Do I Need Inpatient Rehab for Depression?

While many people struggle with depression, not everyone needs to go to an inpatient rehab for depression. So how do you know if inpatient rehab is a good choice for you? After all, getting the right kind of care for your mental illness is a key part of leading a healthy life. In this article, we’ll look at the reasons why an inpatient mental health program may be right for you.

What Is Inpatient Rehab for Depression?

In an inpatient rehab facility, you are in a safe environment where you can focus on improving your mental health. Treatment for depression begins during assessment, where you and a mental health professional will discuss your stressors, goals for the future, and symptoms. During this assessment, the doctor will help you identify possible co-occurring disorders, such as anxiety or substance use disorder. From there, a treatment plan will be crafted specifically for you.

From there, you will participate in a variety of treatment programs. These may include:

• Group therapy, where you share stories with others in mental health recovery. Here, you will see patterns in mental illness and learn to identify unhealthy behaviors that can worsen your symptoms of depression.
• Individual counseling, where you and a mental health professional will discuss your personal history and coping skills. In these sessions, you will work to find healthy coping mechanisms for your mental illness. These are important because they will help keep you happy and healthy after leaving inpatient treatment.
• Family conferences, where you and your loved ones will discuss how they can best support you in the future. Family can be a big stressor that triggers major depression, but family can also be a major source of love and support. In these sessions, you and your family will come together to resolve longstanding issues and create a plan for the future.

Once you have completed treatment, you will begin the discharge process. A quality inpatient depression rehab will begin planning your discharge from the very beginning. This is because this is where you determine your next steps and how to stay healthy in the long run. Social workers, your treatment team, and your loved ones will all work together to reintegrate you back into your community.

Signs That You Need Inpatient Depression Rehab

There are a number of factors that indicate that you may need inpatient treatment for your mental illness. While everyone experiences mental illness differently, some traits routinely appear in people who need a residential depression recovery program.

Chronic Depression

First, most people who need inpatient treatment are living with chronic depression. So if your depression has only been around for a short period of time (a handful of months or less), then you might be fine with outpatient treatment. However, if your depression has lasted for years, then you should consider inpatient treatment.

Thoughts of Suicide, Self-Harm, or Violence

Moreover, you may need inpatient depression treatment if suffering from depression has made you suicidal. If you often find yourself with thoughts of harming yourself or others, you should check into an inpatient program as quickly as possible. During treatment, the care staff will make sure that you are safe and help you focus on your recovery. Staying at an inpatient facility gives you time to regain control of your mental health.

Inability to Complete Daily Tasks

If you struggle to get out of bed, go to work, or run small errands, you may need inpatient treatment. Residential treatment centers are the perfect places to focus on your recovery, especially if you have trouble caring for yourself. Your care staff will make sure that you are fed and looked after, so you can devote 100% of your energy into overcoming depression. You may not have the energy to treat depression while living on your own, but inpatient treatment can make it much easier for you.

Eating Disorders

If you find yourself not eating for long periods, or overeating and binging, these are red flags that you may need inpatient treatment. While eating disorders can appear without depression, the two are often linked. After all, happy people seldom feel compelled to harm themselves with extreme eating habits. And because these disorders can be so dangerous, it’s important that you seek immediate residential treatment.

Substance Abuse

Coping with depression can feel impossible when you’re on your own. For this reason, many people with chronic depression turn to drugs and alcohol as a means to self-medicate. While this is understandable, it’s also one of the ways that people develop a co-occurring substance use disorder. If this sounds familiar, you will need an inpatient dual diagnosis center that will treat both your depression and your drug or alcohol addiction.

Is Inpatient Rehab for Depression Right for You?

Ultimately, only you can decide if you need an inpatient depression program. Mental health disorders are different for everyone, but you can use the above information to determine if you need inpatient care. If you see a lot of yourself in this article, then there’s a good chance that an inpatient program could help you overcome your mental illness.

 

 

Video

Robert Sapolsky: The Biology and Psychology of Depression – Stanford

Stanford Professor Robert Sapolsky gives an overview of both the biology and psychology of depression, with the key points being that depression is as a real of a disease as is diabetes, and that you can’t begin to understand depression without seeing how the biological and psychological are one and the same. This is a 2023 update of his 2009 lecture, incorporating scientific advances since that time.

 

News Audio

The ‘magic’ of walking with grief

Northampton, Massachusetts a walking bereavement group gathers outside once a week on warm days and chilly ones. Most join the group after a spouse has died, but some are there to remember a sibling, a parent or a child. – full story source

 

FAQ

1. What is inpatient rehab for depression?
   Inpatient rehab is a structured, 24/7 treatment program where patients live at a facility while receiving therapy, medication management, and medical supervision for depression.
2. How do I know if I need inpatient treatment for depression?
   You may need inpatient care if you have suicidal thoughts, severe symptoms that interfere with daily life, failed outpatient treatment, or require constant support and monitoring.
3. How long does inpatient rehab for depression last?
   Programs typically last from 7 to 30 days, but length varies based on symptom severity, progress, and individual treatment needs.
4. Is inpatient depression rehab covered by insurance?
   Most insurance plans, including employer-based and marketplace policies, offer some coverage for inpatient mental health treatment, though deductibles and prior authorization may apply.
5. What are alternatives to inpatient rehab for depression?
   Alternatives include outpatient therapy, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), partial hospitalization programs (PHP), medication management, and telehealth counseling.