A staggering 25% of adults in America suffer from some of the many mental health disorders every year. That works out to about 1 in 5 adults. Many of these individuals go untreated, whether it’s due to social stigma, financial barriers, or simply not knowing where to turn to get help. toms. (Image Credit: Ryan McGuire/Pixabay)
If you decide that you need help, there are many resources you can turn to that will actually treat your disorder and get you feeling happier. Read on to learn about how the following treatment options can get you get you back to living a fulfilling life:
Start With the Basics
Are you making sure you’re taking care of yourself in the most basic ways?
- Are you eating nutritious food (no, green pepper on pizza does not count as a vegetable)
- Are you spending enough time outside?
- Do you surround yourself with close friends and family?
- Are you exercising?
If you answered “no” to most of these questions, it may be time to reevaluate how you’re living. Our bodies and minds are very dynamic. Like a car, or any other machine, if you put the wrong fuel in it, it will stop working properly. You’d be surprised how much of a difference neglecting any of these basic needs can have on your body and mind.
Research studies show that exercise can have the same positive effect on the brain that medications for depression or anxiety do. That being said, If you’re afraid to take the leap into medication or counseling, try walking 20 minutes a day, every day for two weeks.
Next Steps to Try
If you’ve tried to eat better, sleep at least 7 hours a night, and nothing calms your symptoms, your next step is to seek help outside of yourself from a licensed counselor or therapist. Our friends are not cut out to lead us through our dark times, and it’s unfair to ask them to do so. But, these professionals are trained to help you survive and even thrive through your difficult times.
Consider Medication
If you have been to counseling, talk to your therapist to see if medication is a viable option for you. They will know more about your situation than you, and they’ll be able to refer you to a psychiatrist if they believe medication might benefit your situation.
Remember that this is still completely your choice. Don’t feel pressured to take any medication you aren’t ready for.
Alternative Treatment
Moreover, although medication and therapy have a high rate of remission, for some people these techniques are not a good fit. Whether it’s due to the time it takes to see results, or because the side effects of medication are too difficult to bear, some people need something different. Luckily, scientific breakthroughs have led us to discover alternate forms of treatment, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS.
TMS is a neuro therapy that has been used to treat mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety for over a decade. It is non-invasive and has fewer side effects than medication and other forms of therapy.
This form of treatment has been FDA approved since 2008. It works by using electromagnetic pulses to stimulate the parts of the brain that are inactive due to mental illness. You can check out a leading tms depression treatment denver.
How to Reach Out for Help
Although there are many resources available to help with mental health disorders, it can be daunting to seek them out by yourself. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Start by caring for your body at step one with basic food, sleep, and a healthy social life.
Decide to go for an extra hour of sleep, rather than spend time on your computer before bed. Try joining a gym. Going to Church and strengthening your relationship with God will really help. Do a quick internet search about Church groups that meet in your area. If you need someone to talk to, have the courage to set up a consultation with a therapist. If you think you’ve tried everything, look into alternative forms of treatment.
As dark as times may seem, there is always a solution- one of these might be yours.