Schizophrenia Treatment Center & Hospital in Chattanooga, TN

Get the facts about treatment for schizophrenia at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital

Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder. Individuals who are suffering from schizophrenia can have difficulty perceiving what is and isn’t real. They may experience delusions and hallucinations, have problems communicating, and otherwise struggle to interact with the world around them in a positive and productive manner.

In the absence of effective treatment for schizophrenia, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy independent life. However, there are many treatment options available for people who have developed schizophrenia.

With the right type and level of care, people can experience relief from the effects of schizophrenia, learn to manage their symptoms, and pursue much more promising futures.

Helping a loved one or family member get treatment for schizophrenia

If a close friend or family member is struggling with schizophrenia, you may be feeling a range of conflicting emotions. Worry, concern, fear, confusion, and even anger are not uncommon reactions when someone in your life develops a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia.

It is important for you to know that these emotions are valid and understandable. However, please don’t let these feelings prevent you from taking actions to help your loved one. The situation is not hopeless, and you are not powerless to help. Please consider the following:

• First, educate yourself on schizophrenia. Visit trusted websites and contact reputable organizations such as treatment centers or advocacy groups. The more you understand about what your loved one may be experiencing, the better prepared you will be to provide meaningful assistance and valuable support.
• Learn about the types and levels of treatment that have helped others who have schizophrenia. Identify schizophrenia treatment centers that appear to be a good fit for your loved one. There is no such thing as one perfect treatment for schizophrenia. What’s most important is finding the center that offers the types and levels of care that will best suit your loved one.
• Talk to your loved one. Most importantly, listen. Their willingness or hesitance to discuss treatment will inform your next steps. If they acknowledge the problem and express a desire to get help, you can work with them to schedule appointments and visit treatment centers. If they’re opposed to the idea of treatment, you may want to discuss options with your family doctor or a mental health advocacy organization in your area.
• Don’t try to do this all on your own. Get a small group of close friends or family members to help you. Together, you can monitor your loved one’s safety, assist one another with research, and offer moral support.
• Take care of yourself. This can be a challenging experience for everyone involved, and you need to make sure you’re not neglecting your own health. Follow a nutritious diet. Get appropriate amounts of sleep and exercise. If you’re struggling emotionally, schedule an appointment with a counselor or therapist. You can’t be the best support for your loved one unless you are also tending to your own physical and emotional needs.
• When your loved one enters treatment, take part in family therapy, family education, and other support services if possible. These opportunities will help you process how you’ve been impacted by your loved one’s struggles with schizophrenia and learn how to best support them during and after their time in treatment.

Finally, be sure to set reasonable expectations. Schizophrenia is a complex mental health challenge. Treatment is an essential first step, but it’s just one step. Be ready to be a source of ongoing support long after your loved one completes treatment for schizophrenia.

Why you should consider receiving care at our schizophrenia treatment hospital

Left untreated, schizophrenia can have a profound negative impact on a person’s life. The symptoms and effects of untreated schizophrenia can make it extremely difficult for a person to work, attend school, form and maintain healthy relationships, achieve financial security, and otherwise fully engage in a fulfilling independent life.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness, but it can also put a person at risk for physical harm. For example, delusions and hallucinations can lead to actions that result in injuries. People who struggle with schizophrenia may fail to take proper care of their physical health and may be less likely to comply with medical advice. Untreated schizophrenia is also associated with a heightened likelihood of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Thankfully, effective treatment options for schizophrenia exist. Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital provides personalized treatment for adults and senior adults whose lives have been impacted by schizophrenia. When you receive the right type and level of care, you can experience a significant increase in the quality and substance of your life.

Learn about therapies used in schizophrenia treatment at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital

Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital is a state-of-the-art, inpatient mental health and addiction treatment facility. Our high-end treatment center serves multiple cities and states, including Tennessee, North Georgia, and Alabama, offering acute care for patients who need crisis stabilization in a safe and secure setting.

