Why Dual Diagnosis Must Be Recognised and Treated Correctly

Addiction and mental health issues often go hand in hand. Many people with mental health problems such as anxiety disorder or depression will turn to substances like alcohol or drugs to provide temporary relief for their conditions. Taking drugs or drinking alcohol may make them forget their problems but the more they abuse the substance, the greater their risk of addiction.

On the flip side, those who have developed drug or alcohol addictions may then develop mental health conditions such as depression as they struggle to cope with the weight of their problems. Those who are dealing with both addiction and mental health problems are said to have a dual diagnosis and so require more complex treatment programmes. Thankfully, many organisations around the UK provide specialist care to those with dual diagnosis.

When Dual Diagnosis Affects Recovery

It is essential that those with dual diagnosis get sufficient care for their addiction and their mental health disorder. Unfortunately, dual diagnosis patients often fail to get the help they need because their condition acts as an obstacle they cannot get around.

Those who have mental health problems are often in denial about their addiction, which in turn prevents them from seeking the help they need. They find it difficult to escape their addiction because of their mental health condition and their addiction makes it more difficult for them to get help for their mental health problems; it is what is known as a Catch-22 situation.

Treating Dual Diagnosis

In the past, dual diagnosis patients were often at greater risk of relapse because not enough was understood about their condition. Rehabilitation often just focused on treating the addiction and once the patient left rehab, he or she would still have the mental health problems that may have been the reason this individual started abusing chemical substances in the first place.

These days, counsellors and therapists are fully aware of dual diagnosis and how it needs to be treated. Many treatment providers have fully trained staff experienced in helping dual diagnosis patients to overcome their illnesses. This means that both conditions will be treated at the same time to give the patient a greater chance of successful long-term recovery from addiction.

The Dangers of Not Treating Dual Diagnosis Correctly
Unfortunately, some patients with dual diagnosis still do not get the help they need for their problems. Those with dual diagnosis treated only for their addiction may find that sobriety is a major struggle and symptoms from their mental health conditions may become more pronounced. This could mean that they are at greater risk of relapse.

Those who do not realise the affected person is suffering from dual diagnosis may assume that he or she is not putting in enough effort to overcome his/her addiction. Voicing these opinions may make the patient feel inadequate leading to him/her suffering with low self-esteem, which can again result in relapse.

Those who are told they are not working their programme correctly or are not putting in enough effort may try even harder to do well in recovery. If they fail to see any progress, they may become extremely frustrated and disappointed, possibly leading to serious consequences, including suicide.

Getting Appropriate Help

If you have been struggling with your recovery or are worried about how a loved one is coping, call us here at Middlegate today. It may be that you have dual diagnosis that has not been correctly treated. Our experts will assess your situation and will recommend an appropriate treatment programme based on your needs and circumstances. We can help you to get the most from your recovery and ensure you do not end up back where you started.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

The Effect of Substance Abuse on Oral Health

Most people are aware that abuse of substances such as alcohol and drugs can cause a number of physical and mental health problems. Alcoholism and addiction can lead to heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, cancer, depression, anxiety, and dementia.

Some drugs can have a devastating effect on teeth and gums, and because many addicts do not practice good oral hygiene means that tooth decay and associated problems are quite common. Addicts often suffer from conditions such as gingivitis, chronic tooth decay, and cracked teeth. Unfortunately, very few of them will seek help from a dentist and will just ignore the problem.

Oral Hygiene

People who become addicted to substances such as alcohol or drugs tend to think of nothing but their need for the substance to which they have become addicted. They often neglect their personal hygiene and grooming, and oral health will certainly not be on top of their agenda. Many do not eat healthily, and alcoholics, especially, tend to get most of their calories from alcohol.

With such poor oral hygiene, it is no surprise that many addicts and alcoholics suffer pain in the mouth. Nevertheless, true to form, they tend to self-medicate with either alcohol or drugs instead of seeking help from a qualified dentist.

Teeth and gums can be further aggravated by vomiting, which is often a common side effect of substance abuse.

Tooth Decay in Alcoholics

Alcoholic beverages are generally quite high in sugar, which can lead to tooth decay, especially in those who are failing to brush their teeth regularly. Alcoholics often spend little time worrying about their personal or oral hygiene and many tend to go for long periods without brushing their teeth. This means they are prone to tooth decay and gum disease.

Meth Mouth

Meth mouth is a condition caused by the drug methamphetamine. Users of this drug tend to suffer from rotten, broken and discoloured teeth. This illegal drug can cause a dry mouth because it stops the saliva glands from producing saliva. This means that acid from food and drink erodes the enamel on the teeth and because addicts tend to neglect their oral hygiene, their teeth suffer even more. The highly corrosive ingredients found in methamphetamine cause extreme tooth decay and can also result in sores in the mouth.

