With substance use disorder being a disease of the brain, at any given time, the disease is either active or in remission. The substance dependent's goal is to place their disease in remission and keep it there by developing a remission maintenance plan. Co-occurring disorders, refers to having two or more diseases of the brain with one of the diseases being a substance use disorder. A couple of examples of co-occurring disorders are: alcohol use disorder and major depression, or opiate use disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is estimated that over 50% of substance dependents struggle with another mental illness as well. Some of the most common mental illnesses we see in addiction counseling are: panic disorder, Bi-polar disorder, PTSD, OCD, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social phobia. If you are experiencing any emotional distress, high anxiety, or depression be sure to talk to your counselor about it. They can help you understand what is going on and develop a plan of recovery. The counselor may also make referrals to other appropriate mental health care providers. Co-occurring disorders should be treated simultaneous. Substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders are all treatable. The most common forms of treatment are therapy, medication, or a combination of both.