So you’re at that point. The point where you or someone you love needs help. Real help. Not just “talk to someone” help or “try meditation” help. The kind of help that requires professionals and programs and probably insurance claims.
Nonetheless, nobody prepares you for the hard choices you need to make. Like whether you need to pack a bag and disappear into treatment for weeks. Or whether you can keep your job, your routine, and your illusion of normal life while you try to fix what’s broken.
Welcome to the world of inpatient versus outpatient mental health treatment. It’s confusing. It’s overwhelming. If you are reading this in Lincolnshire, Illinois, you must be wondering what the pros and cons of joining either program are.
Hence, let us take a look at these two programs and compare their strengths and weaknesses so you can determine which one would be a better option to follow.
Inpatient Treatment—When Life Becomes Too Much to Handle at Home
Inpatient mental health rehab becomes a necessity when everything falls apart at once. When your depression is so severe you can’t trust yourself alone. When your anxiety has you calling 911 because you’re convinced you’re dying. When your eating disorder has you weighing 90 pounds and still seeing fat in the mirror.
It’s a residential treatment program where you pack a bag, kiss your family goodbye, and move into a facility where professionals watch you 24/7. In the US, there are around 109,241 inpatient psychiatric beds available. That sounds like a lot until you realize how many people need them.
That is what inpatient is like: You get up at 7 AM as they wake you up. You have breakfast at 8 AM since that is when it is served. At 9 AM, you have group therapy; at 11 AM, individual therapy; at 2 PM, medication management; and at 4 PM, art therapy. Your day is structured down to the minute because structure is what keeps some people alive.
The Pros of Inpatient Treatment
You can’t hurt yourself. That’s the big one. When you’re having thoughts about not wanting to be here anymore, 24/7 supervision is lifesaving. The professionals aren’t just available during business hours. They’re there at 3 AM when the panic attacks hit. They’re there when you’re throwing up from medication side effects or crying in the hallway because you feel alone.
You get a team. Not just one therapist you see once a week. A psychiatrist, a psychologist, a social worker, and maybe a nutritionist if you’re dealing with eating issues. They all talk to each other. They all know your story and work toward the same goals.
The medication management is intense. This means they will carefully look after how every pill affects you. Monitor doses. Substitute drugs and manage your symptoms in real-time. In an inpatient setting, you no longer have to wait two weeks before your next appointment to know whether the antidepressant is progressing well.
The Hard Stuff About Inpatient Treatment
The stigma is real. People in Lincolnshire are generally understanding about mental health, but there’s still something different about “I’m in therapy” versus “I was hospitalized for depression.” Some people will get it. Others won’t. And that’s hard to come back to.
Your autonomy disappears. You can’t have your phone whenever you want. You can’t leave the building. You can’t order pizza at midnight or take a shower at 2 AM. You live by the rules of another person, and that is infantilizing in itself when you already have a problem with the feeling of powerlessness.
On top of that, the price is brutal. Even with good insurance, inpatient treatment can cost thousands out of pocket. Without insurance? We’re talking tens of thousands. In towns like Lincolnshire, where many people have decent jobs with decent insurance, you might still find yourself maxing out your annual mental health benefits.
Outpatient Treatment—Keeping Your Life While You Fix It
Outpatient treatment is for when you need help but you can’t disappear from your life. You may have kids who need you home at night and a job that provides your insurance. Therefore, you live at home. You go to work. Meanwhile, you show up for therapy appointments and group sessions. Yes, you’re getting treatment, but you’re also maintaining the balance.
In places like Lincolnshire, this often looks like driving to the nearest mental health centers like Resilience Behavioral Health for intensive outpatient programs. Three hours of group therapy, three days a week. Or daily appointments for a few weeks, then tapering down to weekly sessions.
Why Outpatient Treatment Can Be Amazing
Flexibility. You can schedule appointments around your work, your kids’ schedules, and your life. You’re not putting everything on hold to get better. You’re integrating getting better into your actual life.
You remain close to your family, your friends, and your community. You also get to practice recovery skills in real-world situations.
Besides, outpatient therapy is covered by most insurance plans at decent copays. And thus it is a lot cheaper. Concerning the stigma, it is minimal. You can keep your treatment confidential, and no one will need to know. You will be able to keep both your privacy and social connections at hand.
Why Outpatient Treatment Can Be Challenging
There is limited supervision; that means you’re on your own between appointments. If you’re having a crisis at 10 PM on a Tuesday, you’re calling a crisis hotline or going to the emergency room. Your therapist isn’t down the hall.
Furthermore, less structure gives you more excuses to skip appointments, avoid difficult conversations, or fall back into old patterns. Nobody is forcing you to attend group therapy. No one is checking to see that you are taking your medication.
Finally, there is less progress because there is no round-the-clock, intense attention that is given to patients when they are inpatients. It may even take you months or even years to get what may have been done in weeks in inpatient care.
Finding Help in Lincolnshire
Living in Lincolnshire puts you in a good position for mental health treatment. You’re close to excellent facilities in Chicago. You’re in a community that generally supports mental health treatment. Many residents have good insurance through their employers.
If you are still confused about which treatment will suit you best, contact our team today to make an informed decision. The professional team at Resilience Behavioral Health will thoroughly take your history, make a diagnosis, and suggest what’s best for you.
