Taking medicine is just one way to treat depression. However, there are many other forms of treatment. A holistic approach aims to make you feel better by caring for your whole body and mind. Along with your medication, you can use a healthy diet, exercise, and talk therapy to help speed up your recovery from depression.
The holistic approach touches upon four different pillars. When people with depression use this method, their condition often gets better. This method can also change how they feel and how healthy they are.
Traditional treatments for mental health problems are much more extreme than a holistic approach. Instead of taking medicine and going to therapy repeatedly, the patient is told to change their way of life, what they eat, and what they do.
Medications
Medication is usually not part of a holistic approach program, especially for conditions like depression and anxiety. This is still true unless the patient doesn’t respond to the holistic program. In that case, small amounts of drugs may improve the patient’s health.
No matter what kind of mental health care is used, some types of mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, may need to be treated with drugs.
Dietary Changes
Changing your diet is part of a holistic approach plan to treat depression. Making sure your body has all the nutrients it needs to work well can help your hormones work better and give you a better sense of well-being. The better a person eats, the more likely it is that their anxiety and depression will go away and their mental health will get better.
People in a holistic treatment program feel better when they eat right because nutrients give the body energy, help build and repair organ tissue, and strengthen the immune system.
Health & nutrition
How you eat can also affect how you feel. Changes in diet can change the chemistry and physiology of the brain, and some foods have been linked to hormones in the body, like serotonin. Eating superfoods is also good for your physical and mental health. These are some superfoods:
- Berries: Antioxidants are found in blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, and blackberries. They stop inflammation and protect the health of the brain.
- Fish: Fish is a natural source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which can help relieve depression and anxiety.
- Leafy Greens: Greens like spinach, Swiss chard, kale, and collard greens are known to be good sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium, all of which are good for the mind and body.
- Legumes: Beans like kidney, black, red, and garbanzo beans, as well as soybeans and peas, are all types of legumes. All of them have fibre and protein.
- Leafy Greens: Greens like spinach, Swiss chard, kale, and collard greens are known to be good sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium, all of which are good for the mind and body.
- Legumes: Beans like kidney, black, red, and garbanzo beans, as well as soybeans and peas, are all types of legumes. All of them have fibre and protein.
Making sure you have a varied diet with all the necessary vitamins and minerals can help with mental health problems.
Nutritional supplements
You might not be able to get all the nutrients you need just from food. Some things can affect how well a person absorbs vitamins and minerals from food. Even if someone eats a balanced diet, they might only be able to meet some of the dietary recommendations.
Holistic approaches suggest that supplements be a part of the program so that people can get more of the nutrients they need. Getting bloodwork done can show if you are missing any vitamins or minerals. Once a deficiency is found, supplements can be given to compensate for it.
Changes in daily life
Changing how you live can also make a big difference. Working out regularly has a lot of benefits, especially if it’s something you enjoy doing. You can go to the gym every day and work up a sweat or work out in a less structured way. This can be done by hiking, taking a brisk walk around the neighborhood or dancing. Group fitness classes like kickboxing, tai chi, and HIIT are available at many gyms. These might be a good fit for someone who likes to work out with other people.
Socialization
Socialization is another very important part of holistic treatment programs. Most people like to be with other people. Even the shyest person needs to talk to others, even if it’s just for a few words at a coffee shop. Social interaction allows us to talk about our thoughts and feelings with other people and get their feedback. It also allows us to share ideas and get to know other people.
Depression and anxiety can make people shy away from long conversations with other people. Instead, it’s best to take steps that the person is comfortable with to become more social.
Restore 360 is always here for you to offer a holistic and personalized approach to mental health. We offer a wide-range of mental health services for individuals and families. We also offer addiction treatment, counseling and therapy for recovering addicts. Contact us online or at (484) 373-2710 to get started on your journey to living a whole and healed life again.