It is not uncommon for adolescents who are struggling with addictions to also experience symptoms of co-occurring mental health concerns, which can severely impact their ability to put an end to their substance use. Some adolescents might even use substances as a way to cope with symptoms of mental health disorders.
The good news is that mental health disorders can be treated. When an adolescent receives comprehensive, personalized mental health treatment from a reputable provider, they can learn to manage their symptoms and achieve improved quality of life. At Northern Virginia Adolescent Treatment Center in Chantilly, Virginia, we provide care for adolescents ages 12-17 who are struggling with addictions and co-occurring mental health concerns.
Signs & Symptoms of Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders
The signs and symptoms of mental health disorders can vary considerably depending on which type of mental illness a person has developed. When an adolescent is struggling with an addiction and a co-occurring mental health concern, it can also impact the type of symptoms they may exhibit.
In general, the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders can include:
- Dramatic changes in mood and energy level
- Hypersomnia (sleeping too much) or insomnia (having trouble sleeping)
- Significant shift in appetite and resultant weight gain or loss
- Acting with uncharacteristic recklessness or violence
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Loss of interest in topics, events, or hobbies that were previously of great importance
- Displaying excessive anger or sadness
- Frequently thinking or talking about death and dying
- Failing to attend school
- Apparent lack of attention to grooming or hygiene
- Inflated or diminished self-esteem
- Delusions (believing things that are demonstrably untrue)
- Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)
- Depersonalization (feeling detached from one’s thoughts, feelings, and body)
An adolescent who displays any signs or develops any symptoms of a mental health disorder may be in crisis and should consult with a qualified professional, especially if they are also struggling with an addiction. Completing a thorough assessment and receiving an accurate mental health diagnosis are important steps on the path to improved mental health.
Possible Effects of Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders
When an adolescent needs but does not receive treatment for an addiction and a co-occurring mental health concern, they remain at increased risk for several negative effects. An untreated mental illness can undermine their physical, emotional, financial, and social well-being.
In general, the possible effects of mental health disorders can include:
- Strained or ruined relationships with family members and friends
- Poor performance in school
- Academic failure
- Physical health problems due to poor self-care or other self-defeating behaviors
- Onset or worsening of co-occurring mental health disorders
- Increased use of substances
- Social withdrawal or isolation
- Poor self-confidence and low self-esteem
- Loss of hope for the future
- Self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
It is difficult to overstate the potential negative effects of mental health disorders. However, when an adolescent gets effective co-occurring mental health treatment at a respected rehab center like Northern Virginia Adolescent Treatment Center, they can begin to heal from any effects of mental illness they may have already experienced.
While a young person is receiving care at our addiction and co-occurring mental health treatment center, they can learn to manage the mental health symptoms they have been struggling with, and they can develop skills and strategies that will help reduce their risk for experiencing future negative effects.
Co-Occurring Mental Health Treatment Options at Our Residential Rehab
At our adolescent addiction and co-occurring mental health disorder treatment center in Virginia, the first step in receiving care is participating in a thorough assessment. This process allows our team to learn about your child’s individual circumstances and design a treatment plan specifically for them. During the evaluation, we will gather information about your child’s substance use patterns, medical history, functioning in school, social connections, presenting mental health symptoms, and previous treatment experiences.
This in-depth review allows our team to create an approach to treatment that will address all your child’s needs, including their struggles with both addiction and mental health challenges.
Each adolescent’s treatment plan will vary based on their specific needs, but it can include several therapeutic and support services, such as:
- Basic medical care: We are not equipped to provide complex medical care at our addiction and co-occurring mental health treatment center in Chantilly. However, our physicians and nursing staff monitor patients’ overall health and address routine medical needs when necessary.
- Detoxification services: Some adolescents may need medical supervision as their bodies adjust to the absence of substances. Our residential rehab center offers on-site detox services that are overseen by doctors and nurses. Detox typically lasts two to five days, but when an adolescent is medically stable, they can begin participating in regular therapeutic programming while they complete detox.
- Medication management services: In certain cases, medication may be incorporated into an adolescent’s treatment plan, especially if they are suffering from symptoms of a co-occurring mental health disorder. When medication is recommended, parents or guardians are kept informed. Adolescents who are prescribed medication meet at least once every week with a psychiatrist, and nursing staff helps administer and monitor the effects of all medication.
- Individual therapy: One-on-one, confidential therapy sessions with licensed therapists are available as needed or by request. These sessions give adolescents a private setting to explore personal struggles, discuss their progress in treatment, work through any challenges they’re facing, and learn how to strengthen their coping skills.
- Family therapy: The team at our Chantilly residential addiction and co-occurring mental health treatment center believes in the importance of family participation in an adolescent’s recovery process. Therapists are available to meet with patients and their families in family counseling sessions that focus on improving communication, repairing relationships, and helping families prepare for life after treatment.
- Group therapy: Group therapy sessions are a key component of treatment at our adolescent residential rehab center. In both discussion-based and educational groups, patients learn about topics such as managing triggers, preventing relapse, handling peer pressure, developing healthy relationships, building confidence, and using practical strategies to cope with stress.
Adolescents who receive care at our Chantilly, Virginia, facility also benefit from several research-supported therapeutic modalities that encourage meaningful behavioral change and long-term recovery. These approaches include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Concepts drawn from the 12-Step recovery model
By combining individualized care planning, clinical therapies, and medical oversight, the team at Northern Virginia Adolescent Treatment Center helps young people develop healthier habits, strengthen coping abilities, and build a solid path to recovery.
Benefits of Co-Occurring Mental Health Treatment
The many benefits of co-occurring mental health treatment include learning about the disorder an adolescent has been suffering from, understanding how to manage mental health symptoms, and developing the skills that will help them live a more productive and satisfying life.
Another essential benefit of addiction and co-occurring mental health treatment is that your child can come to understand that they are not alone. Depending on what type of mental health symptoms they have been experiencing, they may have felt a sense of isolation. At our residential rehab center in Chantilly, Virginia, your child will discover how many others care about them and are prepared to provide meaningful assistance when they need it.
At Northern Virginia Adolescent Treatment Center, the overall benefits of addiction and co-occurring mental health treatment include personalized care, comprehensive support, and detailed discharge planning to promote continued progress.
Why Choose Our Chantilly Co-Occurring Mental Health Treatment Center
Selecting the right place for your child to receive care for co-occurring mental health disorders can feel overwhelming. At Northern Virginia Adolescent Treatment Center, our goal is to make the process clear and streamlined so that you can feel confident in whatever decision you make for your child.
Advantages of choosing our addiction and co-occurring mental health disorder treatment center include:
- Skilled care team: Our multidisciplinary professionals include licensed therapists, psychiatrists, medical doctors, certified substance abuse counselors, and nursing staff, all of whom are dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based care.
- Supportive environment: Your child will live and receive treatment in a safe, welcoming setting that allows them to focus fully on healing without outside distractions.
- Personalized treatment: After a thorough evaluation of your child’s needs, we will create a truly individualized treatment plan for them. This plan serves as a road map throughout their time with us, ensuring that they have the guidance and support they need to successfully progress through treatment.
If you would like to learn more about our admissions process or what care for addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders looks like at Northern Virginia Adolescent Treatment Center in Chantilly, Virginia, we invite you to contact our team. We can discuss whether our program may be the right fit for your child.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Northern Virginia Adolescent Treatment Center.
