Mental illness is a product of many factors. One experience, like physical pain, may cause depression, and then one’s social environment might exacerbate it. Focusing solely on the mind and neglecting body and spirit limits treatment efficacy.
Holistic treatment considers the patient’s mental and emotional health along with spiritual and physical health. It looks beyond the symptoms and at the root causes of mental illness, and the interplay of the various predisposing factors. Holistic treatment of mental health can produce lifelong improvements in one’s mental outlook. It also boosts the body’s natural healing abilities. A multi-faceted approach leads to better, long-term health outcomes. People with mental health conditions struggle to process emotions. Some view themselves and their world through a distorted lens. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one form of therapy that can help them develop healthy views of themselves and the world. CBT is a branch of behavioral therapy that enables people to overcome or better deal with many mental health conditions. During CBT, the therapist helps the patient identify and address negative thoughts. CBT can be tailored to various mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorder, insomnia, and depression. There is also talk therapy, where the therapist encourages the patient to uncover hidden emotional stressors and triggers. Some behaviors and attitudes, such as those stemming from childhood traumas, can be difficult to resolve. Talk therapy helps bring this pain to the surface so it can be dealt with. Some people deal with stress head-on. Others look to things like drugs or alcohol to numb the pain. An alternative to these destructive approaches, relaxation therapy reduces stress and equips one with healthy coping skills. Belly breathing is one of the most common relaxation therapies. The patient breathes deeply through the nose and out slowly through the mouth. Yoga - a combination of certain movements and body positions, breathing, and meditation - also helps calm and center participants. Another relaxation technique is guided imagery. It involves focusing on a pleasant or neutral image, helping the patient defeat negative thoughts. Guided imagery helps manage stress, anxiety, and depression. It also lowers blood pressure and gives the patient a sense of control over their response to negative experiences. The quest for more, while it helps fuel ambition, can predispose one to mental health problems. When caught in this trap people tend to focus heavily on what they think they need to be happy or content and forget what they already have. Gratitude writing through daily letter-writing, journaling, or creating a list of things one is grateful for helps overcome such tendencies. Studies have found a strong link between gratitude and positive emotions. Writing and revisiting what one is thankful for allows one to live in the moment instead of deferring happiness to an idealized future. Art therapy has also proven effective in helping people express their feelings through artwork. Art can be a reliable visual and symbolic expression of one’s emotional state and their views on oneself and the world. It fosters self-awareness, helping people who struggle to articulate their emotional challenges. An inactive lifestyle can also predispose people to mental health problems. Physical activity, coupled with healthy foods, helps promote overall well-being. Staying physically active contributes to a healthy weight, which helps address self-image issues and builds confidence. It also helps prevent diabetes and heart disease, known causes of depression. What’s more, physical exercise releases dopamine, a mood-boosting hormone. It also leads to better sleep. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to the treatment of mental illness. Someone may be stressed due to financial challenges. Another may experience depression due to prolonged hospitalization. A success outcome is much more likely when the treatment approaches the patient’s wellness from as many angles as possible.
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AuthorSince 2006, Dr. Sridhar Yaratha has worked for Central State Hospital in Petersburg, Virginia, as a forensic psychiatrist and attending physician for the men’s long-term forensic unit. Archives
January 2020
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