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Pharmaceutical Drugs

Depression

(Def.):” a mood disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty with thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal thoughts or an attempt to commit suicide.” (Medline Plus Dictionary)

Anxiety

(Def.)”: any of various disorders (as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, a phobia, or generalized anxiety disorder) in which anxiety is a predominant feature—called also anxiety neurosis, anxiety state.”(Medlineplus Medical Dictionary)

Bi-polar Disorder

(Def.):”any of several mood disorders characterized usually by alternating episodes of depression and mania or by episodes of depression alternating with mild nonpsychotic excitement.”(Medlineplus Medical Dictionary)

ADD/ADHD

(Def.):”Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiogical disorder seen in both children and adults that is comprised of deficits in behavioral inhibition, sustained attention and resistance to distraction, and the regulation of one’s activity level to the demands of a situation.” (Adhdaware.org)

Schizophrenia

(Def.):”a psychotic disorder characterized by loss of contact with the environment, by noticeable deterioration in the level of functioning in everyday life, and by disintegration of personality expressed as disorder of feeling, thought (as in delusions), perception (as in hallucinations), and behavior.”(Medlineplus Medical Dictionary)

Eating Disorders

(Def.) :”any of several psychological disorders (as anorexia nervosa or bulimia) characterized by serious disturbances of eating behavior.” (Medlineplus Medical Dictionary)

Pharmaceutical Drugs was originally published on NoStigmas.org | Redefining Mental Health

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Yoga

According to Medlineplus Dictionary, yoga is “a system of physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation derived from Yoga, but often practiced independently especially in Western cultures to promote bodily or mental control and well-being.” It is considered a mind-body type of alternative therapy. There are many styles of yoga, but the most common style is hatha yoga. Medlineplus Dictionary defines hatha yoga as the “ form of yoga emphasizing a system of physical postures for balancing, stretching, and strengthening the body.” It is a good choice for stress management. Beginners may like the hatha yoga for it’s slower pace and easier movements. Yogahas two main components: poses (also known as postures) and breathing. These postures are designed to increase strength and flexibility. They range from lying on the floor to difficult postures such as “Handstand”. Pregnant women, and people with medical conditions should modify, or avoid certain poses. Breathing is also an essential part of yoga as well. Yoga instructors teaches yoga students how to control their breathing. The instructors instill the notion that control breathing leads to control over mind and body.
Practicing yoga comes with health benefits as well. Numerous studies have established that yoga can help with stress reduction, mood enhancement, and an overall sensation of well-being. Practicing yoga can lead to improvement in fitness. This includes improving balance, flexibility, range of motion, and strength. It is also helpful in complementary to conventional treatment of mental disorders. Yoga can help alleviate mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse disorder such as alcoholism. In fact, yoga can reduce reactions to the events that prompt symptoms of conversion disorder. Yoga Nidra is a relaxation and meditative form of yoga. It has been used as an adjunctive treatment for Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Before beginning yoga, There are some precautions that should be taken. A health care provider or local hospital or any trusted source can recommend a yoga practitioner. Only use professional organizations to find practitioners who have completed an acceptable training program. For your safety, report any alternative therapy such as yoga to your health provider. Do not use yoga as a replacement for conventional treatment since it is the most useful conjoined with conventional treatment.

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Yoga was originally published on NoStigmas.org | Redefining Mental Health

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Light Therapy

What is light therapy?

Light therapy (sometimes referred to as phototherapy or bright light therapy) is a type of treatment that uses light to treat many different disorders. The process for light therapy is fairly simple, and usually involves sitting in front of a special “light box” that provides a certain amount of light, depending on a person’s needs and sensitivity level. This normally happens in the early morning hours, shortly after waking up, and can last from as little as 30 minutes to a few hours. This is meant to simulate the natural sunlight that many people do not get, which can lead to light deprivation and possibly contribute to depression or depressive symptoms. For more on the scientific ways light therapy affects the body, click here.

What can it treat?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that is thought to be caused by the shortening of daylight hours during the autumn and winter months. Many researchers think light therapy helps relieve SAD symptoms by regulating the internal clock. Treatment is typically started in the fall or early winter, before the symptoms of SAD begin.

