As of the past few years, mental health discussion is no longer a taboo subject. The current generation is very open to talking about this topic – and rightfully so. While traditional medication has always been connected when treating it, some individuals are now opting for alternative approaches for managing their well-being.
This article will explore alternative and holistic treatment for mental health conditions. The natural approach will be your toolkit to improve your mental health. Let’s start!
Cultivate Your Inner Peace
Your body and your mind are connected. These practices that address both simultaneously can significantly improve your well-being. Let’s take a closer look:
Meditation
Medication isn’t just relaxing your body and mind. It’s training your brain to focus and achieve a heightened state of awareness. By doing this, you’ll be able to understand the root cause of your thoughts and feelings while being calm and less stressed.
Training yourself through meditation will reduce your anxious thoughts. It will help you sleep better and increase your focus and concentration.
There are several types of meditation: mindful, guided, and mantra. Mindful meditation is focused on increasing your present awareness while observing your thoughts and feelings.
Guided meditation is more of creating a visual landscape to help you relax while being in a positive mental place. Mantra meditation, on the other hand, works by repeating words, phrases, and sounds, which help achieve a state of repose.
Exercise
Working out doesn’t just improve your energy level throughout your daily life; it’s also an essential tool to manage your mental health. People who exercise and work out will say that they feel great despite a tiring session. This is why it’s no secret that when you’re physically active, you improve your mood and self-esteem.
But you don’t have to go hard every time you work out. The great thing about this approach is that you have so many options. You can join dance classes so it’s more fun. You can even walk or brisk walk for an hour every morning. You don’t have to do strength training all the time. Make it a happy and enjoyable experience.
Yoga
Yoga is an exercise, too. It’s similar to pilates, but we want this to have its own section. It’s a combination of meditation together with asana (posture) and pranayama (breathing). When we talk about mind and body connection, this is it.
Aside from the aforementioned benefits of meditation, yoga also improves your flexibility and strength and increases body awareness and mindfulness. The core principle of yoga is focusing your attention on the present moment. Through various breathwork and medication, it extends to your body.
There are so many variations of yoga. One of the most famous is Vinsaya yoga. It involves flowing through a sequence of postures synchronized to your breathing. It’s known for dynamic and continuous movements that challenge the body, build strength, and enhance flexibility.
Journaling
Now, we’re moving away from your body and focusing on your mind. Journaling is the same as writing a diary when you’re young. However, you’re channeling your thoughts and feelings more when you write your journal.
It’s a brain exercise or training on how you can navigate through your emotions. You’ll be able to make better decisions and understand your feelings with clarity. Also, completing a journal is like working out. You will feel a certain sense of accomplishment after writing.
Understand that there are no strict rules on formatting your journal. Just find what works for you, start freewriting, and most importantly—be consistent. Be authentic. It’s your safe space for self-discovery.
Conclusion
By incorporating these alternative approaches to improving your mental health, you slowly will build your resilience and create your inner peace. But understand that the path to mental health is different for each person. Some of these may or may not work for you, but what’s important is you try.
