Mental Health from a Holistic Perspective

May is commonly known as Mental Health Awareness Month.

I'd like to share three things with you this month about mental health because mental health issues are common and increasingly affect so many of us - I think particularly the last 2 years have had a huge detrimental impact on our emotional and mental health and we need some fresh perspective and some hope that there are some wonderful answers and solutions that are gentle, natural and restorative!

So for the three things I'd like to share:

1. A story of hope for a young lady suffering with anxiety.
2. A holistic perspective for mental health concerns & a natural & effective treatment.
3. A few natural tips that can support your mental health & help restore calm that you can do on your own!

   1. To begin with, a story of hope:

One situation I encountered was a teenage girl struggling with severe anxiety. Going to school was a challenge and social situations were increasingly become more anxiety-inducing - to the point that she was even avoiding her friends. In spite of counselling she continued to spiral downwards with increased anxiety, not feeling happy, sleep issues and headaches particularly around school. Her mom did not wish for her to begin medications and sought me out to see if there was a more natural way of dealing with the anxiety. With a well prescribed homeopathic remedy that specifically worked with how she experienced her anxiety we were able to control her anxiety within a a few weeks and she was able to return to school and did not require any medications. She is a happy teenager living her life!

   2. A holistic perspective for mental health concerns & a natural & effective treatment.

Traditionally mental health concerns are treated with pharmaceuticals & psychotherapy.

Unfortunately most of the medications for mental health issues are extremely toxic to the body (or to the body of their unborn child if they are desiring to become pregnant), have significant side effects and can leave one feeling not quite like themselves.

I have worked with clients who do not wish to be on pharmaceuticals and want a more natural option. I have seen parents who know that starting their child or teen on anti-anxiety meds or ADHD medications might mean a lifetime of pills and struggle.

There is a definite time and place for these medications and often they may be needed to help bring some level of emotional and mental balance...but they can also leave people stuck in a cycle of pill popping with no hope of ever getting off these medications or feeling like there is no other option.

Mental health issues can be devastating. Many people recognize that they don't feel like they used to and there's a sense of powerlessness because they can't change how they think of feel. Counselling and medications can make one feel more in control again, more like themselves, increasingly able to cope...but often it can be a real struggle to figure out what next steps are available for them in terms of returning to life without medications or even knowing if that is possible.

When I started to study homeopathic medicine I was deeply struck by how wonderful homeopathic medicines can support those struggling with mental health issues - from depression, to post-partum depression, to anxiety and panic attacks, to PTSD and schizophrenia.

I heard and have personally seen people whose lives had been ravaged by mental illness become increasingly well and experience a sense of self again AND have the wonderful opportunity to slowly work at weaning off their medications or understand that they would not need medication to manage after homeopathic treatment.

Homeopathic medicine has the unique ability to address each person's personal experience of their mental health symptoms individually. What does that mean? It has the ability to help unroot trauma and underlying triggers that can be part of the formation of dysregulation of the nervous system leading to mental health symptoms.

Although two people can be diagnosed with depression, one might have depression due to grief from trauma in the past, another from the loss of a job or the feeling of failure in their life. In modern medicine these two people might be put on the same medication.

In homeopathy, two different medicines would be required as the trigger for the depression are different.

By intentionally identifying triggers, the personal experience of those triggers, homeopathy can help address the root cause and allow the body to heal gently and naturally.  This is how all mental health issues are addressed including anxiety, schizophrenia, depression, post-partum depression, panic attacks, PTSD and more.

It takes time but it is possible.

Professional help is required to do this. (You can book a free 15 min consult with me today to learn more)

   3. Lastly, I'd like to give you a few natural options that can be helpful for managing some symptoms naturally. They should not interfere with medications you take and are a wonderful place to begin if you want to try something out.

Bach Flower Rescue Remedy - this incredible blend of 5 flower remedies helps "combat stress, and create a sense of calm and emotional wellbeing in your everyday life." You can buy them in candy form, concentrated drops or a spray. Follow the instructions on the container as each form will have different directions for use. Use for anxiety, panic attacks, overwhelmed feelings, feeling out of control, feelings of fear that are holding you back from doing something.

I can help you identify root causes, underlying triggers that might be impacting or influencing your mental health and find an individual natural support that will give you results!

For further support - contact me!

In Health,

Rachel

Resources:

https://www.bachremedies.com/en-us/about/bach-and-rescue-remedy/