Dual Diagnosis and Addiction
The process of treating an eating disorder requires a very intensive assessment of every area of the woman's life.
It is not uncommon for treatment to commence for a dual diagnosis such as depression, anxiety, PTSD (trauma). Addiction to drugs or alcohol also presents itself in some cases.
Dual Diagnosis
It is actually not uncommon for a woman who needs treatment for anorexia, bulimia, or compulsive eating to also be coping with a "dual diagnosis," such as:
- Depressive disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder
- Anxiety disorders, including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Other psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and personality
disorders
Relapses, mood swings, and patterns of replacing one addiction with another (including sexual addiction or a shopping addiction) could indicate the existence of a dual diagnosis.
We have a team of doctors, psychiatrists, and therapists who can assess very accurately and then closely monitor the woman who is presenting instances of dual diagnoses. Some of the types of therapy that we may incorporate into the woman's personalized treatment program include:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
- Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Group Therapy
- Experiential Therapy
- Hypnotherapy
- Numerous Individualized 12-step support groups tailored to individual
issues
- Our Family Program facilitated by and Dr. Jerry Brown
Addiction Issues
An Eating Disorder will often present itself simultaneously with an
addiction. The two diseases feed off of and strengthen each other.
Treating drug addiction and alcoholism at the same time as an eating
disorder is a strength of the Victorian.
We will make sure the woman feels safe and nurtured in our comfortable
and serene home setting and then we will work with the woman
to address the both behaviors.
The Victorian is different than other eating disorder facilities because it is licensed and approved by the state of California to treat addiction as well as eating disorders. Please see our page about treating co-occurring addiction for more information about how The Victorian approaches this.
