With 1 in 5 adolescents diagnosed with depression every year in America, many of those go on to treatment beyond the pills and weekly sessions, and into Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient centers. I am one of those adolescents. At 18 years old, I was admitted to a program that changed my life. A year later, I am here to tell you why it was the best decision I have ever made for myself.

1. You learn to love yourself, even the messy parts

Before treatment, I was my own harshest critic; I couldn't go a day without picking myself apart. Treatment didn’t magically fix everything, but it taught me how to look in the mirror and see someone worth caring about. It showed me that not only am I good enough, but that I am okay with being good enough.

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2. You learn how to heal family relationships

Many teenagers struggle in relationships with their parents, through slamming of doors, silent dinners, and never-ending fights. Through treatment, I begrudgedly attended family therapy sessions, and while they were dreadful, my relationships with both my mom and dad have never been stronger.

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3. You learn how to make lasting friendships

I learned to let go of those relationships that did not positively serve me, but more importantly, learned to find and keep the friendships I was terrified to lose. I was terrified I would be abandoned by the people I called my ‘chosen family’, this was rooted in a deep belief that I was unlikable. With the help of treatment, I was able to stabilize the friendships I know will be life-long.

4. You take back control of your anxiety

While it will never completely dissipate, I learned to breathe through panic attacks instead of letting them spiral into entire days lost. I have learned how to cope properly and handle crisis moments to the extent that my anxiety no longer controls my life.

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5. You discover your true self

Before treatment, I cringed at the thought of unveiling my identity, specifically my sexuality.. I was terrified to be vulnerable not only to others, but to myself. I feared judgment and rejection. Eventually, through many hard therapy sessions, I started to feel confident in who I am and who I am becoming

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6. You learn how to communicate effectively

Communication is apparently the key to any long-lasting relationship and a healthy life, who knew? I sure didn’t. I learned how to communicate my needs while listening to others. While yes, a seemingly basic skill, it was one that many cannot fully grasp, but one that needs to be achieved.

7. You realize asking for help is a sign of strength

The stigma that asking for, and needing help, is a sign of weakness was abolished within my first few days in treatment when I realized everyone around me, the younger girl learning to eat again, and the boy battling addiction, were some of the strongest people I have ever met.

8. You gain immense respect from everyone around you

Previous to the point above, more and more people are starting to recognize that asking for help is a strength. For that reason, people have come to respect it. Sure, there are, of course, those who are uncomfortable when I mention the times of my depression, but we live in the 21st century.

Treatment is something to be proud of, not ashamed. You definitely get some street cred.

9. You discover you are not alone

Depression, anxiety, and honestly any mental illness has an intense isolating feeling, at times it may feel like you are the only one on the planet experiencing this deep sense of loneliness. That is what I thought prior to treatment. Yet, when I realized I was in group therapy with 10 other kids who were experiencing similar emotions, it gave me a sense of comfort that I was not alone. That my problems are thankfully not unique.

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10. You learn tools that you’ll use for life

A common treatment practice aimed at regulating big emotions, called DBT, was taught to me. It has given me numerous skills, such as holding ice on my temples to shock my system when a panic attack is arising, and putting something utterly sour in my mouth (aka a warhead) when a moment of distress occurs. These are skills that I use even a year post-treatment, and proof that you don’t need to be in treatment forever to keep getting better.

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11. You notice improvement in your work and academics

Where I once was unmotivated to pick up any textbook or open my laptop if it wasn't for Hulu or Prime Video, my mindset shifted into one where I felt like I could truly thrive in school. I felt motivated again in life. Something I didn’t realize the extent to which I was lacking until I got it back.

12. You become a Ping Pong master

For some reason, I have not heard of a treatment center that does not have a ping pong table. The people I went to treatment with who were there long before me, continuously beat me. I was surprised why these 14-year-olds were so much better than I, but I guess that is one of the benefits of poor mental health: you excel at ping pong.

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13. You find reasons to smile again

Treatment is scary. Depression is lonely. Mental health can be very scary.

This fear often takes away the moments of joy that are worth living for. For a while, even at the start of treatment, I didn’t think finding that joy was possible. I am here to tell you that laughing so hard your stomach hurts and smiling at an old couple is possible.