The Benefits of Choosing an Outpatient Treatment Program for Addiction

Many people will never overcome substance abuse disorder without the help of clinical treatment. But, there are many different types of treatment options when it comes to helping people living with addiction. So, it’s challenging for families and people dealing with this issue to decide what type of help is right for them. Here at Delray Center for Recovery, we offer an outpatient treatment program for people and families living with addiction. But, what are the benefits of choosing an outpatient approach to substance use disorder treatment?

What is an Outpatient Treatment Program for Addiction?

When most people think about ‘addiction rehab’, they picture facilities that hold individuals on a daily basis for many weeks at a time. Individuals who take part in these treatment programs must live at these facilities full-time, keeping them away from their loved ones, daily responsibilities, and more. But, that’s not how every treatment program works.

Outpatient treatment programs provide the same therapeutic opportunities, medical care, and psychiatric treatments that are available at residential facilities. However, people who choose this type of treatment are not forced to live at the facility. This allows for a number of advantages that may work to benefit a person who’s committed and willing to get help for addiction.

What are the Benefits of Choosing an Outpatient Treatment Program for Addiction?

Treatment should be individualized to address individual needs. There is no one-cure-all for addiction, and everyone’s experience with addiction differs. That’s why there are many different options when it comes to treatment, and it’s best to research the option that best suits you, your lifestyle, and your needs. There are many reasons why people may consider outpatient treatment for help with their addiction. Some of the benefits of outpatient treatment programs for addiction include:

Being Able to Continue Working

One of the biggest drawbacks of residential addiction treatment programs is that they require individuals to miss and take off work. This can eliminate any privacy individuals may want to keep about their personal situations concerning addiction from their workplace. Furthermore, this can be damaging to financial stability for anyone who may not have the money saved up to take off work and get the mental health care they need at a residential facility. On the other hand, outpatient treatment allows people to get the care they need to overcome addiction on their own schedule. This means not having to take off work or even tell employers about their mental health care if it’s not necessary.

Outpatient Treatment is Often Less Expensive Than Residential Programs

Residential treatment comes with the need to house, feed, and transport individuals in their stay. This makes treatment costs more expensive. But, outpatient treatment services don’t provide these services. Therefore, making them typically less expensive than residential treatment facilities for addiction.

Family Involvement During Treatment

Residential programs commonly keep people from their family and loved ones as they may be located away from home locations. Or, have strict rules about visitation as they want the patients in their care to remain focused on therapy and treatment. However, most outpatient treatment programs for addiction allow for more family involvement. They may offer family therapy sessions and include family in group therapy or other types of activity in order to promote family support, which is crucial in the earliest days of recovery and sobriety. So, if you’re looking for a treatment approach with more of a focus on family, outpatient care may be better for your needs.

Ways to Expand Interests During Your Time in Addiction Treatment

Addiction is a brain disease that can affect a person’s daily life in a number of ways. The effects can affect almost every aspect of life including relationships, careers, and typical routines. However, one thing that most people don’t think about addiction affecting is a person’s hobbies and interests. During active addiction, individuals will often lose interest in things they once enjoyed. So, during addiction treatment, it’s important for individuals to learn how to take an interest back in things they once enjoyed. And, moreover, to find new hobbies and interests that can help them stay motivated for long-term sobriety. But, how does one go about finding new interests during and after their time in treatment?

The Importance of Finding New Hobbies and Interests

Once drugs and alcohol can no longer fill your time and energy, you’ll need something to take up that time and energy during recovery. This is why it’s important to find things you enjoy during and after addiction treatment. When you learn about new things and engage with novel experiences, you give yourself the opportunity to utilize coping skills you’ve learned about and practiced in treatment in real-life settings. Plus, you’ll learn how to lean on these things during times of struggle so that you can gain the encouragement you need to obtain lasting recovery.

But, finding new hobbies and interests can be a struggle for some during the process of treatment. So, it’s important to understand what can help with obtaining some new hobbies and interests during newfound recovery. Some things you can do to help obtain new hobbies and interests may include:

Being Willing to Try New Things and Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

If you’re not willing to try new things and maybe even feel a bit awkward at first, you’re not going to get far when it comes to gaining new hobbies, skills, and passions. No one is good at anything when they first start, so even hobbies that require a bit of skill aren’t something to shy away from. Furthermore, you may not have an interest in finding new activities to enjoy. And, that’s normal for people in the early stages of recovery. You’re still learning about who you are as a sober person. But, it’s important to look past where you are at the moment and work towards who you want to be. So, don’t keep yourself from doing something new, even if it’s something you may not think you’ll like. Who knows – you may just find a new passion in something you never saw yourself doing!

