A quick internet search for mental health wellness tips will generate millions of tips, many of which will recommend seeking out professional help with the unspoken insinuation of also attaining a prescription. Usually, this means some form of antidepressant.
While there are times when medication can benefit an individual in the restoration or healing of chemical or other imbalances in the brain, there are many times when it’s unnecessary.
If your mental health has been suffering lately or you’re simply wanting to improve it and are wanting to explore all-natural remedies, you’ve come to the right place.
Today we’re going to walk you through how to naturally improve your mental health by taking a closer look at the best activities, habits and remedies that will best support you and your mind, not only in the present but for years to come.
Why not medicate?
There are two common forms of medicating, professionally supervised medicating and self-medicating.
Self-medicating (the self-assigned use of substances to manage symptoms) is always a dangerous practice, but there is a time and place for receiving a prescription from your doctor.
Unfortunately, because it’s much easier to prescribe medication rather than work with a patient for months (or even years) to naturally improve their health, that’s what many doctors default to.
The reason why “mass prescriptions” are so problematic is that not everybody needs to be on medication. Every medication, even the common household ones, has a fact sheet of side effects; depending on your body’s response, these effects can range from mild to severe.
For those who are seeking natural remedies for mental health improvement and recovery, it’s important to remember that medication is never your only option. It might be the only option your current doctor is willing to offer. You can always take another route — even if that means finding a new doctor or researching natural remedies yourself.
Natural remedies for mental health
Natural remedies for mental health are things you can do yourself that will naturally alleviate the symptoms of mental health that are starting to deteriorate or are outright poor.
These symptoms commonly manifest as:
- Low energy levels
- Cynical or negative view of oneself or the world
- Chronic anxiety or depression
- Sleep issues
- Dramatic weight loss or gain
- Cravings for unhealthy food
Depending on which symptoms you’re experiencing, there are certain natural remedies that might be more helpful than others.
For example, if you struggle with relaxing in the evening, consider getting a diffuser and diffusing oils each evening that are proven to relieve mental and physical stress, like lavender.
If you’ve been feeling depressed lately, closely assess your diet for foods and ingredients that are known to cause inflammation of the brain (a common cause of depression). Some of these common foods are vegetable oils, artificial ingredients, highly processed meats and dairy, and highly bleached carbs like non-organic white bread and white pasta.
Habits to improve mental health
We become that which we repeatedly do, think and say.
Whether we stay locked in an office all day, or intentionally take frequent breaks outside in the fresh air and sunshine, will impact the state of our mental health.
Whether we grab a McDonald’s breakfast sandwich every morning on the way to work or bring our homemade nutrient-dense smoothie, will impact the state of our mental health.
Whenever your mental health starts to suffer, take a look at your habits and be honest with yourself about what you discover. For example, when you wake up in the morning, do you jolt awake to a loud and aggressive alarm, and then proceed to mindlessly scroll through social media until you finally drag yourself out of bed to get ready for work?
Every habit matters.
Take the first step today
Pursuing natural remedies for mental health can be an incredibly empowering journey, but it’s sometimes difficult to know where to begin, or how to make changes if your current efforts aren’t yielding your desired results.
Silvermist Recovery is a premier mental health treatment center that specializes in providing highly individualized treatment to adults who are seeking a transformative recovery experience. Whether you’re struggling with a mental health disorder or are simply seeking new ways to improve the current state of your mental health, we’re here to help.
Send us a message today to speak with an advisor and learn more about what the next best step for you and your mental health is.