One of the most common questions from people seeking help for chronic pain is, “What does comorbidity mean?” Comorbidity affects many people seeking help for chronic or acute pain, so it may very well affect you, too. This is why seeking treatment from a dual diagnosis treatment center with pain management capabilities is so important.
What Does Comorbidity Mean?
So what does comorbidity mean or what is comorbidity? Comorbidity is the co-occurrence of two medical conditions in one person at the same time. An excellent example of this type of problem is having heart disease and asthma. Each of these conditions leads to its own set of problems and requires its own treatment.
In addiction, comorbidity is the co-occurrence of a mental health problem with addiction. These two conditions present symptoms that look similar. So having a mental health and substance abuse disorder at the same time creates a tangled set of problems. For effective treatment of both conditions, they must be untangled with each condition adequately treated.
Also, during addiction, having a comorbid mental health condition creates a cycle. If one condition is left untreated, it drives the other into relapse. So it does not benefit you to gain treatment for addiction without mental health treatment. You must gain control over both of your behavioral health problems at the same time.
Common mental health problems occurring with addiction include:
- Depression and mood disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Panic disorders
Treating Comorbidity with Acute or Chronic Pain
In terms of addiction treatment, what is comorbidity? Luckily, rehab treatment for comorbidity is not as complex as it seems. Having two conditions does not mean you need treatment for twice as long as for one condition, alone. Instead, many of the same therapies and treatment approaches benefit both of your comorbid disorders, when you seek help in the dual diagnosis treatment centers Tennessee offers.
For example, individual counseling or talk therapy works well in addiction treatment. It also works well as one of the therapies for mental health problems. In individual talk therapy, you learn about your conditions and what you need for healthy recovery. You also explore your behavioral problems deeply to learn new coping skills.
If you suffer opioid painkiller addiction, pain possibly led you into this addiction. With chronic pain and addiction comes depression, anxiety, and a wide range of mental health problems. So if chronic pain is at the root of your comorbidity, you need dual diagnosis care with expert pain management treatment.
Specific Programs and Therapies Used for Comorbidity in TN
Tennessee behavioral health programs understand the need for comorbidity treatment, especially in light of the opioid epidemic. But when chronic pain led you into opioid abuse, you need quality dual diagnosis treatment that includes:
- Anxiety and depression treatment
- Outpatient mental health counseling
- Chronic and acute pain management
- Medication management
- Medication-assisted therapy
Your most significant issues in pain-related comorbidity are the pain itself, mental health conditions resulting from ongoing pain, and the opioid abuse that feeds a cycle of these problems. But you can stop relying on opioids for pain relief. You just need the right help from knowledgeable experts in the pain management and mental health treatment fields.
So what does comorbidity mean to you now? It should not mean hopelessness. Make an appointment with Encore Health Group of the Chattanooga area now to learn how to bring your intertwined pain problems under control for the future you want.
