Natural Ways to Overcoming Mental Health Issues
Suggested Reading:
Mindfulness Exercise for Self-Acceptance
The Spiritual Meaning of Depression
Coping with depression and anxiety
We live in a society that's often dominated by people trying to get a quick fix. Unfortunately, this means that a lot of people go to the doctor when they feel that they have a mental illness, like depression or anxiety.
While this can be a good solution in a pinch, there are many natural ways that you can overcome mental health issues that won't lead you to becoming dependent on pharmaceutical drugs. (Important Note: if your mental health issue is serious, or could lead to you harming yourself or others, medication may be a viable option.)
See a Psychologist
When someone struggles with mental health issues, one of the first recommendations is to see a psychologist. Unfortunately, many people don't know the first thing about what a psychologist actually is, or what they do.
Psychologists have extensive training, and are able to help people identify mental health problems based on symptoms. They can help them work on solutions and understand their own feelings. Many psychologists work in conjunction with psychiatrists, who may decide to prescribe you pharmaceuticals.
See a Therapist
Many people confuse therapists and counselors, and it's important to understand the distinction. Many therapists are psychologists, but not all psychologists are therapists.
Therapists work with the patient's feelings, helping them develop an understanding of their own feelings and issues. They are qualified to give specific forms of non-medicated treatment to help patients manage their conditions.
Reduce Stress
A lot of people are high-strung and have a lot of problems with stress. This can be hugely problematic. Not only is stress an issue on its own, but it can be a catalyst for a huge number of other mental health problems.
High stress levels can lead to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and emotional instability. Reducing stress is paramount if you want to work on any other mental health problems.
Begin Meditating
Meditating has been a popular practice in the East for many thousands of years, and it's becoming more and more popular here in the West. Meditation has been shown to help reduce stress and depression, and can be considered instrumental for helping to restore balance to your mental health.
Put Your Downloads to Good Use
While this isn't necessarily a "natural" way to overcome mental health issues, it's important to note the role technology plays in our lives today. The aforementioned stress and meditation can now be managed/completed through apps like Calm or Headspace. These mobile applications often charge a small monthly fee, and for the most part have good overall ratings from thousands of users. So if you believe you are unable to personally manage your stress levels (or you deal with other mild mental health disorders), it may be worth looking into these mindfulness apps.
In Conclusion
There are a lot of ways that you can help yourself with a mental health problem that don't involve taking pharmaceutical medication. The two first things you should try are stress reduction and meditation - either by yourself or with the assistance of technology.
If those don't work, you can seek a mental health professional. Now that you understand the difference between a psychologist and a therapist, this should be a bit easier. Good luck, and don't hesitate to seek help.
