| An alternative approach to mental health care | | | | the thoughts from your mind, people have noticed |
| that emphasizes the interrelationship between | | | | they feel more centered and serene. A person |
| mind, body, and spirit can play an important role in | | | | does not have to sit in a lotus position or even |
| recovery and healing. Although some people with | | | | chant in order for this practice to work. Take |
| mental health problems recover using alternative | | | | about ten minutes a day to sit in a quiet place in |
| methods alone, most people combine them with | | | | your home (wearing headphones to drown out |
| other, more traditional treatments such as | | | | noises if you can't find peace and quiet) and |
| therapy and, perhaps, medication. It is crucial, | | | | simply let any thoughts that enter into the mind |
| however, to consult with your health care | | | | out again. Whenever you begin to think about |
| providers about the approaches you are using to | | | | something, just let it go and focus on your |
| achieve mental wellness. | | | | breathing. In time, you will have fewer and fewer |
| Acupuncture | | | | thoughts, helping to relax your body as well as |
| Acupuncture is one of the alternative therapies | | | | your mental issues. |
| that are getting a lot of attention for mental | | | | Massage therapy: The underlying principle of this |
| health. In this practice, your body is regarded as a | | | | approach is that rubbing, kneading, brushing, and |
| system of energetic pathways. When one of | | | | tapping a person's muscles can help release |
| these pathways is disrupted, it can cause mental | | | | tension and pent emotions. It has been used to |
| health problems. When the acupuncturist identifies | | | | treat trauma-related depression and stress. A |
| the blocked pathway, however, and then inserts a | | | | highly unregulated industry, certification for |
| needle into the area, they can help to improve | | | | massage therapy varies widely from State to |
| the energy movement, reducing the mental health | | | | State. Some States have strict guidelines, while |
| symptoms. Though this was once dismissed as a | | | | others have none. |
| false science, more studies are showing that | | | | Prayer |
| these needle treatments do work - and they can | | | | When you believe in something greater than |
| work in the long term. You can find acupuncture | | | | yourself, research is shows that you might have |
| practitioners in nearly every city by heading to | | | | a smaller chance of mental health issues. There |
| your local phone book. | | | | seems to be something about recognizing the idea |
| Exercise and Diet | | | | that you aren't in control of everything, so when |
| While this may not be considered alternative, | | | | you give that control to someone or something |
| most people wouldn't think that lifestyle changes | | | | else through prayer, you can begin to find balance |
| could contribute to their mental health. But it's | | | | in life. By simply sitting down and praying each |
| true. Since your body is comprised of a vast | | | | day, you can begin to establish your place in the |
| number of systems that require the proper | | | | world. |
| nutrition and blood flow in order to work properly, | | | | Music/Sound Therapy: It is no coincidence that |
| it stands to reason that taking on healthy habits | | | | many people turn on soothing music to relax or |
| will allow you to also improve the mental health of | | | | snazzy tunes to help feel upbeat. Research |
| your body. Nerve cells that are well-nourished | | | | suggests that music stimulates the body's natural |
| may be better able to stay balanced. An attempt | | | | "feel good" chemicals (opiates and endorphins). |
| to add thirty minutes of exercise to every day | | | | This stimulation results in improved blood flow, |
| and eating a healthier diet is a great start. | | | | blood pressure, pulse rate, breathing, and posture |
| Meditation | | | | changes. Music or sound therapy has been used |
| Used for centuries, the practice of meditation is | | | | to treat disorders such as stress, grief, |
| still considered a great way to calm the mind and | | | | depression, schizophrenia, and autism in children, |
| often still any mental health disorders. By sitting in | | | | and to diagnose mental health needs. |
| a comfortable position and simply trying to clear | | | | Read out Natural cures. |