Mental Health Treatment in Massachusetts
Clinically Reviewed by Dr. Kate Smith
Numerous mental health issues are being faced by people today. Therefore, mental health treatment centers have never been more essential. However, the type of mental health treatment you need depends on the type of mental illness you have and its severity. It may be a combination of different treatment methods that will work best for you and the challenges you face. You may be struggling with a mental health concern that is exacerbated by drug or alcohol use, and require treatment for co-occurrig disorders. If you or someone you love could benefit from mental health treatment in our Needham rehab programs, contact Greater Boston Addiction Centers online, or call us confidentially at 877.920.6583 today.
Finding Mental Health Treatment in Massachusetts
If your mental illness is mild, not connected with addiction, and has symptoms that you can manage through healthy means, receiving mental health treatment from your primary care physician could be enough. On the other hand, more severe mental health disorders may require specialized treatment. A skilled, professional team of doctors and staff in a safe mental health treatment center could be exactly what is needed to begin your journey toward a happier, healthier life.
Daily, notable people, from athletes to celebrities, are speaking freely about their unique struggles with mental health issues, so you don’t have to feel alone if you are suffering. With the dedicated care available at mental health treatment centers, the compassionate, professional help you need has never been more within reach.
The Most Common Mental Health Issues Today
Roughly 25% of adults in America have a diagnosable mental disorder, and almost 10% of all adults ages 18 and over in the United States will suffer from a depressive illness, including:
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Dysthymia
Nearly twice as many individuals between the ages of 18- 54 struggle daily with an anxiety disorder and could benefit from mental health treatment. Anxiety disorders include:
- Panic disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety disorder
- Phobias (like social phobia or agoraphobia)
Many of these mental health issues have roots in childhood trauma. And many of those, in particular the depressive illnesses that are co-occurring with substance abuse, are treatable with skilled medical care at Greater Boston Addiction Centers.
Things You Can Do to Improve Your Mental Health While Waiting for Treatment
If you need mental health treatment, it’s because an issue has become so severe that you are having trouble effectivelt and healthily managing it, and this is due to no fault of your own. It is very brave to acknowledge you have a problem you can’t just work through or sleep off on your own, and there are several things you can do to help improve your overall mental health while you wait to begin treatment. A few of these simple techniques are:
- Practice mindful relaxation and grounding techniques such as meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises.
- If you take better care of your body with better nutrition, stopping activities that contribute to worsening mental health like using drugs or drinking alcohol, excersizing, sleeping better, and staying well-hydrated, your mental health will follow.
- Practicing self-care will help you replace old, unhealthy habits with new ones that will make you feel good about yourself.
- Never underestimate the benefit of a good, healthy distraction–take up a new hobby, see a movie, or call someone you can rely on.
- If you set realistic goals for yourself, they will be easier to achieve and the negative feelings associated with not achieving them will be minimized or disappear entirely to make room for better feelings.
These methods are all great, but learning to deal with stressors and triggers is vital to improving and managing your mental health and you can learn these tools in treatment.
The Need for Mental Health Treatment Centers
Mental health problems commonly co-occur with an addiction to drugs and alcohol. People with depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety often turn to substances to mask the pain and continue to function in their lives at home, school, or work. Mental health treatment centers are essential to addressing the entire range of challenges you face and healing your whole self. This is the only way to truly recover and enjoy a healthier life going forward.
Substance abuse is intrinsically linked to mental health, and the number of people suffering is significant.
- Nearly 50% of American adults suffering from severe mental health disorders are also being affected by drug or alcohol addiction.
- Over a third of all U.S. adults addicted to alcohol, and more than half of those abusing drugs, have at least one mental illness that must also be treated to experience a full recovery.
- Approximately 30% of those diagnosed as mentally ill also have an alcohol or drug use disorder issue.
Struggling through more than one battle at a time can feel insurmountable and make recovery seem like a fantasy. The need for mental health treatment may seem unwanted, unfair, or your mind could be tricking you into doubting your future, but these are illusions. With help from mental health treatment centers, there is a clear path forward. A supportive circle of family and friends who love you and a willingness to help yourself are essential for any professional mental health treatment program to be successful. This supportive network reinforces the therapeutic ways of positive thinking and the learned life skills gained during treatment to cope with triggers, so you can regain control and go on to live a happier, healthier life.
Learn More at Greater Boston Addiction Centers
If you are struggling with depression or anxiety, discover how mental health treatment at Greater Boston Addiction Centers can help you work toward a brighter future. Don’t hesitate to contact us today using our secure online form or call us at 877.920.6583 for a confidential consultation.
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