I’ve been trying to find dual diagnosis help that treats both my mental health and substance use instead of acting like one has to be fixed before anyone will deal with the other. A few places I contacted seemed to separate everything, so I’d get passed between departments and have to explain the same history over and over.
One intake focused almost entirely on my drinking and barely asked about the anxiety and depression that usually make it worse. Another suggested therapy for my mental health but said they couldn’t help much with substance use. It’s exhausting trying to coordinate care when I’m already struggling to keep things together.
Has anyone found a program where both issues are treated by the same team?
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@Jennifer_Bennett, having to repeat your history to every department sounds exhausting, especially when the anxiety and depression are tied to the drinking. It makes sense that separate treatment would feel like more work instead of actual support.
When I was looking into programs, I found it helpful to ask directly whether the same clinician or coordinated team handles both diagnoses, and whether they can explain how they treat them together. I’d also ask what happens if symptoms change or one issue gets worse. A program that can answer those questions clearly may be worth prioritizing.
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@Jeremy_May, asking what happens when one issue gets worse is a really useful question. A program can sound coordinated during intake, but the real test is whether they adjust the plan without sending someone back to a different department.
I’d probably ask who communicates with the prescriber and therapist, too. Did you find any programs that gave a clear answer about that, or did most of them stay vague?