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  • Jerilynn Jacobson

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    What is a Dual Diagnosis?

    November 26, 2021

    There are times when a person is diagnosed with a mental health issue, such as depression or anxiety. Other times, someone might be diagnosed as having a substance abuse issue. When someone has both a mental health issue and a substance abuse issue, we call it a dual diagnosis. How Does Dual Diagnosis Develop? Often, […]

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    What is a Dual Diagnosis?

    November 26, 2021

    There are times when a person is diagnosed with a mental health issue, such as depression or anxiety. Other times, someone might be diagnosed as having a substance abuse issue. When someone has both a mental health issue and a substance abuse issue, we call it a dual diagnosis.

    How Does Dual Diagnosis Develop?

    Often, addictive behaviors are a result of someone trying to cope with their mental health issues. In fact, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, roughly 53% of individuals with drug addiction and 35% with an addiction to alcohol

    meet the requirements for a mental health diagnosis. These numbers tell the story of the strong correlation between mental health and addiction. 

    The following are some of the mental health issues that often occur alongside addiction:

    • Schizophrenia
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Posttraumatic stress (PTSD)
    • Eating Disorders

    It’s important to note that while these mental health issues are often associated with substance abuse, they do not always present alongside drug and alcohol addiction.

    Treatment for Dual Diagnosis

    Dual diagnosis cases are very complex in nature and require different treatment styles. Typically speaking, there are four types of treatment:

    Partial Treatment

    This model refers to treating the primary mental health issue alone, but not the concurring substance abuse concerns.

    Sequential Treatment

    This approach treats the mental health issue first, then addresses the addiction after.

    Parallel Treatment 

    This treatment focuses on addressing both the mental health concern and addiction at the same time, though separately and using different care providers.

    Integrated Treatment

    As the name suggests, this model has the individual receiving mental health and addiction treatment concurrently, under a unified and robust treatment program. This program can be in an outpatient setting or in a rehab facility.

    It can be very difficult for the person struggling with a substance abuse issue and mental health issue, or their family members, to determine the best course of treatment. It is recommended that you initially work with a licensed therapist who can accurately diagnose you and recommend the right course of treatment.

    If you’d like to speak with someone, please get in touch with me. I’d be more than happy to discuss how I can help your journey back to health and well-being.

    SOURCES:

    • https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/dual-diagnosis
    • https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/dual-diagnosis/
    • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-anatomy-addiction/201110/what-is-dual-diagnosis

    Filed Under: Addiction, mental health

    3 Ways Teens Can Benefit from Therapy

    April 7, 2021

    Not many of us remember our teenage years as walks in the park. That’s because this time in our life is punctuated by uncertainties, social pressure, and a surge of hormones. Because of this perfect storm, many teens act out, which can cause a lot of chaos and disruption in the home and family. Here […]

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    3 Ways Teens Can Benefit from Therapy

    April 7, 2021

    Not many of us remember our teenage years as walks in the park. That’s because this time in our life is punctuated by uncertainties, social pressure, and a surge of hormones. Because of this perfect storm, many teens act out, which can cause a lot of chaos and disruption in the home and family.

    Here are 3 reasons why teens can benefit from therapy:

    Self-Worth Issues

    Most teens have a certain level of self-worth issues growing through this awkward phase. But there are those teens that really suffer from low self-esteem. Therapy can help adolescence build their self-esteem.

    Stress

    Dealing with school, friendships, work, choosing a college… are all major stressors in a young person’s life. And many teens find it hard to speak with their parents. Therapy offers teens a way to communicate and let go of some steam and pressure that is building up.

    Grief and Loss

    There should be a rule that no young person should suffer the loss of a close friend or family member. Sadly, many teens do experience loss and the grief that accompanies it. This can be incredibly difficult for the teen and their parents to navigate. A therapist has been trained to know exactly how to guide a young person through the stages of grief.

    Anxiety Disorders

    It’s perfectly normal for teens to feel worried and anxious at times. But some teens experience such severe anxiety, it negatively impacts their life, schoolwork and relationships. Therapy can help teens learn to manage their symptoms.

    Substance Abuse Issues

    Unfortunately, many teens learn to cope with the intensity of life by using drugs and alcohol. A therapist can assess a teen’s substance use and determine the best course of action.

    These are just some of the benefits teens can gain from working with a therapist. If you or a loved one would like to explore treatment options, please get in touch with me.

    SOURCES:

    • https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/therapy-for-teens
    • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/health-matters/201006/the-teenagers-brain
    • https://www.verywellmind.com/top-reasons-teens-go-to-therapy-2609138

    Filed Under: Addiction, Adolescents/Teens, Anxiety, Grief

    Is Social Media Bad for Your Mental Health?

    November 19, 2020

    Have you been feeling a bit low lately, but you can’t quite put your finger on why? It may have something to do with your social media habits. According to a recent study, social media use can increase depression and loneliness. For years people have suspected that social media use might have an ability to […]

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    Is Social Media Bad for Your Mental Health?

    November 19, 2020

    Have you been feeling a bit low lately, but you can’t quite put your finger on why? It may have something to do with your social media habits. According to a recent study, social media use can increase depression and loneliness.

    For years people have suspected that social media use might have an ability to negatively impact our mental well-being. After all, it’s hard not to feel inadequate or jealous when looking at photos of people whose lives seem so much more perfect than ours. But now research is actually making a definitive link between spending time on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and a sense of loneliness and isolation.

    It May be Time for a Social Media Detox

    I encourage my clients to take a social media detox every now and then to gain a more positive sense of reality. They often report back to me that the detox offered some amazing and unexpected benefits such as:

    Improved Self-Esteem

    When you take a break from comparing yourself to other people, you can start to look at how great you and your own life really are.

    New Interests and Hobbies

    When you spend less time trying to get that social approval in the form of ‘likes’, ‘retweets’, and ‘upvotes’, you suddenly find you have a lot of time on your hands for other things.

    Improves Your Mood

    Trading in online friendships for real face-to-face ones makes us feel more grounded and connected to people. This can drastically improve our mood and sense of well-being.

    Better Sleep 

    Many people are on their mobile phone in bed, checking their social media accounts. The blue light from these devices disrupts our sleep pattern. When we put these devices away, we inevitably sleep better.

    Able to Enjoy the Moment More

    I am a big proponent of daily mindfulness. By being present in our lives, we feel an increased sense of peace and joy. That’s priceless.

    So how do you perform a social media detox?

    Follow these 4 steps:

    1. Temporarily deactivate your accounts. Don’t worry, you can reactivate them again in the future should you choose.
    2. Remove all Social Media Apps and notification pathways from your devices.
    3. Use a web filtering tool to block social media sites. (Why tempt yourself?)
    4. Be prepared for some withdrawal symptoms and have other activities ready to replace the void.

    If you follow these steps and take a break from social media, chances are you will find you feel a whole lot better!

    Filed Under: Addiction, Adolescents/Teens, Depression

    4545 Clawson Tank Dr Ste. D Clarkston, MI 48346 (810) 626-5191 info@gieskencounseling.com

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