Mood and anxiety disorders are the most common types of mental health disorders among Canadians. Despite the fact that mood and anxiety disorders affect one-in-five Canadians of all ages, genders, income levels, and ethnicities, the stigma around mental health continues to be one of the biggest barriers preventing individuals from seeking the help that they so desperately need.
Approximately one-in-ten Canadians use health services annually for mood and anxiety disorders, with an ever-increasing rate among adolescents and adult females. The conversation around mental health continues to grow and the issue of accessibility of services is now on the forefront of these discussions. This is primarily due to the growing impact of mental health disorders on youth—suicide is among the leading causes of death for Canadians between the ages of 15 and 24.
Now, more than ever, residential treatment programs are gaining recognition and popularity for their effectiveness in treating mood and anxiety disorders. This comes as no surprise to mental health professionals across Canada.
What Are Mood Disorders?
Mood disorders are described as ongoing disturbances in mood that include large fluctuations in attitude and temperament. The most common mood disorders include depression and bipolar disorder. The symptoms of mood disorders are problematic for both the individuals experiencing them and for the people close to them. The following are some symptoms of mood disorders:
- Attempting or thinking about suicide
- Loss of interest in activities that were enjoyed in the past
- Persistent and uncontrollable anxiety, sadness, or feelings of emptiness
- Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, or guilt
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
What Are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorders interfere with a person’s quality of life and their ability to function effectively in various social situations such as work, school, or at home. The following are some examples of anxiety disorders:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Phobias
As with mood disorders, the symptoms of anxiety disorders can be detrimental to both the affected individuals and to the people around them. The following are some symptoms of anxiety disorders:
- Panic, fear, or uneasiness
- Sleep problems
- Inability to stay calm or still
- Cold, sweaty, numb, or tingling hands or feet
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle tension, sweating, or heart palpitations
- Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
- Nausea or dizziness
How Can Residential Treatment Help with Mood and Anxiety Disorders?
The most effective residential treatment programs for mood and anxiety disorders are usually around seven weeks long. This gives clinical staff enough time to help patients work through their challenges and make significant and lasting recovery gains.
Residential treatment helps manage and mitigate risks associated with symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders. For example, residential treatment would be beneficial for a patient who suffered from depression and was deemed to be at risk of suicide. Residential treatment also makes it possible to frequently observe patients and control their environments, which can help resolve ambiguous diagnoses. Residential treatment also makes it easier to provide patients with structure to help them incrementally improve their abilities to perform normal daily activities and self-care tasks.
Residential treatment for mood and anxiety disorders can also help patients improve their physical health. Since mental health and physical health are interrelated, mood and anxiety disorders can make the body more susceptible to other diseases. Individuals who suffer from depression have higher rates of ulcers and heart disease, as well as neurological disorders from chronic stress.
Residential treatment programs that provide evidence-based treatment, such as the EHN Mood and Anxiety Program (MAP), are especially effective because they teach patients effective self-management strategies and coping skills. Residential treatment can be traumatic for some patients because it separates them from their families and social support networks. However, MAP provides a supportive, compassionate, and non-judgmental environment in which patients can feel safe and comfortable, allowing them to focus on getting better.
Delaying Treatment May Harm You
People who are reluctant to seek professional treatment for mood and anxiety disorders suffer greatly as a result. Left untreated, mood and anxiety disorders can erode a person’s ability to maintain healthy relationships. Individuals may become overly critical of themselves for not being able to simply “snap out of it” or they may become extremely irritable with others.
The most effective residential treatment programs, such as the EHN Mood and Anxiety Program (MAP), educate patients to help them understand their disorders and how to effectively cope with their symptoms. Effective treatment programs also teach patients how to live healthy lives, covering topics that include including diet, sleep habits, social activities, and physical activities including exercise.
Effectively addressing one’s mood or anxiety disorder in our fast-paced world can be very difficult. However, EHN’s residential Mood and Anxiety Program (MAP) can help you make significant and lasting recovery gains so that you can live a healthier, happier, more satisfying life. You deserve to feel your best and a residential treatment program can show you how. No one should suffer through life with a mood or anxiety disorder! Residential treatment programs are the safest, fastest, and most effective way to get better and stay better.
We Can Help You!
If you would like to learn more about the EHN Mood and Anxiety Program (MAP) or if you would like to enrol, please call us at
416-644-6343. Our phone lines are open 24/7—so you can call us anytime.
