Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Depression

Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Depression

This is the 20th post for #BlogchatterA2Z 2021 powered by Blogchatter. T is for Therapies. Highs and lows are a part of life and all of us go through them. But depression has been a major part of my life. It is not just feeling sad or feeling low; it is devastating and long-lasting. For me, it is a chemical imbalance. It can leave one feeling constantly weighed down. And can drain the happiness out of everyday joyful activities. There are “natural” therapies that are harmless and effective for mental health. Sharing Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Depression.

In these 36 years, I have tried understanding depression; finding out which treatment can lift my mood, allowing me to find pleasure in interests and hobbies, and making me feel alive again. If you seek, you shall find the answers; is what I have learnt.

We do not recommend psychiatric medications for everyone. Extreme chronic cases like mine do need medication. Patients with circumstantial depression can go for alternatives. That’s because psychiatric medicines can become addictive and have side effects. I started looking for therapies to complement the treatment that I was already taking. When you are dealing with mental illness, try anything and everything that provides relief. There’s no one sure-shot formula to recover from depression, and it’s different for every individual.

 Complementary and Alternative Medicine or CAM is becoming increasingly popular.  I have tried alternative and holistic treatments such as yoga, homoeopathy, Access Bars and Pranic Healing. All have worked for me at different times. The key to fighting depression is to keep trying. Once you give up, you lose the battle.

Yoga- The Path to Holistic Wellness

After years of the gym, I switched to Yoga just to rest my muscles. I had been suffering from depression and was on regular medication for 20 years. Once I started yoga just within six months, I weaned off the relaxants as I was sleeping soundly. I won’t say that Yoga “cured” me. But it has changed my life for the better. In the past seven years, yoga has helped me generate new thoughts, self-love, and create mindfulness. Practising yoga daily has altered my innermost feelings in many ways.

I am planning to join forrest yoga Indonesia for yoga teacher training as it would help me teach others. The Yoga Asanas, combined with Pranayama, help neutralise anxiety-driven depression. This is because it reduces stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. It prompts what’s known as the relaxation response. Once the relaxation sets in, you accept all the feelings. This point of relaxation doesn’t come in a minute. It takes time and regular practice. Yoga breathing techniques have helped me focus and calm down. I follow Adrienne on YouTube and I immediately relax after practising her Meditation for Anxiety video.

Meditation helps a person to stay in the present moment and clear their mind. Studies prove that mental and physical health is in sync and correspondent. Research has proven that the practice of yoga is a fairly low-risk, high-yield approach to overall health.

Homoeopathy

Source- https://www.healthline.com/health/homeopathy-for-anxiety

Homoeopathy is a complementary medicine and has been around for two hundred years. It’s used as an alternative and natural treatment for various health conditions, including anxiety. There is research to prove that it works. The side effects are also less compared to allopathic.

The gut and the mind are correlated. And after getting all kinds of treatment for my IBS, which was adding to my misery, I turned to Homeopathy. It eased most of my gut issues. But the journey is slow. Homoeopathy has positively affected me, and I now rely on both.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Depression

Access Bars Healing

What are Access Bars?

Dr Dain Heer is a facilitator of consciousness and change. He is the co-creator of Access Consciousness, along with the founder, Gary Douglas.

Source; https://www.accessconsciousness.com/en/about/access-creators/dain-heer/

The Access Bars involve the Access Bars facilitator, dabbing 32 different points on your head. One has to lie on a table and relax. They gently release the built-up stress in your body and mind. The session takes about an hour and it stimulates a positive change in the brain. It facilitates the release of fixed points of view that block you from experiencing joy, peace, and happiness. It improves sleep, and the mood hastens healing and calms you down.

A few years ago, my depression was at its worst. I was suicidal. My friend, Moushmi, mentioned Access Bars therapy in Mumbai. I was so desperate that I was ready to clutch at any straw. My mindset was willing and receptive to believe that the Access Bars could cure me of my mental illness. I took a seven-day session and by the end of it; I was good to travel home alone. It relieved me of anxiety and depression and I can vouch for that.

If it is not available in your city, you can go for distance healing as well. I have done this several times and it worked every time.

Pranic Healing

What is Pranic healing?

Pranic Healing is a highly advanced and experienced system of energy treatment that uses prana. It stabilizes, harmonizes and transforms the energy processes of the body. Prana in Sanskrit means life force. Pranic Healing is a very ancient healing therapy that centres on the energy fields surrounding and within the human body. Using the prana or vital energy as a major foundation. It is healing without touch.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5802541/#:~:text=Complementary%20therapies%20along%20with%20pharmacotherapy,a%20major%20source%20of%20healing.

Pranic healers can cure physical pain and health conditions, and psychological issues like panic, anxiety and, depression.

Pranic Healing can be a slow and long-drawn process. But it eases stress and depression by cleansing the energy field or aura that surrounds our body. Our thoughts and emotions can affect this Prana or “Vital life force Energy”; keeping us in good health or making us ill.

The healer cleanses and energizes the affected areas or Chakras. In short, they restore and strengthen depleted energies. This facilitates the natural healing process.

In Conclusion my Disclaimer

Alternative therapies are a unique way out for mental health patients for whom conventional medical treatment methods do not work. Do remember that I am not an authority on this subject. I have tried and tested all these therapies but have never given up consulting my Psychiatrist. If you wish to go for any of these therapies do it in tandem with your clinical treatment. The bottom line for me; when used together they have led to amazing results.

‘This post is part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter’ 

My previous posts for #BlogchatterA2Z are Andhra Pachi Tomato Pachadi, Bourbon Cream Pudding, 5 reasons to use cast iron utensils, Egg Dosa  How to Make Fajitas, My First Visit to Goa  Healthy Garlicky Potato Wedges, Mango Mint Iced Tea, Travelogue on Kashmir, Tomato Pappu, How to grow marigolds from dry flowers, How to make Nalleru Pachadi, No-cook Oreo Rosogulla Cream Pudding. Pineapple Chicken Curry,  Crusty Kale Mushroom Quiche Cups,  Raw Mango Iced Tea Mother Sparsh Baby Wipes