Tms: An Alternative Treatment For Depression
Depression is a common medical illness that negatively effects how you feel, changes the way you think, and can influence the way you act. Its severity ranges from mild to life threatening. It is estimated that one in 15 adults suffers from a form of depression and that one in six will experience depression at some point in their lives. It is a serious matter that if left unattended, can create highly-undesirable consequences for the individual and their loved ones.
However, there are plenty of potential treatments for depression which may help mitigate its negative effects. These treatment options range from holistic and natural depression treatments, to alternative depression treatments , to the mainstream options.
Sticking With Your Depression Treatment
Whatever treatment plan you choose, itâs important to stick with it to give it enough time to work. It may take up to several weeks or longer before you start to feel a benefit from any depression treatment, including antidepressants. Make sure to keep your doctor involved in the process and let them know how youâre doing.
If your treatment plan isnât working after a few weeks, donât give up. There are many different medications and treatment options you can try. Often, people find that if one type of treatment or medication doesnât work, something else will.
âI just kept trying different things until I found the combination that worked for me,â Brennan says. âIt takes a little bit of work, but the end result — getting over my depression — has definitely been worth it.â
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What Is Samhsa’s National Helpline
SAMHSAs National Helpline, , or TTY: is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.
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When To See A Doctor
While natural treatments can help with anxiety symptoms, some signs may indicate that you need to call your doctor:
- Your anxiety is chronic , and it interferes with your ability to function daily
- Your symptoms have persisted for six months or more
- Youâre experiencing physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, difficulty sleeping, stomach issues, or chronic fatigue
- Youâre avoiding people or places
- Youâre having thoughts of self-harm or suicide
Your doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety medications or refer you to a specialist. In some cases, the natural remedies described above may be used along with more conventional treatments to help you manage your symptoms.
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Natural Remedies For Depression And Anxiety
Tension, depression, and stress have become the part of our daily lives. Though, every person is facing pressure in some ways however, the intensity is probably different for every person.
Combating the anxiety and depression is a daunting task, but you can make it easier by managing stress with natural herbs.
Nature has offered many gifts to us, and the legal herbs for social anxiety are one of them. It is smarter and safer to manage stress with these herbs, instead of going for pharmaceutical options.
These herbs for managing anxiety offer a safer alternative to many harmful chemicals and medicines.
Also, the natural herbs are natural to tolerate for your digestive and body system. Since ages, people prefer to use natural herbs for managing stress and to treat minor health issues to avoid the dangerous side effects of medicines.
Keeping in view the high ratio of depression in our society, here we are discussing the best 25 remedies for depression and anxiety that are entirely yet effective in treating stress-related issues.
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Learn To Recognize Negative Thinking
Sometimes these thoughts can be obvious, such as times when you berate or criticize yourself. Other times, they can be more subtle. You might find yourself engaging in things like catastrophizing or all-or-nothing thinking.
Catastrophizing involves always anticipating negative outcomes. All-or-nothing thinking means that you think of things as either successes or failures with no in-between. Once you get better at recognizing these cognitive patterns, you can start working on some healthier replacements.
Add Greenery To Your Home Or Office
You may also find it helpful to add indoor plants to your home or office environment. Natural settings are associated with improved mental well-being, so it makes sense that “bringing the outdoors in” might help improve your mood.
Studies have shown that adding indoor plants to your home or office can help in a variety of ways, including:
- Improving the workplace: Research has shown that office spaces enhanced with indoor plants improve worker concentration and workplace satisfaction.
- Reducing stress levels: Another study found that actively interacting with indoor plans by caring for them can reduce both physiological and psychological stress.
- : Research has found that students who spent most of their time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic had better mental health if they were exposed to more green plants. While about a third of the participants reported symptoms of moderate depression, those exposed to more greenery had lower levels of depression and anxiety.
Choosing certain plants may provide additional benefits. For example, research suggests that the scent of a lavender plant can help people feel calmer and more relaxed. No matter what type of plants you choose, greenery can be a great way to beautify your surroundings and potentially improve your mood.
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While There Are Many Suggestions For Dealing With Anxiety And Depression Theres Still A Disconnect Maybe A Holistic Approach To These Mental Impairments Could Bridge The Gap
Every day, I learn a new way to deal with my multiple mental illnesses. I use meditation, essential oils, and even therapy. No matter how many tools I use, however, I am always open to new strategies. I appreciate any holistic approach to anxiety and depression because, with these tools, its natural and focuses on all of you.
Focusing on your entire being is exactly whats needed for mental illness.
Get A Handle On Stress
Stress can drive up levels of a brain chemical called cortisol, which has been found to be higher in folks with depression. There are lots of strategies for coping with stress, such as time management, meditation, and biofeedback training.