Surrounded by trees, fields, and seasonal flora and fauna, our hospital provides a welcoming respite for patients to begin healing from schizophrenia. Comfortable care rooms, courtyard areas for relaxation, and a large gymnasium for exercise and recreation offer a well-rounded treatment experience.

At Erlanger, patients receive the most innovative approach to schizophrenia treatment, with programming that is customized to meet their individual needs.

At Erlanger, our mission is to deliver excellence in the treatment of schizophrenia, and to improve the quality of life for those who are affected by its symptoms. We strive to deliver compassionate, effective care that empowers our patients on their unique paths to healing from schizophrenia.

Our schizophrenia treatment center takes great pride in our ability to provide care in a manner that best meets the needs of our patients. One way that we do this is by offering four distinct programs that allow our patients to receive treatment for schizophrenia in a setting and amidst a population that is most reflective of their needs and stages of life.

These programs include an adult psychiatry program for patients age 18 and older, a geriatric psychiatry program for patients age 65 and older, and a dual diagnosis program for adults age 18 and older. All programs offer a fully comprehensive approach to care, incorporating a variety of evidence-based therapeutic interventions into each patient’s treatment plan. When a patient receives care for schizophrenia at our treatment center, they have access to the following:

Medical care: If a patient has a chronic, but stable, medical condition in addition to schizophrenia, we are able to offer the additional attention they need. Doctors, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses provide medical care for those patients who require these services. Patients have the ability to meet with our medical staff daily.

Medication management: Medication is often a beneficial component in treating schizophrenia. The use of medication, however, is always determined on a case-by-case basis. For those patients who will benefit from medication, our schizophrenia treatment center has psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses who provide medication management services. Patients can expect to meet with a psychiatrist daily.

Detoxification: For patients who are struggling with addiction concerns in addition to schizophrenia symptoms, we offer nonmedical detoxification services on-site. Detox at our treatment center typically lasts between three and seven days. During this time, patients are also able to participate in therapeutic programming so that all of their needs are being met simultaneously. Medication-assisted treatment is also available as part of our detox services, including the use of Suboxone and Subutex. Each patient will work with their treatment team to determine whether to use these medications during detox.

Individual therapy: Licensed social workers and counselors provide confidential one-on-one individual therapy sessions for patients who are struggling with schizophrenia. These sessions offer patients the opportunity to discuss their concerns, process their experiences in treatment, and celebrate successes as they begin recovering from schizophrenia. The frequency of individual therapy sessions at our schizophrenia treatment center is determined throughout the patient’s treatment planning process.

Group therapy: Group therapy is an important part of the healing process at our schizophrenia treatment center. Our highly qualified staff members, including nurses, social workers, counselors, and activity therapists, lead several groups each day and encourage patients to actively support one another in treatment. There are a variety of groups offered, including the following:

• Recovery groups
• Community groups
• General processing groups
• Psychoeducational groups

Family therapy: When patients are struggling with schizophrenia, it can be extremely beneficial to include their family members in the treatment process. At our schizophrenia treatment center, licensed social workers and counselors lead family therapy sessions with patients and their loved ones. Not only does this give family members an opportunity to learn more about schizophrenia, what their loved one is going through, and ways that they can help, but it also provides them with a safe space to discuss how their loved one’s concerns have impacted them as well.

Continuing care options for schizophrenia treatment

Treatment does not simply end once your stay at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital is complete. From the time that you are admitted into our schizophrenia treatment center, your treatment team will begin creating your discharge plan, which will be updated as you progress through treatment. This plan may include referrals to step-down levels of care, information on community resources that are available to you, referrals to support groups, and anything else that your treatment team believes will help you remain successful in healing from schizophrenia.

If you believe that you or your loved one could benefit from the care provided at our schizophrenia treatment center, please do not hesitate to contact us today. Our knowledgeable, compassionate staff members are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any questions you may have, explain more about our programming, and get you started in the admissions process