Treatment is something that health care providers do to control a disease or its symptoms. It can involve medicine, therapy or other approaches. Sometimes, a treatment cures a condition. But many times, it simply helps people live with the condition. For example, to treat athlete’s foot, health care providers may use special creams or powders that kill the fungus that causes it. But these treatments can’t completely cure athlete’s foot — the condition will probably return once the fungus survives.
For mental health conditions, treatment can mean counseling or therapy, peer support services and self-help methods. Research shows that most of these methods are effective. Some are also covered by health insurance plans.
Talk therapy, or psychotherapy, is a common form of treatment. It can help with a variety of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and trauma. Talk therapy can be short-term, such as weekly sessions with a therapist. Or it can last months or even years, depending on your needs.
Other treatment options include detox and other medications. These medications can help reduce the withdrawal symptoms of certain substances and prevent drug use relapse. Some medications can also help with underlying mental illness.
Other treatment options include inpatient or residential rehabilitation, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient rehabilitation. These programs offer more hours of treatment a week than traditional outpatient rehab. Some also offer family sessions to help you and your loved ones discuss the recovery process. Family and peer support services can also be helpful for those who are recovering from addiction or other mental illnesses.