Startling Facts About Alternative Depression Treatments
The most startling fact of all is that alternative depression treatments are given such little attention by the medical community. There is far too much reliance on anti-depressants, which in some cases, can be a life saver but there are also many side effects and addiction and dependence can lead to all sorts of other problems. In my view, psychiatric and pharmacological interventions are highly over rated and there should be much more interest in an alternative treatment for depression.
In a way, drugs are only the beginning and they can be considered a sort of emergency treatment. If there is a prolonged treatment using ONLY these prescription drugs, the side effects such as headaches, weight gain, suicidal thoughts and loss of libido are just some of the long list. With alternative depression treatments, there are no side effects or at least they are very minor. Another startling fact is that they are often just as effective as the prescription drugs.
Apart from psychotherapy and counseling which are valid and useful treatments, the best alternative depression treatments can be summed up in making some lifestyle changes which can benefit the patient enormously, not just in improving quality of life but in helping preventing other illnesses as well. Talk about a lifelong investment !
Latest research from a study done at Duke University show conclusively that diet and exercise are just as effective , if not more so, than the classic anti-depressants such as Paxil and Zoloft . The latter drug can be a very powerful mood enhancer and the patient can feel on top of the world initially but there is also a risk of putting into action and realizing suicidal thoughts. That is why depressed people have to be followed by a psychiatrist at this delicate stage.
With alternative depression treatments, that expensive option is hardly necessary. By making a few lifestyle changes such as getting exercise and improving sleep routines and hygiene, the patient can confidently turn to a herbal remedy which will be a mood enhancer without all the baggage that goes with anti depressants. An alternative treatment for depression is not much favored by the pharmaceutical lobby for very obvious commercial reasons. This is the reason why so little is known about alternative depression treatments.
