Celebrating 10 Years of Healing Springs Ranch — A Decade of Transforming Lives 
What Are Co-Occurring Disorders?
At Healing Springs Ranch, we recognize substance abuse and other addictive behaviors as symptoms of some deeper problem. More often than not, the deeper problem is suppressed pain, unresolved trauma, an untreated mental health disorder, or a combination thereof. For this reason, we approach addiction and mental health recovery using comprehensive and integrative care that addresses all presenting problems and symptoms simultaneously. This approach allows us to successfully treat co-occurring disorders.
When substance use disorder (SUD) or a mental health disorder co-occurs alongside another disorder, the conditions are referred to as co-occurring disorders. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “[A]pproximately 21.5 million adults in the United States [had] a co-occurring disorder” in 2022.
Certainly, co-occurring disorders can complicate the treatment and recovery process. Fortunately, our co-occurring disorder treatment at Healing Springs Ranch addresses each client's health holistically, thus bridging the gap between addiction, trauma, and mental health to successfully assist clients in establishing sobriety and whole-person recovery.
Understanding Co-Occurring Disorders and Their Impact on Quality of Life
One of the main concerns with co-occurring disorders is that, when left untreated, each condition can interact and exacerbate the symptoms of one another. On the one hand, alcohol and other drug use interfere with the way that the brain communicates with itself, causing impairments to many brain areas that are responsible for regulating essential day-to-day functions. In other words, with repeated use, individuals can become vulnerable to developing mental health disorders.
On the other hand, individuals with untreated mental health problems may experience symptoms of loneliness, sadness, anxiety, and other distress that interfere with their ability to function normally or well in daily life. These individuals are more likely to turn to alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate their distress.
In either case, untreated mental health disorders and substance abuse tend to act on each other, impairing the same brain areas and triggering similar unpleasant symptoms. To successfully achieve sobriety and recovery, it is important to treat both mental health and substance abuse problems together in tandem. Doing so also works to prevent the cycle of addiction and mental health disorders from continuing.
Common Co-Occurring Disorders Treated at Healing Springs Ranch
At Healing Springs Ranch, we treat any combination of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders using integrated treatment. Some examples include, but are not limited to:
- Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and bipolar disorder
- Anorexia nervosa and social anxiety disorder
- Opioid abuse and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI - also known as PTSD) and stimulant addiction
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and marijuana addiction
- Process addictions (such as sex addiction, gambling addiction, etc.) and substance use disorder (SUD)
Signs and Symptoms of Co-Occurring Disorders or Dual Diagnosis
Co-occurring disorders can be especially challenging to identify in oneself and others, as symptomatology can largely depend on the type of mental health disorder(s) present as well as the type, frequency, and severity of an individual's substance abuse. Therefore, understanding the warning signs of mental health disorders and addiction separately can be helpful.
For individuals who engage in alcohol or other drug use, some warning signs of SUD can include:
- A growing desire to engage in substance abuse in greater frequency or intensity
- Increased conflict in relationships as a result of substance use or abuse
- Spending more time obtaining, using, or recovering from alcohol and drug use
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using
- Using substances to function normally in daily life
- Continuing to engage in substance use despite the consequences it is causing to one's life
- Physical changes, including sudden weight loss or weight gain, deterioration of physical appearance, or impaired coordination
Meanwhile, warning signs of untreated mental health disorders can include:
- Mood swings
- Engaging in high-risk behaviors
- Withdrawing from loved ones
- Intense feelings of guilt or shame that interfere with self-esteem and confidence
- Struggling to concentrate or remain focused while completing important tasks
- Engaging in alcohol and other drug use to self-medicate
- Experiencing physical pains or aches with no explainable cause
- Having unusual or illogical thoughts
- Suicidal ideation
Moreover, the presence of these symptoms in oneself or others can indicate a need for professional treatment.
Healing Springs Ranch’s Approach to Dual Diagnosis Treatment
At Healing Springs Ranch, treatment for co-occurring disorders is referred to as dual diagnosis treatment. Moreover, our approach to dual diagnosis treatment is both integrative and holistic, ensuring that clients can heal in mind, body, and spirit from the past and present pains that inform addictive behaviors.
Integrative Functional Model
Treatment at Healing Springs Ranch is structured using the Integrated Wellness Model™, a trauma-informed approach that incorporates 12-Step principles alongside functional medicine practices. This model works to identify the underlying “function” of addictive behavior so that individuals can effectively process, integrate, and overcome it to sustain sobriety beyond treatment.
