If you’re struggling with alcohol use disorder, there’s a good chance you’re also carrying something else. It could be anxiety that won’t let you rest, depression that numbs everything, or trauma you don’t talk about.
Stats show that roughly 35% of people who seek help for alcohol use disorder also meet criteria for at least 1 mental health condition. Also, 7.5 million Americans battle alcohol and some other substance use disorders at the same time.
Needless to say, an alcohol rehab program in Highland Park, IL, that ignores the mental health aspect will treat only half the problem.
Therefore, Resilience Behavioral Center offers an integrated care plan that addresses both aspects side by side to reinstate your control over yourself. This guide highlights the significance of integrating co-occurring disorders in an alcohol rehab program in Highland Park, IL, to make things clearer before you decide.
Importance of Integrating Co-Occurring Disorders in an Alcohol Rehab Program in Highland Park, IL
Treating addiction without addressing the mental health struggles tied to it can leave people stuck in the same loop. That’s the reason clinicians at Resilience screen for co-occurring disorders from day one and build a plan that pairs medical detox and relapse-prevention coaching with evidence-based therapy for mental health.
The Overlap is the Rule, Not the Exception
More than one-third of adults who start alcohol treatment also meet criteria for at least one mental health disorder, and that overlap is too large to ignore.
If a program focuses only on drinking, untreated symptoms (such as low mood, racing thoughts, flashbacks) keep pressure on the brain’s reward system. As a result, cravings rise and your decision-making ability slips, all of which can take you back to using/drinking. That’s why the alcohol rehab program in Highland Park, IL, at Resilience Behavioral Health, is designed to treat both issues together—because that’s what most people are actually dealing with.
At Resilience, therapists and medical staff share notes daily to track mood trends and drinking urges. It helps them adjust the care plan in real-time and keep every appointment focused on the full picture. This joined-up approach honors the fact that substance use and mental health disorders rarely travel alone.
Integrated Care Drives Faster Symptom Relief
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports show that combined treatment cuts drinking days and reduces depression and anxiety faster than treating the conditions in sequence.
The reason is practical because the skills you learn in therapy lower emotional distress, which then blunts the drive to self-medicate with alcohol. Meanwhile, medications such as SSRIs or mood stabilizers calm the nervous system to make early recovery cravings easier to manage.
When in an integrated mental health treatment, people often sleep better, feel more emotionally balanced, and start functioning more consistently in daily life. Such early progress makes it easier to stay committed to treatment and creates a solid foundation for the next steps. An alcohol rehab program in Highland Park, IL, that brings all services together in one place makes this process more impactful from the start.
It Slashes Relapse Risk
Relapse usually starts when unmanaged symptoms flare. For instance, a spike in anxiety, an intrusive trauma memory, or a bipolar swing can reignite the thought, “One drink will calm this.” Moreover, studies link untreated co-occurring disorders to higher relapse rates and more hospital readmissions. Luckily, an alcohol rehab program in Highland Park, IL, that also covers mental health treatment breaks that link. Therapists teach clients to spot warning signs (such as a tight chest, sleepless nights, negative inner talk) and to use coping skills before cravings escalate.
Psychiatric providers at Resilience also fine-tune medications that reduce mood swings and alcohol urges. And when the recovering person attends group therapy sessions, peer groups reinforce the message that setbacks signal a need for support, not a reason for shame. Merging these two pillars of well-being helps clients move from crisis-driven living to self-management, along with cutting relapse risk at every step.
People Stay in Treatment Longer
NIDA (the National Institute on Drug Abuse) warns that rehab/recovery stays shorter than 90 days have limited effectiveness. Yet, many people drop out because to them the care feels disorganized or impersonal.
Again, a well-thought-out alcohol rehab program in Highland Park, IL, removes those barriers by offering everything in one place—therapy, medical care, and support groups. A single team handles the full case, so clients don’t have to repeat themselves or chase down providers. This setup is especially helpful for people under constant stress, like parents or first responders.
When care feels connected and manageable, it’s easier to stick with it. Research shows that integrated treatment leads to better follow-through. At Resilience Behavioral Health, flexible options like day programs, evening sessions, and telehealth also make it easier to stay on track.
Fewer Medication Mishaps
Alcohol use disorder often coexists with prescriptions for anxiety, depression, sleep, or pain. Without coordination, dangerous interactions or duplicate drugs slip through. Integrated care reduces that risk. A unified medical record lets the prescriber see everything from detox meds to long-term psychotropics. Doses are adjusted with both liver health and craving suppression in mind.
For example, a client on naltrexone for alcohol cravings and an SSRI for depression needs careful monitoring of liver enzymes and serotonin levels. That happens seamlessly when one medical team oversees both. This oversight also helps clients better stick to their medication plan, because they understand what they’re taking and how it supports their recovery.
Healing Works Better When Nothing Gets Left Out
When both addiction and mental health issues are present, treating just one doesn’t work. You feel better for a while, but the deeper struggles show up again, and so does the urge to drink. That’s why an integrated alcohol rehab program in Highland Park, IL, is necessary; it gives you answers, structure, and relief that lasts.
At Resilience, we build rehab programs that don’t overlook anything. From the very first step, you’re assessed for substance use and mental health, and get a care plan that treats them together because that’s how real recovery happens.
If you’re tired of starting over or feeling stuck, reach out. Call us at 708-775-3952 or email [email protected]. You deserve a care team that stays with you through it.
