If you’re exploring options for drug treatment, you’ve probably come across both inpatient and outpatient centers and started to familiarize yourself with the differences between the two. Many people see inpatient treatment as a more intense form of rehab. Given that inpatient treatment involves living at the facility, this perception is typically correct. As a result, you may wonder if outpatient treatment is really all that effective.
Choosing Inpatient or Outpatient Treatment
Whether you can opt for outpatient treatment or you should enroll in an intensive inpatient program really depends upon your needs and history with addiction and recovery. For example, people who have relapsed after going to outpatient treatment before and who have struggled with a severe addiction for decades may very well benefit more from an inpatient program. On the other hand, individuals who have addictions that affect their live in more mild ways and who have never sought treatment in the past can benefit from outpatient rehab. In short, outpatient treatment certainly has been successful for many people. However, you have to determine is this type of rehab is the right fit for you.
The Benefits of Outpatient Therapy
In deciding upon a course of treatment for addiction, you should consult with physical and mental health professionals, such as your doctor and therapist. You should also consider the benefits of both programs. Some positives of outpatient treatment follow:
- creating a healthy routine
- getting comfortable with your environment
- handling responsibilities at home
- gaining local sources of support
Learning more about each of these benefits can help you to determine if outpatient treatment fits with your plans.
Creating a Healthy Routine
Choosing outpatient treatment can help you to create a healthier daily routine. With outpatient treatment, you can still check off a number of items on your regular to-do list, such as going to the grocery store, getting in a workout at the gym and attending classes at the local library. Attending outpatient treatment can become a part of your typical routine.
Getting Comfortable with Your Environment
As you move through addiction treatment, you’ll likely start to learn more about triggers. In other words, you’ll gain insight into the situations, places and even people that trigger you to abuse drugs. Some of these triggers are likely present in your own community or home. Going to outpatient treatment means that you’ll be able to immediately apply lessons about your triggers. You might feel that if these triggers are going to play a part in your life, you want to learn how to manage them as soon as possible.
Handling Responsibilities at Home
Attending inpatient drug rehab has many benefits, but doing so is simply not logically possible for every person. For example, you might have children or pets at home to care for. You also might not have the ability to return to your job if you take time off to go to an inpatient program. While prioritizing your health and your recovery is a necessity, accounting for practical matters is important as well. Many people have found that they are able to successfully balance their at-home responsibilities with outpatient drug rehab.
Gaining Local Sources of Support
Outpatient drug rehab allows you to develop strong connections with sources of support in your community. When people go to inpatient treatment, they often have to travel outside of their immediate environments as not all communities have these types of rehab programs available. With outpatient treatment, though, you can usually find programs available either immediately in your area or in an adjacent community. Therefore, you can connected with counselors, groups and other sources of support that don’t require you to travel a distance.
Choosing to attending a treatment program that is local as opposed to one at a distance is neither inherently good nor bad. You have to make the decision that is best for your needs. However, you don’t have to make this difficult decision by yourself. Representatives are available to discuss possibilities and to offer support as you weigh the options. In order to speak with a representative about how to take the next step on your road to recovery, call 833-610-1174 today.