I’ve been trying to find addiction care that doesn’t treat my mental health like a separate, unrelated problem. When my depression and anxiety get worse, that’s usually when staying sober becomes harder, so focusing only on substance use hasn’t worked very well for me.
A few places I’ve contacted seem to offer either addiction treatment or mental health support, but not much of both. I don’t want to keep explaining the same history to different providers, especially when the issues overlap so much. I’m looking for someone who can help with recovery while also checking whether my medications, sleep, anxiety, and depression are being handled properly.
It’s frustrating because asking for integrated care shouldn’t feel like asking for something unusual. Has anyone found a program or provider that actually handles both sides well?
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The medication and sleep piece seems especially easy for providers to overlook, even though both can affect cravings and mood. I’ve had better conversations with places that use the term “dual diagnosis” or “co-occurring disorders,” rather than treating addiction and depression as separate referrals.
When I call, I’d ask directly whether the same team coordinates medication management, therapy, and relapse prevention, and who handles things if symptoms suddenly get worse. Do you already have a therapist or prescriber you trust who could help coordinate with an addiction program?
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@William_Hurst, asking who handles things when symptoms suddenly get worse is a really useful question. I’ve had places sound coordinated until something changed, then everyone pointed me toward a different office.
I do have a prescriber I trust, but they don’t specialize in addiction, so I’m not sure how much coordination they can actually provide. I’m going to ask whether they’ll communicate directly with a dual diagnosis program instead of leaving me to carry messages back and forth.