Outpatient Substance Abuse Programs
The mental health of an individual is affected when the habit of substance abuse takes the shape of disease and almost becomes unstoppable for the person affected.
Substance abuse is just one layer of what the person is experiencing. The dependency on the substance can cause one to suffer from Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia. They also tend to take more risks, which could eventually lead to major health issues.
Some studies have shown that genetics play a role in how one deals with substance abuse, and if they will suffer from mental illness at the same time. It could also be determined by chemical deficiencies in the brain.
When serotonin is decreased, substance abuse and mental illness seem to go hand and hand.
Additionally, the environment a person is in also plays a huge role, which is why many are quick to think that locking someone in a rehabilitation facility or mental health institution is the best option. Inpatient mental health institutions and rehabilitation facilities work for some people. For others, they begin to feel trapped and abandoned by the family that placed them there.
They begin to see themselves as a burden and don’t understand that the family placed them there out of love for them, trying to keep them safe.
Many times, families don’t know about the positive effects of outpatient services for an individual suffering from substance abuse.
Most institutions have one way, or one program, that is used for everyone. They aren’t typically adjusted based on the needs of the abuser, and pharmaceuticals are often used as part of treatment.
The patient typically can’t leave the facility, which often makes them feel the urge to rebel when they get out. This results in additional hospitalizations and creates a cycle for some that the technique doesn’t work. While those that work in these facilities know the severity of the disease and the need to overcome it, the programs used are more dated and brick and mortar based.
With outpatient services, the patient still has the ability to function in society and go to family gatherings.
While getting the help they need from a professional, they are still getting their emotional needs met by those that support them on a day-to-day basis. This is a recipe for success. Most people that take part in outpatient programs have reduced hospitalizations and higher success rates than those locked in a room for hours at a time in an institution.
Overcoming substance abuse can be one of the hardest challenges a person will face in their lifetime
No matter how hard one tries to stop and how much willpower they have, there will always be a voice in the back of their mind, challenging their decision to be sober.
For this reason, intensive outpatient substance abuse programs are available to help those coping with the everyday battles of staying sober in a therapeutic, calming way. They know what you are going through, and are there to guide and help you every step of the way.
The program offers different methods and is individualized based on needs
Considering outpatient services over inpatient programs is a great opportunity to give yourself or one of your loved ones a second chance. The programs don’t make one feel attacked, and approach those needing assistance with the care and compassion that they deserve.
The substance abuse is treated, along with any mental disorders that may have stemmed from it in order to get the individual back on track to a healthy life. Short-term and long-term programs are options, so one will never feel alone in their journey of sobriety.