The way alternative treatments for mental illness are perceived by the public is changing rapidly. As increasing numbers of sufferers grow dissatisfied with medications that numb the pain and dull the senses, promising new treatments that actually deal with pain and trauma and create well-being are becoming ever more popular. Patients are realizing that although pharmaceuticals are commonly prescribed for mental health issues, they aren’t the only way to treat these problems, and they aren’t working for everyone.
Let’s take a look at 5 promising alternative treatments for mental illness.
1) Nutrition Therapy
Researchers have concluded that the increase in cases of mental health disorders has occurred simultaneously with the deterioration of the western diet. Studies have shown that societies with high levels of fish consumption have lower rates of mental illness, and “this lower incidence rate has proven to be a direct result of omega-3 fatty acid intake.” Other essential vitamins, minerals and acids that many modern diets are deficient in have proven to be essential for mental health.
A study published by the US National Library of Medicine has concluded that “daily supplements of vital nutrients often effectively reduce patients’ symptoms.” The authors provide a laundry list of ailments whose symptoms can be lessened by addressing deficiencies associated with various illnesses, including major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, addiction, and more. The link above contains more information on which supplements can aid in the treatment of which mental health disorder.
2) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
This one may sound a little odd, or “new-age-y”, but in fact, it’s fully approved by the FDA, and endorsed by the Mayo Clinic and other reputable institutions. According to the Mayo Clinic, it works by placing “an electromagnetic coil… near your forehead” which then “painlessly delivers a magnetic pulse that stimulates nerve cells in the region of your brain involved in mood control and depression.” It is believed that this process activates regions of the brain that lie dormant during periods of depression.
One patient who swears by TMS is Martha Rhodes, who wrote the book “3000 Pulses Later” about her experiences with the treatment. A happily married advertising executive who nevertheless experienced severe depression, Ms. Rhodes recounts her struggles with depression and the side-effects and ineffectiveness of the various medications she took before stumbling upon a magazine ad for TMS. She experimented with the therapy and found a cure for her depression, stating: “I’m relieved and thankful there’s an effective, non-drug treatment that’s applied directly to my brain and doesn’t affect the rest of my body. Not only have I recaptured my life, I’ve actually gained more than I had to begin with. I feel more real and clearer now than I have ever felt before.”
3) Oneirogenic and Psychedelic treatments
We’ve written before about Ibogaine’s efficacy in treating depression and PTSD. Oneirogenic substances like Ibogaine and psychedelics such as DMT can induce an “egoless” state, which allows individuals to confront painful memories and build connections with the world around them, connections that those suffering from depression struggle with. Many of those afflicted with depression describe their symptoms as a profound sense of disconnection from other people, themselves, their emotions, and even their senses. A lot of these patients describe the psychedelic experience as a breaking free from the mental prison built by their sense of isolation.
Mental health professionals are beginning to take the promise of psychedelic treatments seriously, and recent studies have shown the immense potential of these drugs in treating depression. One recent study at Johns Hopkins University and NYU experimented with terminal cancer patients facing “existential distress.” Researchers noted that they had “never seen a psychiatric intervention this powerful” and that “antidepressants don’t work in these situations.” For more information, try this interview with best-selling author Michael Pollan, who published the fascinating book “How to Change Your Mind”, an exploration of the effects of psychedelics on the brain.
The Arts
Art, music, and dance have been used to treat mental illness since at least the 1940s. These therapies have been proven to relax, invigorate, and relieve troubled minds, and they’re proven to reduce stress levels. A survey on the health benefits of art in the American Journal of Public Health looked at literature published on the topic between 1995 and 2007 to catalog the health benefits of arts-based therapies. They came up with a laundry list of benefits, but we’ll just focus on mental health.
Music therapy can “improve well-being and relaxation, reduce tension and serum cortisol levels.” Visual art therapy aided with “expressions of grief, positive identity and social networks” while also “decreasing negative emotions and increasing positive ones and trends towards reducing depression.” Movement therapy showed the potential to “expand consciousness at midlife, with patterns of meaning identified in relationships with others, the self, and spirit as well as challenges of loss, illness, and threats to relationships.”
Mindfulness and Meditation
Mindfulness is defined by the UK’s Mental Health Foundation as a mind-body based approach that allows people to manage their thoughts, feelings, and mental health. Popular techniques for mindfulness training are yoga, meditation, and conscious breathing exercises. It is recommended as a preventive practice for those who suffer from depression.
Mindfulness has been shown to affect how the brain works, and even change its structure. Studies have shown that those “undertaking mindfulness training have shown increased activity in the area of the brain associated with positive emotion – the prefrontal cortex – which is generally less active in people who are depressed.” Researchers have also discovered that the areas in the brain that regulate emotions are better developed in individuals who have practiced meditation for 5 years or more.
New Ways of Managing Mental Illness
While pharmaceuticals are a powerful tool for dealing with mental illness, they aren’t the best solution for everyone. Patients and practitioners are realizing that alternative therapies can be just as effective in dealing with depression, stress, anxiety, and a host of other issues. And what’s more, they often come without side effects which can often be worse than the problems they are supposed to solve. If you’re interested in exploring mindfulness, meditation or Ibogaine treatment, feel free to get in touch with us.
For further information visit www.tabularasaretreat.com or call PT +351 965 751 649 UK +44 7961 355 530