohol to blunt them, resulting in abuse, dependency or addiction. Attempts to defeat the addiction without help are almost always doomed to failure, since each time the trauma is remembered, it triggers a relapse. The best way to deal with co-occurring PTSD and substance abuse is through a stay at a residential trauma rehab center.
During residential rehab, both aspects of the Dual Diagnosis are addressed. If the drug or alcohol dependency is severe, the first step is likely to be detoxification. Once the substance is out of the patient’s system, the work of therapy and recovery can begin.
Choosing a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center
When choosing an inpatient treatment facility, select one that specializes in your particular Dual Diagnosis. Such a facility will have staff trained in methods and approaches that will address both parts of the problem. Attempting to treat only one aspect, such as the substance abuse, may cause the patient to undergo severe regression in the symptoms of PTSD. Similarly, treating the addiction without treating the underlying PTSD will not be successful. Techniques that address both aspects, such as cognitive and behavioral therapy, desensitizing techniques, individual and group talk therapy, support groups and relaxation techniques offer the best hope for complete recovery from both afflictions.
