Connecting Spirituality and Psychology: Alternative and Complimentary Therapy For Your Mental Health
Alternative and complimentary therapies are effective treatments for mental health and can be practiced independently or along with another therapy or healing discipline. Similar to traditional therapy for mental health, many of the alternative and complimentary therapies intend to activate chemicals within the brain and nervous system, without the use of psychiatric medications. This is usually beneficially for reducing symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. Other alternative therapies intend to help us connect better with our soul and spirit for a more complex healing experience. Traditional forms of therapy for mental health involve psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). These are usually talk therapies that intend on helping others to incorporate changes to their lifestyle by teaching ways of coping with daily emotional and mental issues. Below are alternative forms of therapy and their effectiveness.
Art and Music therapy
Art therapy is an alternative form of therapy widely available for those undergoing emotional and mental stress. Using art forms such as drawing, painting, music, sculpting, etc has therapeutic benefits. Creative expression allows unique ways of communicating with the psyche, which can be healing itself, but also provides distinct information about the patient. Although our society is more open to traditional therapy today, others may refuse getting the help that they need because of preferred communication styles. Some people don’t have the right words to express themselves, or they just don’t feel comfortable opening up through verbal or traditional communicative dialogue.
Art and music as medicine
Music therapy is great for helping patients recall information, because the music, sounds and frequencies are attached to memory. This can be useful for those living with illnesses that trigger memory loss.
Both art and music therapy can be used professionally and self-therapeutically. Many of your favorite artists, musicians, singers and songwriters are using their creativity in therapeutic ways. For example, expressing mental stress, pain and agony can be healthy not only for the artist, but this can also be a source of healing to others. The celebration of love, excitement and happiness can be a source of confirmation and validation. In other words, art and creative expression can help ourselves and others to get back in touch with how we feel, without allowing these feelings to completely take over our lives. This is important because our mental issues can be personally invasive, which can disrupt us from our daily agendas and goals. Learning how to responsibly attend to our emotional and mental needs is important.
The vibrations of music triggers chemicals in the body and brain that can affect our moods and help us to recall memories, while other music can be a positive distraction source used to reduce stress, anxiety and even fear. According to incadence.org, music therapy affects the endorphins, cortisol, dopamine and immunoglobulin chemicals in the brain. Endorphins help in reducing pain and improving our mood, cortisol is responsible for reducing stress and dopamine improves our attention, motivation and mood. Immunoglobulin can help strengthen the immune system, which helps in combatting illness. Studies have shown that using music and art in therapeutic ways can reduce symptoms of mental and physical health conditions and improve quality of life.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a complementary therapy that we often practice within our own personal space, preferably with the use of essential oils. By the use of scents and fragrances, we can trigger ourselves into more relaxed states and improve our moods, which can lead to better health. Aromatherapy is often practiced through inhalation or as a topical application and can be supportive in helping to reduce stress, pain and sleep, and also improve your mood. Keep in mind that this form of therapy is only supportive in healing, and should not be assumed as a way to heal any health condition all together. Instead, aromatherapy should be thought of as a cost effective way to trigger your body into a peaceful and relaxed state. It is very likely to experience aromatherapy while getting a professional massage, during a meditation or yoga session or during a variety of healing and therapeutic treatments. Another benefit is that it can be practiced by anyone and anywhere, and it accompanies very well with spiritual practices, daily mundane tasks and self-care routines.
Science of aromatherapy
Aromatherapy has a subtle impact on the mind, body and spirit through inhalation by activating the olfactory nerve through the nostrils, which trigger an emotional response in the brain. This emotional response occurs from the release of neurotransmitters. Topical applications of aromatherapy, which are included in perfumes, massages, baths and cosmetics, have a similar physiological effect. The topical aromatherapy is absorbed into the skin, which can have a relaxing effect on the blood vessels, organs and tissues.