Some stress-relieving activities that you might want to incorporate into your daily life include:
- Deep breathing: A few minutes to slow your breathing and focus your attention on your body in the moment can help you get a better handle on your worries.
- Exercise: Regular physical activity is a great way to blow off steam.
- Progressive muscle relaxation: This process involves intentionally tightening muscles throughout the body, holding that tension for several counts, and then releasing that tension until the muscles are completely relaxed. With regular practice, you may be able to learn how to intentionally relax your body fairly quickly whenever you are feeling tense.
Learning to manage your stress takes time and practice. Talk to your doctor or therapist about other strategies you might try to minimize the stress and your response to it.
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Hypnotherapy For Depression Relief
Hypnotherapy is a type of therapy that puts people into a trance-like state where they are conscious and aware but are very relaxed. During this state, patients feel comfortable enough to discuss their circumstances with less obstructive inhibitions and they are more receptive to suggestions. Proponents of this unconventional method of treating depression argue that, Depression often has a cause, and when the cause is found and released and transformed, the depression lifts. Hypnosis uses the ability of the brain to create new neural pathways and connect to the new experiences, imagined vividly in hypnosis. We ask the person to go back to a time when they felt the same emotions while in a trance.
Alcohol Tobacco And Other Drugs
The misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. SAMHSAs 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that approximately 19.3 million people aged 18 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year.
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Listen To Upbeat Music
There’s no doubt that music can have an impact on how you feel, so choosing the right music when you’re feeling down might be an effective way of lifting your mood.
Research has found people who are depressed may have a tendency to choose music that intensifies rumination, sadness, and emotion-focused coping. So while you might be tempted to turn to somber tearjerkers when you’re feeling down, consider listening to more upbeat songs to boost your mood and inspire positive feelings.
Reflexology As An Alternative Depression Treatment
Reflexology is similar to acupuncture in that they both theorize an influence on the bodys vital energy through the stimulation of points on the body. Reflexology focuses on reflex maps of points and areas of the body in the feet, hands, and ears using unique micromovement techniques, such as thumb or finger walking, with the goal of creating a response throughout the body. Believers of reflexology contends that there are pressure points along the hand and feet that, when properly stimulated via reflexology treatment, may relieve symptoms of depression.
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Things Too Many People Misunderstand About Depression
11. Talk it out. See a therapist, psychiatrist, or life coach and express how you feel. Sometimes just finding someone you trust who will help you work through your feelings can make all the difference in the world.
If all else fails and you need antidepressants, don’t beat yourself up. Sometimes you can do everything right, and if your imbalance is biochemical, you may need the drugs. But don’t forget to nurture the rest of you, too. Depression, like most physical and mental illnesses, is multifactorial and requires a global investigation of your whole healthnot just your mind and body, but your relationships, your work, your financial picture, how you express yourself creatively, how you satisfy yourself sexually, your environment, and whether you’re letting your Inner Pilot Light shine.
Natural Remedies For Anxiety
Natural remedies for anxiety are those that donât involve conventional medications . They include things such as herbs, aromatherapy, and performing certain actions that promote relaxation. Some people with anxiety use natural remedies alongside conventional treatments to find relief.
Examples of natural remedies for anxiety include:
Deep Breathing Exercises
Rapid, shallow breathing is a common symptom of anxiety. Breathing in this manner can increase your heart rate, make you feel dizzy, and may even increase the risk of a panic attack. Deep breathing involves taking deliberately deep and measured breaths to restore normal breathing patterns, which can help to reduce anxiety.
Weighted Blankets
Research shows that weighted blankets can be beneficial for alleviating symptoms of anxiety. The pressure helps to put your body into ârest mode,â reducing those symptoms and preparing your body to rest. These blankets come in many different sizes and weights, enabling you to find what works best for you.
Quit Cigarettes and Alcohol
Both alcohol and cigarettes may appear to calm your nerves at first. After taking a drink, however, your anxiety may worsen. A cycle can develop, leading to alcohol dependence.
Several studies also show that smoking can worsen symptoms of anxiety. Therefore, itâs a good idea to try to avoid drinking or smoking to reduce feelings of anxiety.
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A Holistic Approach To Treating Depression
If youâre depressed, taking medication is only one of many treatment options. A holistic approach focuses on treating your whole being — body and mind — to help you feel better. A healthy diet, exercise, and talk therapy are a few of the holistic approaches you can use, along with your medication, to help speed recovery from depression.
In a given year, nearly 15 million adults in the U.S. suffer from depression. Those with depression often have another medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or cancer, which makes treating the whole body even more important. This article looks at the benefits of diet, exercise, and therapy, and how you can use them alone, or with medication, to help treat depression.
