Modern mental health treatments employ a multifaceted approach to wellness, from medication and psychotherapy sessions to alternative therapies that may also aid patients.
Yoga, electrical stimulation, dietary supplements, and animal therapy are among the many practices used to combat depression or anxiety. By improving feelings of well-being and alleviating its symptoms, these techniques may lead to greater feelings of serenity and alleviate associated symptoms.
Yoga
Yoga is an ancient Eastern practice combining body postures, breathing techniques and meditation. Although not intended as a treatment for mental illness, yoga has proven helpful in managing various conditions. Biomedicine often incorporates yoga as part of their treatments alongside psychotherapy or pharmaceutical medication – though some conditions may respond well even without additional therapies being added in. However, some conditions respond very positively just by practicing yoga alone.
Studies of yoga demonstrate its efficacy for treating depression and anxiety disorders. Other research indicates it may reduce chronic pain symptoms and fatigue symptoms as well, though evidence is mixed on these fronts. While yoga can be effective as an adjunct therapy option for many conditions, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, medical advice should still be sought prior to engaging in any alternative treatments such as yoga.
Yoga has been shown to significantly lessen symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A 10-week RCT comparing trauma-sensitive yoga with health education to a control group found that yoga led to significantly lessened PTSD symptoms – improvements were maintained after one year follow-up for this group.
Yoga has been investigated as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders in limited studies; most have involved short-term interventions. A randomized controlled trial involving 55 adults from an acute psychiatric unit receiving standard treatment saw those receiving one or two sessions of yoga have greater reductions in anxiety symptoms compared to their counterparts in the control group.
Stress is one of the major contributors to psychological and physical illness, yet yoga and meditation can reduce it by decreasing cortisol production – a hormone associated with fight-or-flight response – as well as by teaching mindfulness of one’s emotions and body sensations.
Yoga offers many health benefits, but should only be used as an adjunctive therapy within an overall psychiatric treatment plan. Yoga may not be appropriate for individuals suffering from serious psychiatric disorders such as psychotic disorders and severe depression with suicidal tendencies; however, research supporting its efficacy remains promising and should be evaluated further.
Electrical stimulation
Alternative therapies can be highly beneficial to those struggling with mental health conditions. Not only are they cost-effective and holistic in approach, they include yoga, massage, acupuncture, animal therapy and many more therapies that may prove helpful – just be sure to consult a healthcare provider first before embarking on any experimentation of this nature!
Electrical stimulation therapy uses electrodes on the skin to stimulate muscles to contract. It has been found beneficial in helping those suffering from spinal cord injuries, chronic pain and other medical conditions; but as it may cause discomfort it’s recommended speaking to a physical therapist first in order to ensure you receive personalized guidance and recommendations for the optimal result.
Electrical stimulation combined with functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems can significantly improve muscle strength and increase task performance speed for patients. Furthermore, it may stimulate their own innate pain-relieving neurotransmitters to decrease need for pharmaceutical painkillers while simultaneously increasing effectiveness of therapy sessions.
Research indicates that people living with mental illness tend to utilize general medical services; however, their use of alternative therapies remains unknown. This study investigates their perception of alternative practices among adults diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI). Respondents were recruited using various methods including Internet announcements, mailings to mental health organizations and word-of-mouth.
Many individuals with mental health disorders face difficulty accessing traditional counseling and medications due to cost concerns, limited insurance coverage or lengthy wait lists for care providers. According to a report released by the Surgeon General (1) highlighting high rates of mental disorders but few receiving effective treatments, this article presents five alternative therapies which could supplement talk therapy and enhance quality of life while decreasing dependence on psychotropic medications.
Dietary supplements
There are various dietary supplements that may help ease symptoms of mental health disorders, including anxiety and relaxation. Others such as omega-3 fatty acids and kava can reduce anxiety while magnesium and B-complex vitamins may relieve depression symptoms associated with ADHD. It’s essential that any alternative therapies be discussed with a healthcare provider prior to beginning; many methods used are unproven and should not replace psychotherapy or prescription medication as treatments.
Studies have demonstrated that individuals living with mental illnesses who utilize complementary or alternative practices tend to perceive these activities as helpful in improving their mood. These results highlight the necessity of asking patients about any nontraditional practices, while researchers assess these benefits.
Researchers must explore why those with serious psychiatric conditions, like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, tend to use alternative medicine less often but still use therapies at higher rates than people without mental disorders. It is vital for scientists to further investigate why this occurs.
Alternative therapies are utilized by those who do not find comfort from traditional therapy, or prefer alternative forms of self-care. You can find them at bookstores, natural food stores and holistic health care clinics; some methods like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), which serves to process trauma can be especially useful for anxiety sufferers or people living with post traumatic stress disorder.
Noteworthy is the fact that most individuals who utilize alternative therapies for mental health also utilize some form of conventional treatment, for instance those experiencing depression or anxiety are more likely to consult a psychiatrist, while at the same time turning to alternative methods like acupuncture or massage therapy as self-care options – perhaps because they understand these techniques better and believe they can help treat their mental illness condition more effectively.
Animal therapy
Animal therapy is an alternative mental health therapy which uses specially trained animals to help people cope with various conditions. It can be utilized by doctors and mental health specialists alike in treating an array of disorders; though specific goals for each patient must first be established first. Some individuals may not respond positively to animal therapy so it’s wise to speak to your physician first before trying it yourself.
People who love animals often experience positive outcomes from animal-assisted therapy. Interacting with pets increases feelings of empathy and reduces stress levels while improving physical health and skill acquisition. Many who suffer from depression report that pets help relieve their symptoms while also acting as motivation to participate in other forms of therapy such as physical or occupational therapy.
Dogs, horses and cats are popular choices when it comes to animal-assisted therapy. Their soothing presence helps sensitize them to human anxiety and agitation and therefore lower it quickly and efficiently. A recent study demonstrated this effect for people living with dementia who petted and fed an animal experience less agitation compared to those who didn’t engage with therapy in this manner. Furthermore, an animal’s presence can increase participation rates which in turn leads to better results from therapy sessions.
People who use animal-assisted therapy often become very attached to the animal they use in therapy, and while this usually isn’t a problem for most, some may find this to be stressful as they become possessive of it or find interactions difficult without feeling discomfort from being around it. Furthermore, animals may carry diseases or infections and it is imperative that all have been tested thoroughly before being used as therapy animals.
Many medical professionals are now turning to animal-assisted therapy as an effective form of therapy for various conditions, particularly autism and developmental delays in children. Children benefit greatly from interaction with trained animal-assisted therapists; furthermore, adolescents who spend time with trained animals may develop greater capacity for empathy as well as being more willing to discuss issues with a counselor.