Aromatherapy scents and their effects
Certain scents can have nostalgic effects and influences which can affect our moods. For example, lavender, sandalwood and chamomile is often known for reducing stress and calming the nervous system. Lavender is also used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory and known for lowering blood pressure. Bergamot, cinnamon, lemon and orange essential oils can be energizing and boost our moods. Eucalyptus can aid in combating stress and also have healing effects on the respiratory system while improving your mood. Clary Sage can relieve anxiety, elevate mood and have mild antidepressant effects. Many aromatherapy scents have a universal healing effect on the mind, body and spirit. However, aromatherapy should be practiced carefully and with caution, especially for those who may be more sensitive to certain chemicals.
Animal and Pet Therapy
Pet therapy is an alternative form of therapy for emotional support and mental health. It has been proven that animals can improve mood and mental health of those who frequently go through psychological distress. Although many people already have pets for therapeutic reasons unknowingly, animals such as dogs and cats can be trained and certified for pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy.
Healing through the companionship of our pets
Studies have shown that pets provide emotional and cognitive support often better than other people. This is because animals tend to love us more unconditionally than other people. The more we care for our pets, we are usually guaranteed to receive that care back. Our pets can also be a natural source of motivation and encouragement. The responsibility of care can open up our hearts and motivate us through an innate feeling of responsibility. Pets can also reduce feelings of loneliness, which can prevent anxiety and depression. Studies have also shown that interactions with certain animals can increase endorphins in the brain, reducing both mental and physical pain. Having pets or therapeutic interactions with animals can help some people improve their mood and social skills, and reduce stress. Overall, having pets can be emotionally and mentally beneficial for you and others.
Animal assisted therapy
Animal assisted therapy is a professional quality of therapy where a pet is professionally trained to keep someone safe or help someone cope with emotional, mental and physical stress. This is different from the natural therapy we may receive from our pet dog or cat. Instead, a doctor and the pet owner is trained professionally in sessions to certify the animal as a therapy pet.
Animals connect us back with out roots
There is a soulful and spiritual connection between humans and animals that can bring us back to life. Animals are earthly creatures that give off a spiritual essence. The sounds that animals make and their behaviors remind us of nature and can trigger us to spend some time outdoors, or give us a sense of the outdoors while being indoors. This alone can improve our mood and quality of life.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a an alternative and complementary therapy that can be treatment for certain mental and physical health conditions. Hypnotherapy is also known as hypnosis and it works by altering the consciousness into a trance like state through extreme relaxation. This is especially beneficial for reducing stress and anxiety at particular times when someone may experience these psychological and mental disturbances. Trained hypnotherapists can alter the mind into a more relaxed state, reducing feelings of depression and anxiety, which can also improve sleeping habits.
Hypnosis is like an extreme form of meditation, intended to relax an individual, much like anesthesia, to perform a spiritual surgery. It works by reducing involuntary physical and psychological responses. Often, hypnotherapy is used as an additional treatment with another healing discipline, such as psychotherapy for those who have experienced trauma and suffer from conditions such as PTSD. During more complex healing sessions, hypnosis works by bringing up hidden pain and trauma, for the purpose of removing or healing it. This form of therapy is more beneficial for long term healing and improvement. Other hypnotherapies work by temporarily blocking out these negative emotions accompanying any stress and trauma, to prevent emotional disturbances and psychological distress.
Much like other therapies, our beliefs and fears can get in the way of the benefits. Although hypnotherapy continues to have skeptics because not everyone can be hypnotized, those that can be experience various forms of healing.
History of Hypnosis
The practice of hypnosis by shamans and spiritual healers have been prevalent since ancient times. Many spiritual practices and ceremonies involved hypnosis as an important part of their rituals. In the 1700’s, an Australian physician known as Franz Anton Mesmer introduced hypnosis into the modern world. He believed in an invisible and universal fluid known as mesmerism or fluidum that flowed between a patient and the practitioner, which plays a huge role in inducing hypnotic and trance like states. It was also known that Sigmund Freud, neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, frequently used hypnosis on some of his patients to recover repressed memories. Today, hypnosis has evolved into a qualified treatment, especially as complementary or adjunct to other treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy and counseling. Hypnotherapy can be used to treat a variety of health conditions, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, addictions, phobias, PTSD and many more.
