Alternative methods to mental health care go beyond medication and therapy. They emphasize the interrelationship of mind, body, and spirit. Alternative options are not new, but they remain controversial alternatives or additions to Western mental health care. These are just few examples that may help you cope with your mental health disorder.
Self-Help Groups
It is a valuable tool to interact with others who have had similar experiences. For self-empowerment and recovery, self-help groups are invaluable. A self-help group offers a way to connect with others who have been through similar experiences. Some of these groups and meetings include the following:
- People with similar needs
- Facilitation by a survivor or another layperson
- Assistance for life-threatening events such as death or serious accidents, abuse or addiction, or the diagnosis of a mental or physical disability
- Operation on an informal, non-profit, free-of-charge basis
- Voluntary, anonymous, and confidential
- Support and Education
Nutrition And Diet
Although diet and nutrition cannot fix hormonal imbalances, they can make the symptoms more manageable. People with mental illness can improve their eating habits by changing what they eat. Some studies have shown that removing wheat and milk products can help reduce symptoms in children with autism or schizophrenia. Some doctors also use holistic treatments to treat anxiety, depression, and autism.
Spiritual Counseling
It is often more relaxing to talk with religious leaders than with a therapist who isn’t affiliated with any religious group. While religious leaders may have some training in counseling, those who find prayer helpful in relieving stress can also benefit from therapy from their priests or pastors. Counselors who work in traditional faith communities may find it necessary to combine psychotherapy and medication with prayer and spirituality to treat mental disorders effectively.
Animal-Assisted Therapies
Working with animals or under the supervision of a professional can help people with mental illness. This is because it facilitates positive changes such as improved socialization skills and greater empathy. Group therapy programs can include animals to foster communication and increase focus. Individual therapy with animals has been proven to be a great way to increase self-esteem, reduce loneliness, and lower anxiety.
Expressive Therapy
Expressive therapy is a way to express oneself through art. It can be used as a tool for communication and stress management. Art therapy, for example, uses drawing, painting, and sculpting to help people deal with inner conflicts, release deeply repressed emotions, improve self-awareness and promote personal growth. Some mental health professionals use art therapy to diagnose and treat disorders like depression, schizophrenia, abuse-related trauma, and other conditions.
Culturally-Based Healing Arts
Many healing methods used by health professionals in combination with Western medicine can be found in non-Western cultures. The following beliefs are found in non-Western cultures:
- Wellness is balancing your spiritual, physical, and mental/emotional selves.
- Imbalances in the body can cause illness
- This imbalance can easily be rectified by natural/herbal remedies, nutrition, exercise, meditation, and prayer
Yoga/Meditation
Meditation and yoga can improve breathing, posture, flexibility, stress reduction, and well-being. Many mental health professionals encourage people to practice yoga, meditation, and other treatments for depression, anxiety, stress-related disorders, and other conditions.
Relaxation And Stress-Reduction Techniques
Many people have found that stress reduction and relaxation techniques help manage their mental health issues. These techniques have been proven effective in treating mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, panic disorders, phobias, addiction, and stress.
- Biofeedback
- Guided imagery/visualization
- Telemedicine
- Massage therapy
- Telephone counseling
- Electronic communications
- Radio psychiatry
Thanks to technology, people can now seek help anonymously without leaving home. People living in rural areas can seek counseling even if none is available. Online consumer groups have also been able to exchange information, views, and experiences on mental health. This has allowed them to seek out alternative treatments that they hadn’t considered before.
