5 Holistic Approaches To Mental Holistic Health

How To Improve Your Mental Health Holistically

Mental Health 31st Mar, 2023

There is nothing more important than your Mental Holistic Health.

Does the prospect of a job interview leave you feeling queasy? Do unexpected compliments from friends make your heart race? Have you ever been so stressed that you felt physically unwell?

Holistic Approach to Mental Health Woman At Peace


If so, you’ve encountered the powerful mind-body connection. Often operating beneath our conscious awareness, the interplay between our thoughts, emotions, and physical well-being is an essential aspect of our overall health.

This connection is particularly significant when addressing mental holistic health issues, making a holistic approach to treatment a potentially effective option for you or someone you care about.

Ancient healing practices have long recognized the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. In recent decades, the modern scientific community has begun to validate these ideas, producing evidence-based research that supports an integrative approach to health care.

For those seeking assistance with mental holistic health conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, and more, holistic treatment may offer a path towards relief and recovery.

Recommended:

Integrating Massage Therapy into Holistic Health


Holistic vs. Western Medicine: A Comprehensive Approach


When people hear the term “holistic,” they often associate it with yoga mats and herbal remedies. However, the true essence of holistic medicine involves considering the entire system when addressing health issues.

Western medicine and holistic medicine are frequently misrepresented as conflicting perspectives, but integrating both approaches can lead to faster and more comprehensive healing.

Take a broken leg, for example. Visiting a doctor for an X-ray and cast is crucial, but incorporating holistic practices like consuming nourishing food, undergoing acupuncture, and engaging in meditation can help manage pain, alleviate stress, and expedite the healing process.

This combination of treatments is also applicable to mental holistic health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Thoughtfully prescribed medication, psychotherapy, and holistic therapies can work together to create a balanced and effective path towards genuine well-being.

Advantages of a Holistic Approach to Depression Treatment Incorporating a holistic approach to mental holistic health treatment offers a range of benefits. Some of these advantages include:

  1. Fostering relaxation and stress relief
  2. Developing effective coping skills for challenging situations
  3. Encouraging a healthy diet and regular exercise to support overall well-being
  4. Offering easy implementation alongside other treatment modalities
  5. Providing a cost-effective alternative to medication in many cases

5 Mental Holistic Approaches To Improve Mental Health

1. Ask For Help:


None of us are superhuman. We all sometimes get tired or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things go wrong. If things are getting too much for you and you feel you can’t cope, ask for help.

Your family or friends may be able to offer practical help or a listening ear. Local services are there to help you.

Find a counsellor to help you deal with your feelings or make a fresh start. Your GP may be able to refer you to a counsellor. You should consider getting help from your GP if difficult feelings are:

  • Stopping you getting on with life

  • Having a big impact on the people you live or work with

  • Affecting your mood over several weeks.

Over a third of visits to GPs are about Mental Health. Your GP may suggest ways you or your family can help you, or they may refer you to a specialist or another part of the health service. 

2. Take a Break:


A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your Mental Health. It could be a five-minute pause from cleaning your kitchen, a half-hour lunch break at work or a weekend exploring somewhere new. A few minutes can be enough to de-stress you. Give yourself some ‘me time.

Taking a break may mean being very active. It may mean not doing very much at all. Take a deep breath… and relax. Try yoga or meditation, or just putting your feet up.

Listen to your body. If you’re really tired, give yourself time to sleep. Without good sleep, our mental holistic health suffers and our concentration goes downhill. Sometimes the world can wait.

3. Do Something You’re Good At:


What do you love doing? What activities can you lose yourself in? What did you love doing in the past? Enjoying yourself helps beat stress. Doing an activity you enjoy probably means you’re good at it and achieving something boosts your self-esteem.

Concentrating on a hobby like gardening or the crossword can help you forget your worries for a while and change your mood.

It can be good to have an interest where you’re not seen as someone’s mum or dad, partner or employee. You’re just you.  

An hour of sketching lets you express yourself creatively. A morning on the football pitch gets you active and gives you the chance to meet new people.

4. Accept Who You Are:


Some of us make people laugh, some are good at maths, others cook fantastic meals. Some of us share our lifestyle with the people who live close to us, others live very differently. We’re all different. It’s much healthier to accept that you’re unique than to wish you were more like someone else.

Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence to learn new skills, visit new places and make new friends. Good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn.

Be proud of who you are. Recognise and accept what you are not good at, but focus on what you can do well. Work out if there’s anything about yourself that you still want to change. Are your expectations realistic? If they are, work towards the change in small steps.

5. Care For Others:


Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closer together. Why not share your skills more widely by volunteering for a local charity? Helping out can make us feel needed and valued and that boosts our self-esteem.

It also helps us see the world from another angle. That can help to put our own problems in perspective.

Caring for a pet can improve your wellbeing too. The bond between you and your pet can be as strong as between people.

Looking after a pet can bring structure to your day and act as a link to other people. Lots of people make friends by chatting to fellow dog walkers.


Featured Image: Dzmitryieu Dzmitry/Shutterstock


FAQs

What is holistic mental health?

Holistic mental health focuses on the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit, addressing root causes of issues for overall well-being.

What are key elements of a holistic approach?

Elements include mindfulness, nutrition, exercise, emotional support, and alternative therapies like art and yoga.

Can holistic approaches complement traditional treatments?

Yes, they can enhance outcomes and empower individuals to actively participate in their healing process.

Is holistic mental health suitable for everyone?

Generally safe and beneficial, but personalized adjustments may be needed based on individual circumstances.

Can holistic approaches prevent mental health issues?

While not guaranteed, they may reduce risks by promoting overall well-being and better coping mechanisms.

References

Why Is Holistic Care Important for Mental Health Treatment? | Avalon Malibu. 28 May 2022, www.avalonmalibu.com/blog/why-is-holistic-care-important-for-mental-health-treatment/. Accessed 4 Sept. 2023.

Read Next

Post Loved!