For some people, traditional talk therapy is a great option to work through trauma, treat anxiety or depression, or just feel better in their life. However, it doesn’t always work for everyone. For those who have severe anxiety or depression, they can feel helpless after trying medication and traditional therapy without any success.
Many patients are often led to believe that talk therapy is the only option available to them, but that’s simply not the case. Most people aren’t aware of the many wonderful alternative therapy options available on the market that have been shown to create great results in patients who haven’t had much success with other solutions.
If you feel stuck in a rut with your therapy, here are four alternative therapy methods you might want to try next time.
1. Nutritional Therapy
The way we eat has a huge impact on how we feel and the way our brains work. Emerging research shows that chemical imbalance in the body can be reset through certain vitamins and supplements. Changing your diet can also help those with mental disorders such as OCD, major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
While you may not find this option offered at your traditional therapist’s office, you can look for alternative or holistic medicine providers for nutritional therapy.
2. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical treatment option that utilises strong magnets to cause repetitive magnetic pulsing. This activity can both regulate and stimulate the brain’s neural activity, allowing the practitioner to optimise your activity to best support you.
While other alternative methods may not have backing from the FDA yet, this one does. There’s also plenty of clinical evidence showing success in using this method. At first, there were concerns about the safety of the procedure, but it has since been proved to be symptom-free. This promising form of treatment can show results within just six weeks of treatment. Reviews for TMS show that patients feel happier, smile more, and some even experience a ‘full 180’ in their mental health.
3. Creative therapy
Therapies such as art, music, and dance can be a great option for patients who need a different kind of outlet to express themselves other than talking. These kinds of therapies relieve a patient’s mind and allow them to focus on something else that is productive and creative. Data backing all the way from the 1940s show that patients have reduced stress when participating in such therapies.
This outlet of expression is great for those with physiological ailments, psychological ailments, or severe trauma. It’s easy to integrate into treatment in conjunction with other kinds of therapy to grow the benefits exponentially.
4. Wilderness therapy
Wilderness therapy involves patients going into nature to spend time with the natural world and learn skills valued in the outdoors. From honing survival skills to white water rafting and even nature walks, the mental health benefits that can be gained from spending time outdoors are incredible and well-documented.
Clinical research shows success in this type of therapy for treating mood disorders. It’s an especially great option for young adults and adolescents who want to lower stress, improve self-confidence, and boost mood. Sometimes this kind of therapy also involves physical exercise, which is always great for pumping out feel-good chemicals.
Takeaway
If traditional talk therapy isn’t cutting it for you, don’t be afraid to look elsewhere. There are so many options available to us now thanks to modern science. Not everyone finds success in typical pathways; sometimes you have to forge your own. Whatever it takes to reclaim your mental health, right?