Who Is Likely To Suffer From Depressive Disorder
Depression is the second most prevalent mental health disorder affecting Americans, second only to anxiety disorders. While depression can impact people of both genders and all ages, women are predominantly affected. Women experience depressive disorders at a rate of nearly double that of men, according to the National Institute on Mental Health, with rates of 8.5% for women versus 4.8% for men.
It is thought that the role of hormones is a factor in the much higher rates of depression among women. The hormone estrogen seems to play a significant role in some women developing depression. In fact, there are specific depressive disorders that are specific to hormonal functioning, including:
- Premenstrual Depressive Disorder
- Postpartum Depressive Disorder
- Post-menopausal Depression
Other interesting facts about depression include that the highest prevalence of depression is among the young adult demographic, between the ages of 18-25, and is surprisingly high among adolescents, with 9% of all teens aged 12-17 experiencing a depressive episode.
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Holistic Alternatives To Antidepressants
While you may question the direct contribution to helping treat depression, theres no arguing that some of the options for treatments in this section can do no harm . Furthermore, holistic treatments can even help the prevention of of depression and even help reduce the symptoms of depression. These holistic treatments for depression include exercise, sleep, healthy diet, and mindfulness and yoga.
When To Seek Anxiety Treatment
There is no one size fits all method for anxiety relief and how to treat anxiety. If youre seeking alternative, natural remedies for anxiety that can help reduce your symptoms, know that there are options out there for you. Yes, its true that sometimes you might need the help of a therapist, doctor, or even anti-anxiety medication. That said, there are several things you can do to help complement your online therapy or manage your anxiety on your own.
At the end of the day, living a healthier, productive, rewarding life is everyones goal. Knowing some of these holistic remedies for anxiety can only serve to help you get to that peaceful place you long to live in.*You should talk to your doctor before adding any supplement to your diet.
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Check Your Vitamin D Levels For Potential Deficiencies
Vitamin D is linked to levels of serotonin, the mood-boosting hormone that aids in focus and helps you feel calm. Some research has found a link between anxiety disorders, depression, and vitamin D deficiency.
Its important that you speak with a therapist and primary doctor about getting lab tests done on your vitamin D levels. This can help determine if a deficiency is contributing to your anxiety symptoms. From there, you can determine next steps with a doctor to increase your vitamin D levels.
You can up your vitamin D levels by spending time outdoors in the sun, eating fatty fish, ensuring you get enough fortified foods, or taking a supplement.
*You should talk to your doctor before adding any supplement to your diet.
What Impact Does Regular Exercise Have On Depression
Exercise is an easy way for us to activate the release of endorphins, or happy hormones, inside our bodies. Exercise improves our physical, mental, social, and emotional wellbeing. Regular physical activity and exercise can help regulate your mood, establish healthy routines, and boost your self-confidence.
But exercise alone will not solve the root cause of depression. Movement can help soothe the effects of depression and release the trauma that causes it, but its only one piece of the larger picture.
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Where Do I Go From Here
That is a very good question. I recommend first doing some research of your own. the links in this article as well as other articles on this website can help.
You can go from there to assemble your own strategy to recover from your issues or seek professional help from one of the practitioners in an area that appeals to you. For help with gaining clarity, this Life Strategy Session can help.
Always Note: If you suffer from any medical or health condition, take medication, supplements or use other drugs, ask your doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare practitioner for individual advice before changing your diet, lifestyle or adding any supplements.
That said, you can absolutely achieve complete recovery from depression and anxiety with a good assessment, strategy and even better follow-through. It will take time, but many have done it before you, me included.
Don’t give up and keep on seeking for your best solution. It is out there!
When Should I Contact My Healthcare Provider
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience thoughts about suicide, hurting yourself, or hurting others. Remember, you should always follow your healthcare providers instructions. Never stop taking your medications or start an alternative therapy without approval and supervision.
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Holistic Approach To Anxiety And Depression Treatment
Anxiety and depression affect millions of Americans on literally a daily basis. If you dont suffer from depression and/or anxiety yourself, theres a pretty good chance that you know someone that does. Living with anxiety and depression can be debilitating and prevent the person suffering from being able to live their daily lives. Its why so many who are suffering turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to get some relief and feel better, even if its just temporary.
While this might be a temporary solution, in the long run, it can lead to more significant consequences such as the development of other mental health issues or even addiction. The good news is when it comes to dealing with depression and anxiety, there are many all-natural and healthy approaches to helping. These can include vitamin supplements and even fun activities such as yoga and meditation. Lets take a look at some of these and talk about the benefits of trying the holistic approach to anxiety and depression.