How Stimulant Drugs Affect the Teeth

Those who are addicted to illegal stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamine and ecstasy tend to grind or clench their teeth while intoxicated. This often results in the teeth being ground down and cracked. When teeth are cracked and damaged, it can lead to further problems in the mouth, including root and gum damage. Teeth can become loose and may need to be removed. Stimulant drugs also result in dry mouth, and those who abuse these drugs also tend to drink alcohol or sugary soft drinks, exacerbating tooth decay.

The Effect of Heroin on the Teeth

Heroin has a devastating effect on the teeth and gums of those addicted. Heroin addicts often fail to practice any oral hygiene, resulting in serious problems such as severe tooth decay, gum disease, snapping teeth and mouth trauma. This tends to be due to the sugary food and drink diet that they have because of the drug as well as the fact that they will usually neglect to brush teeth.

Alcohol and drugs cause many problems, but the effect on oral health can be devastating.

About Middlegate - Alcohol Rehab London

If you need help in the london area, then please contact us for information on the latest information on places in london alcohol rehabs as well as greater lodnon drug rehabs.

We also provide advice all across the UK, and world-wide, and our only aim to to get people with alcohol or drug misuse problems, the best help available in order to help them get well as quickly as possible.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

Helping a Loved One with Addiction

Family members suffer when a loved one struggles with addiction. Although they are not physically affected by the illness, they do suffer mental and emotional issues and it can place an enormous strain on family relationships. It is hard to watch a loved one struggle in this way, and family members will all react in different ways.

Some will want to take over and will believe that they can ‘fix’ their loved one. They are of the opinion that all that is needed is to make him or her see sense and that the affected individual will then stop drinking or taking drugs. If only it were that simple. Sadly, many addicts are unable or unwilling to stop, and no amount of pleading or begging will change that.

Addicts are skilled at making others believe what they want them to and will tell their loved ones whatever it is they want to hear if it means the addict can continue with his or her destructive behaviour. Family members are often left hurt and disappointed with their loved one’s actions. After a while, they will find it hard to believe anything their addicted loved one tells them.

If a Loved One Recognises the Problem

In the beginning, most addicts will not be able to see that they have a problem. As addiction is a progressive illness, he or she will slowly get worse; it may take some time before the addiction is something this person can see as being a destructive force.

The ideal situation for family members and friends is that their addicted loved one will get to a point where they can see that there is a problem and will reach out for help. Before this can happen, the affected individual will have to firstly recognise that the addiction is out of control.

You may have heard the expression ‘rock bottom’ in relation to addiction. This is typically the point at which an addicted person realises that his or her addiction has become a problem and that a change needs to be made. It could be triggered by a health issue or an ultimatum given by a loved one. Either of these situations can make an addicted person see that his or her actions are causing negative consequences for themselves and those around them.

Helping with Treatment

However, it is not enough for the addicted person to simply agree and promise to stop. He or she must take steps towards rectifying the situation. This is where you can help – you can encourage your loved one to get help and do whatever it takes to make this possible.

This could mean helping out by taking care of children or pets so that the addicted person can enter a rehabilitation treatment centre if necessary. You could also help by taking the individual to a doctor or counsellor for appointments.

If you really want to help, contact us here at Middlegate today. We offer a free service to those dealing with addiction as well as to their family members. We have a team of expert advisors ready to take your call and they will be able to offer you helpful advice on taking the next steps.

As a referral service, we do not provide treatment for addiction. However, we work with a wide range of organisations in both the public and private sectors and we will be able to make a referral to a suitable treatment provider based on the needs and circumstances of each client. We will carry out a full assessment of the situation before offering advice and information on the treatments available and how to access them.

If you would like more information on our free and confidential service, contact us today.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

Addiction Traits to Ditch in Recovery - and One to Keep

Many family members say that their addicted loved ones are no longer recognisable. The people they love have changed before their eyes and they cannot believe that this is the same person. It is true that addiction can have a profound effect on individuals, and many will pick up certain characteristics along the way. Addicts often learn the skills and traits they need to ensure they can continue with their addictive behaviour, which can lead to them to becoming self-centred and manipulative. They will often lie, steal, cheat and cover up in order to get what they want.

It can be difficult for recovering addicts to simply revert to how they were before they became addicted. Many family members expect to have the old person back once rehab is finished, but this is rarely the case. For many, the traits they have picked up while addicted can become entrenched and they will have to work doubly hard to get rid of them. Below are some of the more common characteristics perfected by addicts.

Dishonesty

Addiction and honesty rarely go hand in hand and many addicts will lie to everyone about their habit. They will not want others to know they are reliant on alcohol or drugs so will make up excuses for their behaviour and may deny any problem exists if challenged. Addicts become expert liars because that is how they survive and how they are able to continue with their destructive behaviour. However, if you are in recovery, you can no longer be dishonest. You must learn to accept any mistakes you make instead of lying about them or covering them up. Learning from your mistakes is a vital process in recovery and one that will stand you in good stead. You will not get better if you continue to lie to others or try to deceive them.

