Are You Dealing With Coexisting Mental Health Issues? 3 Benefits Of Going To An Intensive Outpatient Therapy Program
Posted on: 15 December 2020
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Mental health issues often occur simultaneously, and the symptoms can overlap or amplify each other. For instance, people with depression sometimes turn to substance misuse. Eating disorders and anxiety sometimes occur together. Seeking help for a dual diagnosis often comes with many concerns. You might be worried about protecting your privacy or with how you will manage your current responsibilities in an overnight facility. Fortunately, you can stop worrying and start getting help by understanding these four benefits of going to an intensive outpatient therapy program.
Keep Going to School or Work
Sadly, the world can't stop for everyone who needs treatment for a mental health issue. You might currently have commitments that you can't just walk away from for several weeks. Even if your job allows for you to take time off, you might not be able to go without pay for that long. Students may not want to have to repeat a course or lose credit. Outpatient treatment gives you the option of continuing to work or go to school when you are not in your therapy sessions. This makes it possible to get better without feeling like you are letting go of important things in your life.
Stay Close to Your Support Network
Some people need to isolate themselves from their current social group to get better, but there are many people who fear being away from their family for too long. If you cannot fathom being in a treatment center without your loved ones, then outpatient care is an option that fixes this problem. Being able to see your friends and family members every day gives you a sense of security. You'll still receive intensive counseling, which you can then talk about with your loved ones when you get home. You will also find that the people in your outpatient program become new parts of your social network. Expanding your social network to include new sources of support helps you stay on track with your mental health improvements.
Start Applying New Strategies Immediately
An intensive outpatient counseling program involves working with a professional to identify the mental health issues that you face along with solutions for managing your symptoms. Since you will go home after these sessions, you can immediately start to use your new strategies as you encounter stressful situations and problems. You will then go back to the counseling program for your next appointment where you can talk about how they worked. Having the ability to work with your therapist to fine tune your strategies gives you a better chance of successfully moving forward with your life after your treatment is complete.