Reiki Healing
Reiki is a holistic treatment that uses energy healing as an alternative therapy. This form of energy healing is used to reduce stress and promote self-healing capabilities. Although Reiki healing has become more popular in the modern world, it has constantly been rediscovered, and it’s not a new healing practice.
A typical Reiki session usually involves a qualifying Reiki master or practitioner that helps the client flow into a relaxed state. The Reiki practitioner aids in the flow of energy through gentle touch and hovering their hands over the body to control the flow of energy at particular areas of the body. Gemstones, crystals and other metaphysical tools may be used by the Reiki practitioner to enhance healing effects. This treatment usually last for 45–60 minutes. By the end of the session, you should feel stress free, mentally balanced and more in tuned with your body’s energy.
Today Reiki can be practiced along with psychotherapy for the treatment of depression and other mental health issues. Today, people are more curious and accepting of our soul and spiritual body. We understand that our spiritual health can eventually affect our mental and physical health and our emotional wellness. The concept of the soul and spirit is now more integrated into the process of healing and our physical, mental and emotional well being.
Light Therapy
Light therapy is usually used by those who suffer from seasonal effective disorder, but it can also be used as an alternative treatment for depression and some bipolar disorders. Those who suffer from seasonal effective disorder, also known as SAD, are less motivated to go out and enjoy the natural sunlight. Light therapy is a simple and cost effective remedy that requires minimal effort, and often improves symptoms associated with SAD, depression and bipolar.
Light therapy works by sitting in front of a special lamp or light box for at least 30 minutes each day, preferably in the morning after waking up. This light is similar to the natural sunlight outdoors, which alters chemicals in the brain that can naturally boost our mood.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation TMS Therapy
TMS therapy is like physical therapy for the brain, and works by magnetically stimulating nerves in the brain. Unlike ECT, or electric compulsive therapy, TMS is a more mild procedure and does not require anesthesia. According to NAMI, TMS therapy works by an electromagnetic coil that is placed on a person’s scalp. Magnetic pulses are sent to areas of the brain that regulate our moods. There are very few symptoms associated with TMS therapy, and it has a success rate of about 60–80% after at least 4–6 treatments. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is also known to improve symptoms of PTSD and obsessive compulsive disorders. This therapeutic treatment is also known to be effective with and without the use of psychiatric medications.
Meditation Used in Psychotherapy and Mindfulness Based CBT
Psychotherapy is a traditional mental health treatment that involves talk therapy to help the patient regain control over their lives. There are a variety of talk therapies that identify as psychotherapy, with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) being the one that most people are familiar with. As our society begins to accept the connection between the soul and spirit, body and mind, it’s not unusual to find meditation and mindfulness techniques being integrated with traditional psychotherapy for mental health.
Mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a talk therapy that also incorporates focusing on the present moment, meditation and deep breathing. This treatment is best for coping with symptoms of depression, and the purpose is to prevent prolonged symptoms of stress, hopelessness and dissatisfaction. The mindfulness and meditative part of the therapeutic process aids patients in connecting better with the soul and spirit to eliminate stress, or at least prevent stress from controlling their moods.
Why is our society is turning to alternative treatments for mental health?
Most alternative treatments have been around for awhile, but have regained value over the last decade. It seems as though our society is starting to value and become curious about what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. Most of us are not against these traditional routes, such as psychiatric medication and traditional psychotherapy, but instead there’s a desire to connect more deeply with ourselves. These alternative and complementary therapies give us the opportunity to effectively deal with our mental and emotional concerns in healthy, safe and effective ways.
References
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Chail, A., Saini, R. K., Bhat, P. S., Srivastava, K., & Chauhan, V. (2018). Transcranial magnetic stimulation: A review of its evolution and current applications. Industrial psychiatry journal, 27(2), 172–180. https://doi.org/10.4103/ipj.ipj_88_18