For this to be effective, treatment must go beyond addressing physical or emotional aspects of addiction and consider all aspects of an individual's unique story to successfully establish whole-person healing. Thus, we at Healing Springs Ranch are committed to understanding each person's story and all associated elements that have shaped the person they are when they present for treatment through our use of individualized care.
Comprehensive Therapies and Modalities for Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Recovery
Individualized treatment ensures that it is client-centered and personalized to meet each client's subjective life experiences, personal needs, and recovery goals. This also ensures that no two clients participate in the same treatment plan. As part of our approach to individualized care in dual diagnosis treatment, some of the therapeutic modalities offered to clients include, but are not limited to:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Psychodrama
- Somatic experiencing
- Medication management
- Mindfulness and stress reduction techniques
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy and involvement
Trauma-Informed Care for Long-Term Recovery
Individuals in treatment for substance abuse and mental health disorders must not only work to heal from the pain from the present or past; they must also build resilience so that they can better navigate pain that is yet to come in the future. Unfortunately, no person is immune to trauma or pain. Therefore, trauma-informed care can be especially valuable for sustaining long-term healing and recovery.
Trauma-informed care is an approach to treatment that recognizes the pervasive nature of trauma and how traumatic experiences impact every aspect of an individual's well-being. At Healing Springs Ranch, several elements of our treatment programs make them trauma-informed, from our clinician's commitment to fostering unconditional positive regard and compassion for clients to our serene treatment environment, emphasis on collaborative care, sensitivity to – and prevention of – potential retraumatization, and more. Our clients can rest assured knowing that they have a team of professionals standing by their side, assisting them in their journey of securing lasting well-being.
The Role of Community in Co-Occurring Disorder Recovery
Having a supportive community while navigating dual diagnosis treatment can contribute to healthier and more fulfilling outcomes for those in both early and long-term recovery. Community helps to challenge feelings of isolation and loneliness by bringing together individuals with shared life experiences, newfound perspectives, and goals for healing. Similarly, it also plays an essential role in facilitating healthy stress management and relapse prevention by fostering accountability for continued sobriety.
Healing Springs Ranch’s Integrative Approach to Addiction and Mental Health Recovery
As mentioned previously, we at Healing Springs Ranch approach addiction and mental health recovery holistically by considering and addressing all factors that contribute to the development of dysfunctional or self-defeating behaviors in treatment. Clients participating in our residential treatment center or another treatment program will participate in a wide range of therapeutic modalities in treatment, from individual psychotherapy to group therapy, family therapy, and more. Additionally, beyond psychotherapy, clients are also encouraged to participate in integrative activities that aim to enhance their quality of life and well-being, including:
Healing Through Nature and Activities
It is well known that spending time in nature can offer numerous benefits for physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Fortunately, clients at Healing Springs Ranch have ample opportunities to connect to nature during treatment. Our serene treatment atmosphere is located on 80 acres of lakefront property, offering the perfect setting for mindful walks, recreational sports, bird watching, exercise, and more. Moreover, healing through nature and community during treatment and during leisure time helps clients develop newfound sober lifestyles that will support abstinence beyond the walls of treatment.
Family Involvement and Peer Support
Our integrative approach to dual diagnosis treatment also addresses the importance of family involvement and peer support throughout the treatment and long-term recovery process. Involving the family in treatment through family therapy, family intensives, and other programming provides family members with psychoeducation, communication skills, and therapeutic support needed to sustain the well-being of the entire family unit. When the family is involved in the healing process, family members can stay updated on the treatment progress of a loved one while limiting enabling behaviors, aiding in relapse prevention, and promoting stress management skills.
Meanwhile, peer support can also have a significant impact on an individual's treatment and recovery progress. At Healing Springs Ranch, we offer an alumni program for those who have completed one of our treatment programs. As an alumnus of Healing Springs Ranch, clients will have access to weekly support groups, alumni outings and events, and ongoing aftercare services to support continued transformation and healing beyond treatment. All of these efforts and more ensure that clients can successfully attain sustainable sobriety and recovery.
When more than two mental health disorders or substance addictions exist in tandem, they are referred to as co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorders can make the treatment and recovery process more complicated, but healing is possible. At Healing Springs Ranch, we use an integrated, comprehensive, and integrative approach to co-occurring disorder treatment. For more information and support, give us a call at (866) 656-8384.