The medication works well for many people, but it doesn’t work well for everyone. Some mental health professionals contend that over-reliance on medication not only masks the underlying issue but can also cause debilitating side effects and negatively impact our long-term mental health outcomes. Here are five ways to deal with mental health without medication.
Natural Remedies
Eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep can do a lot to help with mental health. So can some medications that are only available over-the-counter. You don’t have to go running to your doctor for every ache or pain. Instead, consider taking OTC medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol) when needed. These medications can help relieve headaches, sore muscles, and mild pains caused by arthritis or other conditions, like fibromyalgia.
Positive Psychology
The best way to deal with mental health is to work on your thoughts and feelings. This will require a lot of practice, but it can be done. For example, positive psychology teaches us that keeping a gratitude journal and practicing random acts of kindness help helpline in a more positive state of mind. There are also more traditional solutions like joining support groups, meditating, or, getting help from family and friends.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is an evidence-based treatment that’s particularly helpful in dealing with certain forms of anxiety and depressive disorders. CBT encourages you to analyze your negative thought patterns, especially when it comes to catastrophizing or blaming yourself for what happens in life. You’ll then be encouraged to shift these destructive ideas into positive ones. It may seem difficult at first, but people who have taken up CBT report significant improvements in their quality of life—which, after all, is what we all want.
Exercise
If you’re in a slump and feeling down, getting active can help improve your mental health. When we’re inactive, our bodies secrete chemicals called neurotoxins, which make us feel sluggish and out of sorts. But exercising releases endorphins that promote positive feelings, reducing anxiety and depression. So get moving! It’s one of the most effective ways to battle mental illness.
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness is a focused state of awareness of your body of thoughts, and feelings. When you’re mindful, you are more in tune with your surroundings. You can observe your own emotions as well as those of others around you and act accordingly to not take anything too personally or react emotionally out of context. Mindfulness is a great way to deal with mental health issues without medication because it allows for an understanding that other people are simply in their world and have no malicious intent.