Depression

People who suffer from non-seasonal depression may also benefit from light therapy. While light therapy has not been shown to be a replacement for depression medications, there has been some evidence that shows it can help general depression symptoms.

Sleep Disorders

For those who don’t suffer from depression or seasonal affective disorder, light therapy has also been shown to be effective in treating various sleep disorders, from shifting sleep cycles to helping insomnia.
As with any potential treatment, there are relatively minimal risks associated with attempting light therapy. You should not begin this type of treatment without the consultation of a physician or health professional.
For more information on light therapy, please refer to the following resources:

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Light Therapy was originally published on NoStigmas.org | Redefining Mental Health

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Acupuncture

According to MedlinePlus Medical Dictionary, acupuncture is defined as “an originally Chinese practice of inserting fine needles through the skin at specific points especially to cure disease or relieve pain.” It is a form of Asian medicine and alternative therapy which can treat physical, mental, and emotional conditions. Depression, alcoholism, and anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder are some of the mental illnesses treated by acupuncture. This treatments can last for five to 30 minutes. The patient is often treated once or twice a week. After the first treatment, it is possible for relievement of some symptoms. Multiple treatments are often needed for more severe or chronic ailments. An acupuncturist concentrates on certain areas of the body for the emotional and physical effects of mental health disorders.
In Asian medicine, elements and organs are associated with certain mental and emotional states. Wood (Liver) is associated with anger, jealousy, frustration, resentment, bitterness and stress. For the Heart, fire is associated with mania and over-excitation. The element earth (Spleen) correlates with anxiety, pensiveness and worry. Metal (Lung) is for grief and sadness. Water (Kidney) represents depression and lack of will. Needles will be placed on areas that correlates with these mental and emotional states. This information is built on the basic foundation of Asian medicine which includes the life energy called Qi (pronounced chee) that flows through the body within channels known as meridians. These channels connect all of our major organs. Chinese medical theory dictates that illness arises when Qi flows become unbalanced. Acupuncture stimulates these areas.
No treatment is the same for the patient because each patient receives a customized treatment plan. This often includes different acupuncture points, different herbs and different lifestyle and diet recommendations. Some precautions must be taken before beginning treatments. First, the patient must check health insurances to see if acupuncture is covered . Second, all medical conditions, current treatments or medications must be reported to the acupuncturist. Third, do not rely on a diagnosis from an acupuncture practitioner unless they have substantial conventional medical training. Ask your doctor to see if acupuncture will be helpful.

Acupuncture was originally published on NoStigmas.org | Redefining Mental Health

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Art Therapy

According to the “American Art Therapy Association, “art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.” Art therapy can be used for individual, couples, family, and group therapy. It uses various forms of creative methods such as: art, drama, music, poetry dance and movement for fostering positive changes, in order to enhance a client’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Art therapists also use these creative processes for clients who have problems expressing their thoughts and emotions.
Research supports using art therapy for individuals experiencing illness, trauma, and mental health problems, and those seeking personal growth. Other individuals who benefit from art therapy include those who have survived trauma resulting from combat (such as post traumatic stress disorder), abuse, and natural disasters. It also benefits those with adverse physical health conditions such as cancer or traumatic brain injury. This therapy is advantageous for individuals with health disability and mental disorders such as autism, dementia, depression, and dissociative disorders.
Art therapy is considered a complementary and alternative therapy. As with all treatments, including alternative therapy, there are precautions that should be taken. Consult a medical physician regarding alternative therapy. Be sure to discuss possible risks and benefits of alternative treatments.This is especially important if the patient is pregnant, has medical problems or takes prescription medicine. Check if the doctor can recommend an art therapist. However, discuss with your doctor first before stopping any conventional treatment. Alternative treatments work best when adjoined with conventional treatment. Always update your physician about all alternative treatments being used. Finally, be sure to make sure the alternative treatment practitioner is well qualified, and certified. In fact, the Art Therapy Credentials Board verifies credentials and education of Art therapists. To find a credible art therapist, please click here.

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Art Therapy was originally published on NoStigmas.org | Redefining Mental Health

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