Remember that Nothing Good Happens Overnight

It’s easy to give up on something new if you’re not good at it initially. So, don’t forget that you may not be good at something right away. And, to give yourself time to develop the skills needed to enjoy certain hobbies. Every interest takes some time to get used to, not to mention to get good at. But, if you give yourself time to learn and get better, you may find that you’ll enjoy certain things even more as time goes on. Therefore, if you’re thinking about starting a new hobby, don’t expect to be an expert! And, give yourself the time it takes to not only get accustomed to what you’re doing but time to determine if you really do or don’t like spending time with that certain hobby.

Try New Things with Peers in Your Addiction Treatment Environment

It’s sometimes easier to try new things with the encouragement and support of a friend. And, who better than a peer in treatment with the same goal as you – sustaining recovery? When you find a friend to try new things with, you can hold each other accountable to continue searching for a shared interest until you actually find one. And, then, you’ll have someone to encourage you once you do find that shared interest. So, don’t hesitate to ask your sober friends what they like to do for fun and if you can join. Or, if they’re also looking for a new interest so that you can search together!

Considering Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Multiple Mental Health Issues

Almost 8 million Americans are living with dual diagnosis, which is the comorbidity of at least two mental health issues at one time. This calls for specialized treatment in which individuals can get help for multiple issues at once, known as dual diagnosis treatment. Unfortunately, many people dealing with multiple mental health issues get help with one issue at a time. And, doing so doesn’t give them the tools and assistance they need to overcome multiple issues, leading to eventual relapse or inability to manage symptoms of every issue they face. But, fortunately, dual diagnosis treatment attacks mental health at multiple levels, allowing individuals to identify causes for concurrent disorders and establish healthy and effective methods in order to manage symptoms.

What is Dual Diagnosis?

Dual diagnosis is the term referring to the situation in which one presents co-occurring mental health disorders. This means that there isn’t just one diagnosis for a mental health issue, but two or more. In these cases, both or all conditions work hand-in-hand to present a multitude of various symptoms including behavioral, mood, and even physical issues. While there are a number of types of dual diagnosis, the most prevalent and typically referenced as “dual diagnosis” is that of substance use disorder with a concurrent mental health issue. The most common mental health issues that pair with other mental health issues like addiction include:

  • bipolar disorder
  • depression
  • anxiety disorders
  • ADHD
  • schizophrenia
  • PTSD

Choosing the Right Treatment for Your Needs Includes Considering Dual Diagnosis

If you have been diagnosed with concurring mental health issues, it’s important to search out treatment that specializes in dual diagnosis. This way, you can address simultaneous issues as they play a part in each others’ development and debilitating symptoms. Without considering dual diagnosis treatment, those living with concurring issues may not receive adequate care enough to successfully establish mental health wellbeing. Fortunately, there are a few things those diagnosed with concurring issues can keep in mind when looking for treatment.

Evidence-Based Treatment

Treatment facilities that offer care from specialized trained in evidence-based treatment methods are the best for dual diagnosis care. These treatment methods are proven effective in helping people deal with and manage all kinds of mental health issues, even if they’re paired or affected by concurring issues. Some of the treatment modalities included in evidence-based treatment centers include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Both Group and Individualized Care

When it comes to treating concurring mental health issues, a number of therapeutic interventions are helpful. But, there is no one cure-all for people living with mental health issues. The best approach is to utilize as many possible helpful services to see what individuals best respond to. And, since both individual and group therapy sessions are proven successful tools in managing mental health symptoms and establishing healthy behaviors and thought patterns, they can both be helpful to someone seeking dual diagnosis treatment. Therefore, those who need care for concurring mental health issues should seek treatment at a facility that offers both individual and group therapy sessions.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Delray Beach Florida

Delray Center for Healing offers dual diagnosis care for individuals dealing with concurring mental health issues. While living with one mental health issue is hard enough, dealing with two or more is even more challenging. So, it requires specialized treatment approaches and a skilled team of mental health professionals who care about what they do and helping people in their care. Find out more about our dual diagnosis program today and reach out to us to speak with us confidentially about your needs.