The Emotional Journey to Finding an Effective Treatment for a Mental Illness
Countless studies have been conducted to research mental illness. While we’ve made a lot of major discoveries in the last few decades, there is still a lot we don’t know about the brain and how it affects behavior. Because of that, treating some mental illnesses can be difficult.
Making matters more complex is the fact that everyone responds to treatments differently. Prescription medications for depression are a good example of this. For some people with certain mental illnesses there are prescription medications that can be highly effective. However, studies have shown only 40-60% of people’s symptoms of depression are relieved with antidepressants alone. It’s also worth noting that these medications treat the symptoms but aren’t a cure for the illness.
The emotional journey of finding an effective treatment for a mental illness is difficult, but it’s a journey that must be taken. As hard as it may be at times, there are things you can do to ease the burden so that the path is less difficult to navigate.
Getting Through the Trial and Error of Treating Mental Illness
One reason prescription medications for mental illness only work about 50% of the time is because each medication and person is different. Medical experts note that often numerous antidepressants have to be tried before finding a suitable treatment. The same can be true for other forms of therapy for mental illness.
Unlike other health conditions, there isn’t a clear or standard course of treatment to follow. If a person has a broken bone or even cancer diagnostic tests can be done to pinpoint the cause of the ailment and how to correct it. That’s not the case with illness that originates in the brain. With mental illness treatment there’s a lot of trial and error, especially when there are co-occurring mental health issues.
It can be a frustrating process, particularly when little progress is being made, or worse, the treatment only creates unwanted side effects. You may also go through months of treatment only to determine a treatment isn’t going to work.
Enlisting the help of experienced specialists can help minimize the trial and error period so that the patient finds relief more quickly. At Lighthouse Recovery whether you’re enrolling in the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or Partial Hospitalization Program in Dallas our team does a thorough assessment to create a custom treatment plan based on the individual’s present condition, history, current needs and goals. However, that treatment plan is carefully monitored so that necessary adjustments can be made to continue making progress.
Finding Support Throughout Treatment
One of the best ways to cope with mental illness at any stage of treatment is to find support. That support could come in many forms from online chat groups to working one-on-one with a psychiatrist.
Support groups are an excellent resource that’s highly recommended both for the patient and their loved ones. You can participate in group therapy that allows you to learn from others and make connections with people that understand your struggle. Often group therapy is at the center of PHP behavioral health treatment plans, with members meeting five days a week.
Another resource that we offer for people battling substance abuse is Recovery Coaching. Once a patient has completed a more intensive rehab program they are partnered up with a coach who has been through recovery themselves. They are able to provide a unique level of support and accountability that helps patients maintain their sobriety over the long-term.
Treating mental illness is a long journey that can have roadblocks and detours along the way. Each step might be hard won, but it’s worth taking. If you haven’t found the right treatment combination, understand that it may take time, or you may need to try novel therapies that aren’t commonly used yet. Just know that with the right treatment plan and support in place the road will get easier to travel.
For many people battling substance abuse, a structured Partial Hospitalization Program offers the right balance of supervised therapy while remaining comfortably at home during treatment. You can find out if you’re a candidate for a Partial Hospitalization Program in Dallas, TX by scheduling a no obligation assessment or you can start by researching local resources.
Learn more about our services or contact us below to discover how Lighthouse can help you on your road to recovery today. Thank you for your trust.