Self-Centredness

Most addicts have perfected this characteristic while they were ill as well as during their early recovery. In fact, recovering addicts are often encouraged to think only of themselves and their recovery during the early days. Nevertheless, you cannot continue in this vein as you move forward. It is now important to start learning how to heal or rebuild relationships with your loved ones. And, you will never make new healthy relationships if you are only focused on yourself and your happiness.

Anger

Many addicts feel anger at their situation and have a long list of people or circumstances to blame for their illness. They often believe themselves to be victims and get angry at the world. It is imperative that you learn how to deal with your anger issues in recovery as this is one emotion that can derail you if you let it.

Trait to Keep

While many of the characteristics you have picked up while addicted should now be dropped, there is one you should look to keep. The living one-day-at-a-time philosophy is one that many addicts will adhere to. Addicts do not look to the future, they simply concentrate on what they can and cannot do that day, such as getting through work in order to have a drink or finding enough money for that day’s fix.

In recovery, it is important to take things one-day-at-a-time too. Recovering addicts need to focus on each day as being another day of sobriety. Nonetheless, the difference is that recovering addicts can and should look to the future. They can start to believe that good things are possible and, the longer they are sober, the more achievable their goals become.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

More Education Required to Highlight Dangers of Gambling Addiction

One of the most devastating addictions is a gambling addiction because of the effect it has on the sufferer and his or her loved ones. While all addictions can destroy lives, a gambling addiction directly affects family members and loved ones of the person with the illness. This addiction is one of the easiest to hide and so for that reason, it is known as a ‘secret’ addiction.

The knock-on effect of a gambling addiction can be far-reaching. It is not uncommon for problem gamblers to amass huge debts, leaving their family facing financial ruin. In addition, as with all addictions, a gambling addiction can cause mental and physical health problems that can include stress, depression and anxiety, for the person with the addiction and their loved ones.

A Common Problem

Gambling addiction is becoming more and more common in the UK, with many people developing this devastating illness. However, it is not just those who are desperate for a big win to change their lives who develop problems with gambling.

Many sports stars have opened up about their problems with gambling and have spoken out about how the illness has affected their lives. Former footballer John Taylor admits to developing a fascination with gambling at the young age of fourteen. Unfortunately for John, this attraction grew into an addiction that almost had deadly consequences. He said, “It got to the point where I knew that if I didn’t seek help, I would end up doing myself some serious harm. It had already affected my family, and I didn’t have many friends left because I was always caught up in my own little world.”

He confessed that there were several times when he considered taking his life. And, while he knows he is lucky to have never followed through on these thoughts, he says others have not ‘survived that thought process’.

Easy Access

John is not alone; there are an estimated half-a-million people in the UK struggling with a problem gambling habit. Many blame the fact that gambling has become more accessible than before thanks to online gaming sites and mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Addiction charities believe individuals need to be educated regarding the risks of gambling. The head of gambling charity Breakeven, Ian Semel, said the ‘face of gambling has changed massively in the past five to six years’ and he believes the most significant change is the easy accessibility of online gambling.

Online gambling is available twenty-four hours to anyone with a bank account and access to the internet. Mr Semel said, “One of the biggest problems that evolves with people who gamble remotely is that it does not feel like real money. There’s a big difference between withdrawing cash from a bank and placing a bet at the counter, compared with using a credit or debit card on a gambling website. The only evidence of what you’ve spent is when you see the account statements.”

Betting Machines

Nevertheless, it is not just online gambling that is causing a growth in the number of people developing crushing gambling addictions. Betting shops around the country have a number of betting machines or fixed odds betting terminals, installed where punters can bet up to £300 per minute on casino-style games such as Black Jack, roulette and poker. These machines have been dubbed the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling due to the number of people becoming addicted and displaying aggressive behaviour towards them after suffering substantial losses.

A Treatable Illness

Gambling addictions destroy lives, but it is important to remember that it is an illness. The good news is that it is a treatable illness. Here at Middlegate, we provide help and advice to those suffering from a number of addictions. Our aim is to put those who need help in touch with the organisations providing that help.

If you or a loved one are suffering from addiction, contact us here at Middlegate today for free, confidential advice and information.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

Therapy During Rehabilitation and Recovery

One of the biggest obstacles most addicts face when it comes to recovery is their fear. They are afraid of admitting that they have an addiction because of what it will mean for them. Many do not believe they could survive without the drugs or alcohol they are addicted to while others fear they will be unable to cope with rehabilitation. It is often fear of the unknown that prevents them from accessing help and treatment for addiction, and many will wait until it is too late and their health has been irreparably damaged before they finally reach out.

What is Addiction Therapy?

