Dual-Diagnosis Rehab and Recovery Experience

Mental Health, Depression and Addiction

Our new, specialist ‘CapeRecovery Dual-Diagnosis Rehab and Recovery Experience’ is specifically designed with those people in mind who have been struggling for a while with the confusion of any type of addiction that co-exists alongside a mental health problem (diagnosed or un-diagnosed). Find out a bit more about this complex problem on our dual-diagnosis page or the depression and addiction page. The confusion and almost impossible chance of correctly diagnosing any addict suffering with an active addiction and a concurrent mental health problem correctly is a huge task and does often lead to years and even decades of heartache and pain for the person and those closest to them. This is however, nobody’s fault, the physicians are not always given all the facts about the actual addiction or are sometimes not even made aware of it, as addicts are often dishonest about the extent of their substance or alcohol use and prescribed meds are also less effective or completely ineffective when mixed in a cocktail of other drugs or alcohol. Coupled with the fact that symptoms of chronic alcohol and drug use very often mask or mirror those of a number of different and very damaging array of psychiatric problems, especially things like bi-polar, borderline personality disorder, anxiety or depression and addiction combined, it becomes a minefield for everyone. It is my personal experience that leads me to believe that the only truly effective way of managing any dual-diagnosis issue is to remove the alcohol or other drugs completely, often also removing any prescribed medication too, though this is of course the doctors decision. Once we have a blank canvas if you like, we can then get a good period of sobriety from all the drugs and alcohol, re-assess the situation fully and if any prescribed medication is required it can be administered in a controlled environment for the first few months without the interference of other substances, with the intention being to get the client stabilised, in order to move forward, clean and sober but also, if still required, on any appropriate medication for their mental health issue.

E-mail Simon Direct

How do I recover from addiction and mental health when they exist together?

This whole package all stems from, as most things I do with CapeRecovery nowadays, from my time struggling through a 25-year addiction to alcohol, prescription medication, over the counter meds and many other drugs and also an often vague diagnosis of something like depression, anxiety or bi-polar thrown in. The thing is, I never really knew the truth and the Drs and psychiatrists certainly didn’t and they didn’t have all of the facts anyway as it is a natural thing for an addict to hide the only thing they have to hang onto, their drug or drugs of choice. After decades of false diagnosis, trials on various different medication and cross addiction from one substance to another, I finally entered a rehab genuinely believing that I was incurable and totally beyond hope. The process was slow, it took time and it involved the mammoth task of maintaining my sobriety long enough to even think straight, let alone address the huge number of problems that I’d caused for myself and other people. Once finally clean and sober after about 2 years of trying, I realised that there was still something lacking. This time however, rather than picking up a drink which was my default behaviour for the preceding decades, I found a good doctor and started on a very simple anti-depressant. After taking that for my first year of true sobriety and authentic recovery, my life became easier, the intense depression left me and it all became manageable and I continue taking just one tablet a day to the present day. I still have down days but that’s all they are now, just a day, and it always gets better the following day! My passion for CapeRecovery comes directly from this experience and my experience as a nurse in the UK and it is what drives me to get the best and most effective rehab and addiction treatment for everyone, tailored exactly towards their individual needs. At CapeRecovery we want every single one of our clients to receive the best possible chance at a full and happy life in recovery. Our unique planning leads to the most suitable placement which, in turn, leads to the best possible chance of a prolonged and happy recovery.

Dual-Diagnosis Rehab - Depression and Addiction and Mental Health

The Cape Town Dual-Diagnosis Package

We offer our fully and individually tailored Dual-Diagnosis Rehab and Recovery Package on the same basis and at the same incredible low, local rates, as all of our other 'CapeRecovery Experiences' (recommended duration of 3-12 months) and we use a brilliant dual-diagnosis registered rehab for the initial and vitally important month of detox and primary rehab. From there, we tailor everything to the individuals requirements with the options of continued care or sober living with all the varied social events, activities and voluntary opportunities that we make available to every one of our clients. It really is the perfect way to visit a beautiful country and get some space and time out to address all the complex issues in an effective way and at the same time, receive truly world class treatment at the ever low and reasonable CapeRecovery local prices!

Extended Care

Living Clean

Sober House

We felt the need to develop our unique, fairly priced and fully tailored rehab and recovery packages because of the complex nature of addiction and associated problems. As a result we can now cater for the most complex addictions (drug and alcohol), process addictions (Gambling, Gaming, Sex, Love, Porn, etc), dual-diagnosis issues (including depression) and eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia, binge-eating, food addiction, ED questions, ED rehab, etc.) and any mixture of them all. Every person must have an individual care plan as every person requires fully personalised treatment so we only work with the best specialist rehabs, clinics and treatment centres from primary, secondary and tertiary treatment to extended care and supported sober living. We look after the client and the family back home at every stage of the rehabilitation process and encourage social engagement with a vibrant recovery community here in Cape Town and some exciting volunteering opportunities! The CapeRecovery Experiences really are the only complete rehab and recovery packages of their kind!

CapeRecovery International

CapeRecovery UK

CapeRecovery South Africa