If you are dealing with a mental health condition, you are not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 5 U.S. adults struggle with a mental illness. Additionally, 1 in 25 people have a severe mental illness that significantly impacts their lives.[1]
While outpatient care can be enough to recover from certain mental health issues, some people require residential treatment. Attending an inpatient mental health rehab can ensure you get the intensive care you need when your condition is making it difficult to cope on a day-to-day basis.
There are many benefits of choosing a residential mental health treatment center. For example, you will receive individualized care, in-depth therapy, medication management, structured routines, and support from your peers. The level of care provided during a residential program is unmatched, making it ideal for those struggling with moderate to severe mental health issues.
What are the Benefits of Residential Mental Health Treatment?
Residential mental health treatment centers offer clients a safe space to recover. By separating them from their daily routines, clients are better able to focus on therapy, allowing them to heal before they return to their daily lives.
The main benefits of residential treatment include:
Individualized Treatment Planning
The first advantage of residential treatment is the time that mental health experts take to create an individualized treatment plan. Clients will undergo an in-depth assessment to determine their needs, including ensuring they have the proper diagnosis. If the client is struggling with any co-occurring issues like substance abuse, their treatment plan will include specialized services for their recovery.
Structure and Routine
Another benefit of residential programs is the structure and routine that clients develop. Oftentimes, having a mental illness makes it difficult to create a routine that feels good. During residential treatment, daily routines will be structured for the clients.
Once a client has been engaging in a routine over an extended period, they will begin to reap the benefits. Routines can make it less likely for people to stress about the past or the future, allowing them to stay present at the moment. Additionally, clients will have less time to ruminate over anxiety-inducing thoughts or negative emotions.
In-Depth Therapy
Learning to manage a mental health condition requires extensive therapy. When you are going to outpatient therapy, it can take years to make progress in your mental health. Choosing inpatient rehab will allow the process to happen faster, as you have more time each day to engage in mental health services.
During residential treatment for mental health, you will engage in both individual and group therapies. Individual therapy is ideal for discussing sensitive topics like past trauma, while group therapy is best for developing social skills, learning boundaries, and receiving support from peers.
One of the most common therapies used for a wide variety of mental illnesses is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This technique helps people improve negative behavioral patterns, learn healthy coping mechanisms, and build emotional regulation skills.
Medication Management
Some mental health disorders are a result of chemical imbalances in the brain. When this is the case, medication is often a necessary part of recovery. If you have a condition that requires medication, you know how hard it can be to find the right one.
When you attend residential mental health treatment, there is plenty of time to try out new medications. You will work closely with a psychiatrist to find the medication and dosage that alleviates your symptoms without causing uncomfortable side effects.
Separation From Outside Stressors
When you have a mental health condition, your environment can play a role in the severity of your symptoms. Whether you are surrounded by a toxic household, living in a dangerous area, or stuck in a friend group full of drama, these factors can make it difficult to recover.
Choosing residential rehab will make it easier to separate yourself from outside stressors until you are strong enough to avoid them on your own.
Learning Social Skills
Being in a residential treatment center means you will be interacting with different types of people in a variety of ways. You might have to complete chores, engage in group therapy, or share a room with another client. All of these interactions will help you develop vital social skills that can be necessary to maintaining good mental health.
Peer-to-Peer Support
When you are in a long-term residential facility, you often become close with your peers. You will foster relationships with other clients based on a common goal of improving your life. Being surrounded by other people who are receiving treatment for a mental illness will allow you to receive peer-to-peer support that you might not find in everyday life.
Get Connected to a Residential Mental Health Treatment Center
Whether you need help for an eating disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, or another mental health condition, residential rehab can be incredibly beneficial. These programs can offer the intensive care you need in a safe and supportive setting.
Contact First Step Behavioral Health today to learn more about residential mental health treatment.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): About Mental Health