Many addicts worry about what therapy is going to be like and it can prevent them from asking for help. They believe they will fail in their attempts to get clean and would rather not try than actually seek help and fail. However, with more information and education, they would be in a better position to understand what rehabilitation is actually like. Below are some of the therapy options used by various rehabilitation clinics around the UK.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of behavioural modification technique used by most therapists when it comes to addiction treatment. The idea behind CBT is to help the patient to identify the maladaptive behaviours he or she uses and to teach him or her ways of using more positive behaviours to deal with certain situations. Once the patient has established a way of dealing with situations and scenarios in a less destructive manner, these behaviours are continuously reinforced until they become natural. CBT is often used in conjunction with other treatments such as 12-step work.

Supportive Psychotherapy

Supportive psychotherapy is a type of counselling designed to change attitudes in patients struggling with addictive or compulsive behaviours. It can be provided on a one-to-one basis or in a group setting.

Motivational Interviewing

Denial is very common among addiction patients, and the inability to see the destructive path they are on often becomes a major obstacle in the recovery process. Motivational interviewing aims to help patients break down these barriers and become motivated to succeed in the programme. The therapist will use question and answer sessions that are designed to help the patient look at his or her attitudes and to gently encourage him or her to stop justifying addictive or maladaptive behaviours.

Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

Some rehabilitation clinics use DBT to help patients get a better handle on their emotions. CBT techniques are used alongside methods such as mindfulness or meditation to encourage patients to learn how to deal with situations in a positive manner.

Contingency Management
Contingency management is often used in the treatment of teenage addiction because it focuses on a rewards and consequences system. Teenagers often cannot see that sobriety is a reward in itself so need encouragement for positive behaviour. They are rewarded for good behaviour but there will be consequences when they do not behave well. The idea behind this type of treatment is that it encourages patients to get clean and stay clean. They know that if they stay clean, they will be rewarded but if they do not stay clean, they may lose certain privileges such as phone or internet access.

If you are an affected individual, then the type of therapy you will be given will depend on the facility you attend and your personal circumstances. Most rehab clinics will evaluate your situation before developing a tailored treatment programme based on your requirements. Nonetheless, the treatments used will be designed to help you overcome your addiction and to teach you how to live a clean and healthy, sober life.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here

How to Handle the Early Days of Recovery with Your Spouse

If your spouse has given up drinking, you may be forgiven for thinking that things are going to go back to the way they used to be before addiction was an issue. This rarely happens, however. It is unlikely that things will ever be the same as they were before, but they can become better – with time.

Many spouses have unrealistic expectations about what recovery will mean for the family, simply because they have no experience with addiction. The truth is that getting sober is just the first step on the road to recovery. There is no quick fix for alcoholism, and you need to be prepared for things to get worse before they get better.

Patience

Although you have been through your struggles while your partner was in the grip of a destructive addiction, you may need to be patient for a little while longer. Your loved one may not be very nice to live with at the moment as he or she learns how to adapt to sober living but, with time, the whole family will adjust, and things will get back to some form of normality.

Responsibility

It is important to remember that you were not responsible for your spouse’s drinking. Similarly, you are not responsible for his or her sobriety. Your spouse must learn the skills necessary to live without alcohol and is therefore completely and entirely responsible for his or her recovery. You can offer support and love, but it is not your job to make sure he or she stays on the right track.

You cannot change your spouse, and how he or she behaves is not your fault. You may feel sad if your loved one behaves badly, but you should not feel guilty.

Enjoy Life

You need to learn how to be happy independently of how your spouse feels. For too long, you have probably been letting your moods be dictated by those of your spouse. When your spouse was drinking and behaving badly, you were unhappy. Likewise, when your spouse was sober and behaving well, you were probably happy. It is important to remember that you have your life to live and cannot rely on your spouse in order to feel happy or sad.

Start going out with your friends and having some fun. You deserve to be happy, and you need to start enjoying your life again – with or without your spouse. If your spouse is spending a lot of time focusing on his or her recovery, you can offer love and support, but you need to start focusing on you as well.

Addiction is an Illness

Another thing to bear in mind is that addiction is an illness. Your spouse did not start drinking in order to make you unhappy, and he or she is not trying to get better to make you happy. Your spouse needs to want to get better for him or herself. Try to separate the illness from the person and remember that inside is the person you fell in love with. He or she has been through a lot, as have you. Try not to apportion blame because at the end of the day, nobody chooses to be an addict.

If you can separate the alcoholism from the person, you may be able to move on and start a new life together. Rebuilding relationships can be tough, but it is possible, provided there has not been too much damage to the relationship.

Things may be tough going for a while, but recovery from addiction is a long and slow process. However, you are on the right track, and if you are prepared to be patient and want to make things work, you could end up with a loving and caring relationship once more.

This article originally published at Middlegate Blog here