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