Traditional treatments for depression typically include medication and talk therapy; however, there may be other therapies which could prove equally as beneficial.
These treatments may help to alleviate stress, increase energy levels and enhance mood. They include yoga, meditation, reflexology and acupuncture – as well as cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy as possible options.
Meditation
Studies are increasingly suggesting that meditation can reduce symptoms of depression; however, ongoing research must still be completed. But it should be remembered that meditative therapies don’t replace conventional treatments like psychotherapy and medication; rather they supplement existing efforts.
Studies of meditative therapies that have been conducted thus far demonstrate a range of positive outcomes, such as stress reduction and decreased anxiety levels. It’s also essential to recognize that results vary across meditation techniques, meaning any conclusions drawn from randomized control trials must take this difference into account when drawing their conclusions.
Yoga can help relieve physical tension caused by depression by relaxing muscles. Reflexology, another meditative therapy, involves stimulating pressure points on hands and feet with specific movements; according to its theory, these pressure points represent energy channels within your body which can open or close with specific movements.
Other alternative treatments for depression may include TMS, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), herbal remedies and TENS devices; it’s wise to speak to your physician first before trying any of these approaches. Psychotherapy or talk therapy has proven most successful for helping manage depression; often used alongside antidepressant medication regimens. Psychotherapy helps identify negative thoughts and behaviors as well as manage relationships more effectively.
Yoga
Yoga is a form of exercise which has been proven to help combat depression symptoms by using breathing exercises and postures to calm the mind, reduce tension, increase blood circulation and overall health, create an experience connecting body with universe as well as an exercise nonjudgmentally enjoyed by people of all fitness levels.
Recent research from Metropolitan State University of Denver’s departments of Psychology, Math and Statistics conducted a meta-analysis on this subject and discovered yoga can aid depression by decreasing depressive symptoms while increasing feelings of well-being. Researchers in these departments conducted their meta-analysis on 152 studies related to yoga for depression treatment; their meta-analysis concluded that it can also reduce cortisol levels while activating GABAergic networks within the brain – both processes which could benefit practitioners looking for relief from symptoms of depression.
Study participants with mild to moderate depression who practiced yoga twice weekly for eight weeks experienced a reduction in symptoms as well as an increased rate of remission than those who didn’t participate in the research study. Furthermore, those in the yoga group saw improvements faster than their waitlist control group counterparts.
Researchers conducted another study comparing yoga to relaxation techniques as a form of treatment for chronic or treatment-resistant depression patients. Participants’ scores on depression, anxiety, rumination and stress assessments before and after participating in the nine-week yoga program showed significant decreases in depression, anxiety and stress levels that continued for four months post treatment.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a type of massage in which pressure is applied to specific points on the feet that correspond with various organs and systems in the body. Although this therapy has existed for millennia, modern forms were first created by William Fitzgerald and Eunice Ingham during the early 20th century and used to help relieve anxiety. Reflexology therapy can be helpful with stress and other conditions as well.
Though some research indicates that reflexology can improve mood, more studies must be conducted in order to support its claims. Qualitative explorative methods should also be utilized as this may reveal additional contributing factors that contribute to its efficacy; such approaches should also be combined with RCTs in order to gain a comprehensive view of both clinical context and experience of patients receiving reflexology therapy.
Alternative therapies that may help alleviate depression include herbal remedies, lifestyle modifications and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). These can be used independently or combined with traditional talk therapy and medication treatments; furthermore they’re affordable options available within your community.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that alternative treatments should not replace medical advice; if you are suffering from depression consult your physician first before trying any alternative approaches. Also make sure that the reflexologist you select has undergone extensive training and holds both Level 2 first aid certification and professional indemnity insurance as these credentials indicate professionalism and assurance of quality service.
Exercise
Exercise can not only keep us physically healthy; it may also help alleviate depression symptoms. While not a magic bullet, research has demonstrated that regular physical activity may be as effective as antidepressants in some instances – and may even prove more so for certain individuals when used alongside psychotherapy and other forms of treatment methods.
Exercise can help to alleviate depression in many forms, from walking or jogging, yoga and strength training to other forms. Finding something enjoyable and sustainable is important when starting an exercise regime; always consult your physician first!
Reflexology and massage therapies have both been found to help reduce depression. Reflexology works on the principle that nerves in your hands and feet connect directly with all parts of the body; applying pressure to these points may facilitate healing.
Although alternative treatments for depression may provide temporary relief, they should never replace therapy or medication as the only forms of therapy or medicine available to you. It’s essential that if they don’t seem to help, that you speak to a professional regarding other possibilities – cognitive behavioral therapy could help change distorted or negative thinking patterns while increasing stress coping capabilities; interpersonal psychotherapy might be particularly useful in this respect.
Herbal remedies
Alternative therapies for depression may help alleviate symptoms and can be combined with traditional treatment approaches like counseling sessions and medication to speed recovery.
Holistic methods like aromatherapy, reflexology and acupuncture may provide relief to people suffering from depression who don’t have access to more conventional treatments like medication or therapy; additionally they may help manage any side effects caused by medications prescribed as well as aiding their use.
Herbal remedies have been used medicinally for millennia. Unfortunately, most have not been scientifically evaluated to see their efficacy against depression. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) may help moderate cases by blocking serotonin reuptake and monoamine oxidase; it should always be discussed with your GP or other mental health professional first as some herbs could interfere with prescription medication and cause adverse reactions.
Alternative therapies should only be explored as complementary measures if more traditional treatments haven’t shown any progress, not as replacements for talking therapies or medications. If you would like more information about alternative therapies for depression please reach out to the Priory Wellbeing Centre Harley Street and arrange for an initial appointment.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment which involves inserting needles at specific points on the body to balance levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin that help regulate mood regulation. Acupuncture has also proven successful at treating various conditions including depression; its exact effect as an effective standalone therapy remains to be fully determined.
Yoga and meditation, reflexology, herbal remedies and bright light therapy are also proven alternative treatments for depression that have some scientific backing. These may be used in combination with talk therapy and medications to increase effectiveness; however, they should only ever be seen as complementary measures instead of alternatives.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or rTMS, has become the go-to treatment for depression. This noninvasive therapy uses magnets to stimulate areas of the brain associated with mood regulation. Studies have demonstrated its success at alleviating depression among patients who do not respond well to antidepressant medication. rTMS should not be confused with electroconvulsive therapy which is more intensive treatment administered in hospital settings and may have serious side effects.
Exposure therapy, an emerging treatment for anxiety and phobias, involves gradually exposing oneself to objects they fear; this method may prove especially helpful in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For instance, watching videos about airplanes may help overcome one’s fear of flying.
