Mental health is the most critical factor to consider for overall well-being. Mental illness can range from mild depression to extreme cases where a person doesn’t even feel worth living.
It affects all people irrespective of their age, gender, and background. This is why mental health has become an issue for everyone in some way or another.
There are different trauma therapy techniques available for mental illness, and it can be hard to determine which one to go with. This article will discuss the most common treatment options and determine their pros and cons.
Table of Contents
Psychiatric Drugs
Psychiatric drugs can be used for multiple purposes, including treating certain mental illnesses. Different psychiatric drugs treat different disorders like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
A common type of antidepressant medication is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Prozac is the brand name of an SSRI drug used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and a severe form of morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum.
If you have mild depression or anxiety, psychiatric drugs are an effective treatment option. However, it’s easy to become addicted to psychiatric drugs because they affect the same neurotransmitters affected by illicit substances.
Psychiatric drugs might be an effective treatment for depression, but other treatments are also available.
ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy)
ECT is short for Electroconvulsive Therapy, a treatment for severe depression (but it isn’t used very often). It involves passing electricity through the brain using electrodes on a patient’s head.
ECT has been proven to be effective in the short term, but there is a risk of permanent memory loss and shorter-term effects like confusion, disorientation, and nausea.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
According to reports, 48 million Americans have some anxiety disorder.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) also effectively treats depression and doesn’t involve surgery as ECT does. It works by using an external magnetic stimulator to produce tiny electric currents in the brain that control mood.
TMS does have side effects, but they’re less severe than ECT. However, it doesn’t work for everyone, and the long-term efficacy of TMS is still questionable.
Therapy (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
Psychotherapy or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying complex thought processes and behaviors to rectify them. This therapy is most effective when done regularly. You can also incorporate therapy with psychiatric drugs for an even more significant effect.
It is one of the best trauma therapy techniques and can treat various mental illnesses. It’s also very safe with few side effects, so it’s a great choice if you have mild mental health issues.
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Animal-assisted therapy improves patients’ mental health with psychiatric disorders, developmental disabilities, or traumatic injuries. Studies have proved that Animal-assisted therapy can improve anxiety and reduce stress.
However, Animal-assisted therapy doesn’t work for everyone, and it’s also expensive to maintain a pet (if you don’t own one already). So even though this is effective, it may not be the most practical treatment option.
Natural Remedies
Many mental illnesses can be treated using natural remedies like melatonin, probiotics, omega 3 fatty acids, herbs, vitamin B12 shots, and more. Melatonin is a hormone known to regulate the sleep cycle, while Omega 3 has been shown to decrease depression levels in patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
These treatments might take some time to take effect, but they’re very safe and could be a good alternative for mild mental illnesses.
If you are struggling with a mental health condition and wish to get it treated, it is advisable to consult with a professional therapist for the best treatment.
When consulting with a professional therapist, you will be provided with the right diagnosis of your mental health condition. Depending on your health requirement, they will then prescribe the right treatment for you.
Tiffany is a Medical Student and also works as a fitness coach in part-time. She is also a writer and writes on health and fitness articles. Tiffany loves to engage with users and help them provide various useful information on General Health. She provides researched-based information and also featured on various blogs and magazines.