Different Types of Mental Health Support

Mental health conditions are very common in society and range from anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and many more. When you are struggling with your mental health, you must seek help and support. There are many different types of support that you can seek, and the type that will work for you, and help you through your struggles, will be different for everyone. Seeking support can seem overwhelming and intimidating at first, especially if you have not had to get support before. It can also seem frustrating, as it often feels like it is not working. This is usually because getting support takes time, but also because there is not a one-size-fits-all solution, which means what works for someone else, might not work for you too. 

There are many different types of mental health support that you can explore, to see what works for you and help you to get back on track and enjoy life more. You must always seek professional advice to find treatment that can best support you through your struggles. Unfortunately, mental health has had an unfair stigma against it, which makes it harder for people to reach out. But if you are more aware of the different treatments that are available to you, and how to find them, it may well help you, or a loved one, on their journey and live a happier, more fulfilling life. 

Here are some of the most common treatments and support for mental health conditions.

Counseling

Counseling, also known as psychotherapy or talk therapy, is one of the most sought out systems of support for mental health conditions. It is a type of support that involves talking to a mental health professional who has gone through years of training, about your problems. There is a wide range of counseling approaches, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Each has its own unique way of approaching your struggles and to help you work with them to move forward. These can be done individually or in a group setting. Counseling usually covers a wide range of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, grief, divorce, behavioral issues, and many more. 

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Medication

Medication can be prescribed by a medical professional, such as a doctor or psychiatrist, to support the change in brain chemicals that are out of balance, that typically involves thought patterns and emotions. There is a range of different medications that play different roles and help with different aspects of mental health. More often than not, they are used simultaneously with other treatments, such as talk therapy. This is because they don’t quickly cure your problems or symptoms, but they can be used to help ease or improve them. 

Residential treatment programs

In some cases, the best option to move forward and improve your mental health is to opt for a residential treatment program. These can be in hospitals, or recovery centers and are typically chosen when an individual is reliant on substances such as drugs or alcohol, cannot take care of themselves, or is at a high risk of hurting themselves. These are long-term programs that include a wide range of integrative methods such as group therapy, individual therapy, detoxification, and more. 

Hypnotherapy 

Hypnotherapy has been around for a long time, as was extremely popular in the 1800s, especially when conducting long surgeries. Hypnotherapy is still used today for a wide range of issues, such as reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Although hypnotherapy has a stigma attached to it and is typically seen as a process that is used by magicians and on television for some fun, it is actually a really key type of therapy that helps thousands of people every year with their mental health. This is because hypnotherapy uses a range of tools to induce a hypnotic state to heighten your awareness, open you up to suggestibility and focus on a problem more deeply. It uses tools such as talk therapy, relaxation techniques, suggestions, exploring past experiences and thoughts, coping skills, and much more. It is an entirely safe type of therapy to explore, and you remain in control at all times. 

It is important to find a treatment that best suits your situation, and can support you through your mental health struggles. You can start by researching practitioners that specialize in the types of therapy that sound most appealing to you, and also speaking to a medical professional who will be able to help you find the best places to start.