Choosing a Mental Health Treatment Program
You hear the terms “mental health” and “mental wellness” thrown around a lot. But what do they mean? When it comes to health, your mind is just like your body. It needs daily nourishment and daily rest. There are things you can do to strengthen it and make it operate faster. There are also things you can do to weaken it. And, like your body, your mind can be wounded.
It can be injured. It can fracture and break. It can even become sick. If that happens – if you do not respond to your mind’s injury or ailment – it may function maladaptively. If you would not ignore a grievous bodily injury, like a broken bone, why would you ignore an injury of the mind? Make no mistake, getting proper mental health treatment could be a matter of life and death.
When To Seek Mental Health Treatment
Quite honestly, anytime is a good time for therapy. There is no such thing as a “bad” time to begin. Life is hard, and no one is born knowing the most helpful, productive ways to live. If you are a living human being, then you have human struggles with grief, guilt, shame, pain, or suffering. But let’s be more specific.
How can you determine when to get help for your mental health? Some of the best evidence is to look at basic habits like eating and sleeping. If anxiety or depression are keeping you from getting enough sleep, then you should investigate treatment. Likewise, with eating habits, if you are eating too much or too little, you ought to consider mental health treatment. Ask yourself honest questions about your life. How are your relationships with friends and family? What things in your life are (or are not) valuable to you? Why? Figuring out the answers to questions like these will help you take stock of your mind’s condition.
Choosing a Mental Health Treatment Program that Fits
The answer to this question depends on the problem. Before you can find the best solution, you must deepen your understanding of the problem. If you are struggling with a dual diagnosis – substance abuse/addiction and a mental illness – then you will want to look for a treatment plan that treats both diagnoses. But if you are only struggling with a mental illness, like an anxiety or depression disorder, make certain you find a treatment center that caters to those. When looking for a service provider, verify that the facility uses evidence-based treatment programs i.e., things that have been shown to help people get better.
Also, check to see that a facility is Joint Commission accredited. This might involve some research on your part via the internet or phone calls. But this is your mental health we are talking about, here. You will want to demand the best that you can get.
What If I Don’t Like the Program?
That is totally understandable. It might even be justified. Any treatment plan you enroll in will demand some changes and commitments from you. Depending on your program, it may feel like it is encroaching on your freedom a little. And it is ok for you to feel that way.
The best treatment program is only as good as the degree to which you participate. But if there is really something wrong; if you feel that you are being treated poorly or unethically, you can always look for different treatment options. You are not “stuck” to an inferior recovery path.
Want to Know More?
Choosing a mental health program is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. Fortunately, you needn’t do it alone. If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental illness and/or addiction, call Riverwalk Recovery Center at (856) 475-6166.