Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Abbington House offers specialist dual diagnosis treatment that helps people recover from addiction and mental health challenges. Our integrated approach looks beyond symptoms to the underlying causes, combining medical care, therapy and genuine compassion in a calm residential setting.
When someone is struggling with addiction, there’s often far more beneath the surface than a reliance on drugs or alcohol. For many, the pain that led to substance use is rooted in mental health challenges that may never have been properly diagnosed. This is what’s known as dual diagnosis: when someone lives with both a mental health disorder and an addiction at the same time.
At Abbington House, we see this every day. Many who walk through our doors carry hidden burdens like depression, anxiety, trauma or ADHD. These conditions often fuel or complicate addiction, creating a cycle that feels impossible to escape. It’s why we believe any truly effective rehab must look beyond the substances and explore what’s really driving them.
How We Approach Dual Diagnosis Treatment at Abbington House
How We Approach Dual Diagnosis Treatment at Abbington House
At Abbington House, we take time to understand every part of your story, not just the symptoms you’re facing today. From your very first assessment, our team looks beyond the surface to explore your mental health, life history and daily challenges, building a complete picture of what’s really going on beneath the addiction.
Our dual diagnosis treatment is fully integrated, meaning your therapy supports both your mental health and your recovery at the same time. You’ll learn new ways to manage stress, regulate emotions and process difficult experiences, guided by clinicians and therapists who specialise in both areas.
We know this can feel like a vulnerable process. Many of our clients have carried shame for years, believing they’ve failed in some way. But addiction and mental health struggles are not moral flaws. Our role is to help you make sense of your patterns and give you the tools to move forward with confidence.
Why Dual Diagnosis Matters
Why Dual Diagnosis Matters
Dual diagnosis is the reality for so many people, and research shows that nearly half of those with a substance use disorder also live with a mental health condition. Left unaddressed, each problem can exacerbate the other. Drinking or using drugs might numb painful feelings in the short term, but over time it often deepens depression or ramps up anxiety. Meanwhile, untreated mental health issues can make staying sober much harder, even after a person stops using.
This is why standard addiction treatment that only focuses on stopping the substance isn’t enough. If the depression, PTSD or ADHD is left unaddressed, the root cause remains and relapse becomes far more likely.
Signs You or a Loved One May Need Dual Diagnosis Care
It can be hard enough to spot the signs of addiction, so adding a mental health condition into the mix makes it even trickier. Often, the symptoms of one can mask or even mimic the other. That’s why dual diagnosis frequently goes undetected for years. If you’re wondering whether you – or someone close to you – might need specialist support, here are some of the most telling signs.
1. Attempts to self-medicate
This is one of the clearest red flags. People struggling with undiagnosed depression, anxiety, PTSD or ADHD often turn to substances to quiet their thoughts or numb their pain. It may start as “taking the edge off,” but over time, it becomes a harmful coping strategy. If drinking or using drugs seems tied to managing moods, sleep, panic or flashbacks, dual diagnosis treatment could be essential.
2. Mental health symptoms that worsen with substance use
While many use alcohol or drugs to ease emotional struggles, the reality is that these substances nearly always make things worse. You might notice increased panic attacks after drinking or deeper depressive crashes after using cocaine. If mental health symptoms spiral alongside or because of substance use, it often signals an intertwined condition needing specialist care.
3. Multiple unsuccessful treatment attempts
Perhaps there have been past rehab stays that didn’t last, or short-term therapy that didn’t touch the addiction. When people bounce between different types of help (or relapse repeatedly after treatment), it’s often because both issues weren’t addressed together. Effective recovery requires treating the whole picture, not just the surface behaviour.
4. A long history of mental health struggles
Many people with dual diagnosis have lived for years under the cloud of anxiety, depression, ADHD or unresolved trauma. They might have been diagnosed before, or perhaps they’ve always felt “different” or “not quite right.” If this sounds familiar and substance use has also crept in, it’s time to look at how both are feeding off each other.
5. Life feels increasingly chaotic and unmanageable
This might manifest as losing jobs, relationships breaking down, mounting financial troubles, or even involvement with the criminal justice system. When addiction and mental health issues collide, the fallout can feel like life is permanently in crisis mode. If stability seems impossible, it could be that untreated mental health is fuelling addiction and vice versa.
