When round the clock attention is needed for behavioral modification or to help deal with addictions or other problems, an intensive residential treatment center tends to be very effective. Because the staff at these centers work in teams, you can be sure that whatever issue arises, day or night, it can be dealt with quickly and efficiently, so it doesn’t turn into a crisis. This kind of treatment allows people to make lifelong changes in their reactions and attitudes by immediately addressing emotions and feelings that are at the root of many behavior problems, including sometimes, chemical addiction.
The social aspects of a residential treatment center are important for their success, too. Everyone there has a common bond, and shares similar issues. Everyone’s goal is self improvement, and community members really get an appreciation for people in all stages of recovery. In treatment centers with a communal atmosphere, there’s a healthy dependence that exists, because it’s beneficial to feel useful and to feel gratitude toward others for serving your needs. When members of a community help one another with large projects and day to day living is cooperative and positive, the entire community can be a great source of pride and thankfulness, all in one. It’s a feeling that modern culture doesn’t often duplicate in the teen years, but it’s very beneficial. In fact, it’s one reason kids enjoy summer camp so much.
The clinical aspect of an intensive residential treatment center means that relapses can be monitored and dealt with immediately, and that the physical and mental health of every member is a prime consideration. Diet and exercise are monitored closely and adjustments are made when necessary. This is one way that issues like eating disorders can be treated, too. Regular monitoring of patient’s vital signs, including weight, blood pressure and body temperature are checked daily, or more often if necessary. Such monitoring prevents the spread of illness as well, by detecting infectious diseases that can spread to other residents. Physical illnesses can make other treatments more difficult. When the body isn’t functioning at its best, all systems are affected.
Being immersed in a recovery situation is one reason that an intensive residential treatment center is so effective. When every member of the community shares a similar goal of self improvement, it creates a positive and supportive atmosphere. Counselors at residential treatment facilities have often been through treatment themselves and are now using their experiences to help others. Creating lifelong relationships with people who strive for a better life is important, especially when they’re recovering from something their old friends were enabling, like chemical addictions.
When someone has hit rock bottom and is in need of an intensive residential treatment center, the constant monitoring of the body’s physical and emotional state, along with the social reconditioning that can only occur by forming close bonds with others in recovery is often the most efficient solution toward the goal of living again. There are treatment centers all over the world, and many are even covered by medical insurance. Some states have programs to help the uninsured, and financial assistance is often available, too.