When it comes to mental illness, there’s bad news and good news. The bad news: Rates of mental illness are increasing across the country, impacting a wide array of demographics and actively affecting at least one in five Americans. Thankfully, there’s also good news: Mental illness can be successfully treated. Psychologists, researchers and other doctors have developed a variety of tools in order to help treat mental illnesses. One such example is CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
CBT is a specific type of therapy that works with an individual’s ways of thinking and processing information. Many patients have found their issues addressed thanks to therapists who successfully teach CBT. For some, however, it’s not enough. As such, here’s a look at what CBT is and what other therapeutic options are out there.
What Is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a specific type of talk therapy. It is specifically designed to help individuals discover negative thinking and behavioral patterns, determine the source of these patterns, and then change them. According to CBT, by changing your thinking patterns, you can also address and remove the emotional difficulties that are the source of these issues.
CBT can often be exceptionally useful at making specific, concrete gains by addressing problematic ways of thinking. In this sense, CBT is almost mechanical: A therapist will help a patient change their input, or ways of thinking. This, in turn, will change someone’s output, or feeling. There are often negative self-talk patterns that can be addressed via effective CBT. According to available research, CBT appears to be best at helping patients who suffer from issues like anxiety or depression. Indeed, some research shows that these are the two areas in which CBT can be most successful.
What Else Is Needed to Manage Mental Health?
For many, CBT can help cure them of their mental illness. Others, however, find that they need additional assistance, or will benefit from different forms of therapy. Other forms of therapy include:
- Group therapy: The types of group therapy run the gamut, but group therapy has been found to be an effective way of dealing with a slew of mental health issues, including addiction. Group therapy is usually structured by a trained professional. In a successful group therapy session, patients will discuss their problems and work together to find solutions and support each other.
- Medication: Some people find medication to be extremely beneficial in conquering their mental health or addiction issues. Medication works best when it is given under the guidance of a trained psychiatrist or practitioner, and its use should be supervised. Some people find medication to only be a temporary necessity, while others determine that they need to take medication for the rest of their lives.
- Lifestyle Changes: For many, addressing lifestyle changes may be extremely beneficial towards helping someone improve their mental health or reduce their dependence on substances like alcohol or drugs. Examples include relationship challenges or abusive family dynamics. Additionally, therapists may recommend specific activities, like exercise or meditation.
Each individual is obviously different and comes with changing personal histories, traumas, and responsiveness to forms of therapy and medication. A wide array of therapies exist, but it can be difficult to make a determination about when one form of therapy will work and when it will fail. That is a highly individualized determination best made by a patient and competent medical professional.
How Can You Find These Services?
CBT is practiced in a variety of therapeutic settings and by many licensed professionals, including psychologists, therapists, social workers and more. A specific practitioner can be found via a variety of sources, including recommendations from a family physician, or via a directory from your insurance company. It is also possible to find CBT, and other mental health services, in a variety of outpatient or inpatient settings that are designed to be helpful at treating a slew of mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders.
Research has found these types of therapy to be potentially beneficial at addressing the various psychological issues that come with addiction. CBT may be perfect for whatever troubles you or your loved one. It’s also possible that CBT, in conjunction with other therapeutic modalities, may be the cure for what troubles you. Regardless, you don’t have to live a life where you are haunted by psychological demons. If you or your loved one wants to start your recovery journey, call 772-266-5320 today, or check out our website at www.website.com.