Dual diagnosis care isn’t about assigning blame or adding another label. The purpose of this kind of treatment is to finally connect the dots and get the right, integrated help. At Abbington House, we look beyond the immediate crisis to understand why you or your loved one might be struggling, so treatment truly sticks.
How Abbington House Helps with Dual Diagnosis
At Abbington House, we’ve seen firsthand the overlap between mental health and addiction. That’s why we take a specialist, integrated approach. Instead of treating addiction on one track and mental health on another, we bring both into the same focused, compassionate care plan. Dual diagnosis treatment begins with understanding.
From your very first conversation with us, we’re listening for the deeper story. When you come in, our clinical team looks at your substance use, your mental health history and how these have shaped your life. We aim to uncover patterns that other places might miss
A tailored plan that addresses both issues
We don’t believe in generic programmes. Your treatment plan will be shaped around your unique combination of needs. If anxiety underpins your alcohol use, we’ll pair evidence-based therapies like CBT and mindfulness to reduce anxiety alongside targeted addiction support. If trauma fuels drug use, you’ll have access to trauma-informed counselling and stabilisation work that allows healing without triggering overwhelm.
Integrated therapies
At Abbington House, therapy isn’t compartmentalised. Our team works together daily, addiction therapists, support workers and medical staff, to ensure you’re getting joined-up care. This might mean attending a group on relapse prevention in the morning, then working through deep-seated trauma in a 1:1 session later. We believe this holistic approach is what makes real, lasting change possible.
Support that adapts as you do
Recovery isn’t a straight line. As you settle into treatment, new layers might emerge, perhaps memories you’ve suppressed or mental health symptoms that surface once substances are removed. We continuously adjust your care plan to support each new stage. This way, nothing is missed, and you don’t have to start over somewhere else to get help for your mental health.
Preparing you for life beyond treatment
We also place huge emphasis on aftercare and relapse prevention planning. This means working on coping strategies for both your mental health and your addiction triggers before you leave. We’ll help you build a robust network for life outside Abbington House.
Dual diagnosis treatment isn’t just about getting you sober, our team want to give you back a sense of peace and possibility. We want you to understand why you’ve struggled for so long, and to know that it’s not your fault. From there, we help you rebuild your life with the right support for every layer of who you are.
What to Expect Day-to-Day in Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Stepping into treatment can feel daunting, especially when you’re carrying the weight of both mental health struggles and addiction.
At Abbington House, we’ve designed our programme to gently but powerfully support you through this process. Here’s what a typical day might look like, so you can start to imagine life here beyond the fear and uncertainty.
A calm, structured routine
Structure is one of the most important elements of recovery. It helps stabilise the nervous system, gives your brain space to heal, and reduces the chaos that so often accompanies life with addiction and mental health difficulties.
Your day will start with a peaceful morning routine: a healthy breakfast, then we move into core therapy sessions, carefully balanced so you’re not overwhelmed.
Therapy that tackles the whole picture
Every day includes a mix of group therapy and one-to-one sessions. In groups, you’ll explore themes like managing emotions, understanding triggers and learning new coping skills. These are often incredibly validating; many people finally see they’re not alone in how they think or feel.
Your individual sessions dive deeper. This is where you can explore painful memories, unpick complex mental health patterns, or work on specific issues like anxiety, trauma or mood regulation. Because we specialise in dual diagnosis, your therapist will be trained to handle both addiction and mental health together, so nothing gets left behind.
Compassionate medical support
Alongside therapy, you’ll have regular check-ins with our medical staff. If medication is appropriate, whether that’s antidepressants, mood stabilisers or support for sleep, our psychiatrist and support staff will work with you to find the right balance. Your safety and comfort are priorities here.
Reflection, rest and community
Recovery isn’t just about intense therapy. It’s also about reconnecting with yourself in quieter moments. You’ll have time for walks in the garden, creative activities, journaling or simply sitting with a cup of tea and a book.
Meals are shared with the community – a chance to bond, laugh and rediscover a sense of normal human connection without substances in the mix.