Ancient healing systems have long honored the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. In the past several decades, the modern scientific community has followed suit, providing evidence-based research confirming the benefits of an integrative approach to health. If you need mental health services such as anxiety treatment, depression treatment, bipolar disorder treatment, ADHD treatment, PTSD treatment, and more, holistic treatment may help you find relief and recovery.

At True Life Center, our holistic approach to recovery is central to our support. If you are interested in holistic treatment for mental health, reach out to our friendly and knowledgeable staff today.

Why Choose a Holistic Approach to Depression Treatment?

Trauma can manifest as chronic illness, depression can deplete the spirit, and anxiety can push relationships to their breaking point. These mental health conditions affect every aspect of life, so truly effective trauma treatment must comprehensively address those same aspects. Too often, patients experience the treatment as a series of symptoms rather than a whole individual. This can lead to misdiagnoses, unsustainable results, and a great deal of frustration. Treatment centers that take a holistic approach recognize mental health conditions as biological, physiological, and spiritual conditions. Unfortunately, those who lack this approach view them as a brain-based disease. This comprehensive treatment approach supports lasting wellness and promotes self-care.

Which Holistic Services Are Most Beneficial?

Each individual’s struggles and hopes are unique. A great holistic practitioner will be interested in hearing your personal story before determining whether their services will help you meet your wellness goals.

Common holistic services include:

• Acupuncture
• Massage
• Fitness
• Nutrition
• Yoga
• Mindfulness meditation

All of these services play different but important roles in recovery. Acupuncture and massage offer relaxation, pain reduction, mood improvement, and enhancement of the body’s innate healing abilities. Fitness and nutrition sessions are extremely individualized and allow patients to practice prevention, develop healthy lifestyle habits, and workshop specific concerns surrounding energy, immunity, sleep, mood, etc. Yoga and meditation help cultivate awareness of the mind and body and provide tools to manage stress more effectively. These holistic services can be powerful individually, more so in combination, and even more so when our mental health treatment staff work together to coordinate your care.

Holistic vs. Western Medicine

For many, the word holistic brings images of yoga mats and herbal remedies only, but in its truest sense, holistic means taking the whole system into account. Western medicine and holistic medicine are often incorrectly depicted as opposing viewpoints. However, a combination of the two typically yields a quicker and more thorough recovery. A broken leg, for instance, merits a visit to the doctor for an X-ray and cast. But eating nourishing food, receiving acupuncture, and practicing meditation may help manage pain, reduce stress, and speed the healing process. The same can be true of anxiety, depression, PTSD, or any mental health condition. Medication (prescribed thoughtfully and only as necessary), psychotherapy, and holistic treatments can complement and balance one another to help you achieve authentic wellness.

Benefits of a Holistic Approach to Depression Treatment

There are numerous benefits of holistic treatment for mental health. A few of these benefits include:

• Promotes relaxation
• It helps develop coping skills
• Encourages a healthy diet and proper exercise
• It can be easily implemented
• It is often more cost-effective than medication

At True Life Center, we want to help you learn how to live with a mental health disorder. Reach out to our team today.

Heal Your Mental Health with Treatment at True Life Center

True Life Center is an integrative mental health and addiction treatment center located in La Jolla’s UTC area. We offer outpatient psychiatry, psychotherapy, and an intensive outpatient program that seamlessly integrates evidence-based medicine with holistic services. Please contact us if you have any questions about our approach or feel that holistic treatment may benefit you or a loved one. Call today at 858.202.1822 to speak with a team member.

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How To Tell If You Have Depression

There are many telltale warning signs of depression. These can include feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in daily activities, and loss of energy. Depression may even cause some people to perform reckless activities. Someone suffering from depression may also experience physical changes such as weight gain or loss, as well as aches or pains. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, reach out for help from our compassionate team of trained professionals.

There are many common risk factors that can increase the likelihood of an individual developing depression, including:

• Isolation or loneliness
• Stressful life experiences
• Family trauma or abuse
• Grief
• Chronic illness
• Substance abuse

While there does not have to be a specific reason or trigger for depression to occur, these are some of the most common factors that are likely to cause a short or extended period of it. If you are susceptible to any of the above risk factors, reach out to our team to discuss enrolling in individual therapy to help you deal. Talking through your experiences and struggles with a dedicated, experienced mental health professional will help you to work through and resolve the issues that are holding you back from living your best life. Our integrative staff can also recommend certain medication or activities that can help you cope with your illness.

Different Types Of Depression

Depression manifests differently for everyone in terms of symptoms and severity, but the following four examples illustrate the primary types that afflict many people around the world:

• Mild Depression (Dysthymia): Mild depression is the most common type of depression. This type of depression causes an individual to experience bouts of sadness in their everyday life for long periods of time, which can lead to a pessimistic outlook and dark, deflated mood that won’t go away.
• Major Depression: Major depression is much less common than mild depression. It causes intense sadness and typically lasts for a few months. It can also become a recurring disorder if left untreated.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Seasonal Affective Disorder or “SAD” can lead otherwise healthy people to become depressed in the winter when there is less natural sunlight. Those suffering from SAD may become lonely and uninterested in activities that they once enjoyed. The effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder usually lessen during the spring and summer when there is more daylight.
• Atypical Depression: People who suffer from atypical depression might experience constant highs and lows. For example, they may feel energized when they participate in certain activities or social events.

How True Life Center Can Help Treat Signs Of Depression

While there is no single cure for depression, there are many things you can do in order to cope with it. Experts recommend that you have a reliable support system in place to help you address your feelings and talk about what you are going through. In addition to talking about your depression within your own personal network of trusted friends and family, it’s crucial to reach out for help and seek treatment from caring, trained professionals like our team at True Life Center. Our mental health treatment staff will help you participate in therapy programs and group sessions so you can understand your illness and learn how to live with it. We will teach you how to find activities that excite you so you can lead a balanced and fulfilling life without making depression the focus of your life. If you would like to find the right partners to help treat your depression, contact True Life Center at 858.202.1822 today.

The post Signs Of Depression appeared first on True Life Center.

Q.) When I bring up my struggles with depression to loved ones they either encourage me to “snap out of it” and “cheer up,” or remind me of the many things I have to be grateful for – which only makes me feel guilty for not feeling better. Are they right? Am I “too blessed to be depressed”? 

A.) I’m so sorry that you are struggling, and that your loved ones aren’t responding with the sympathy you expected. Unfortunately, depression is largely misunderstood, and though your friends and family may have the best intentions, they are likely unaware of the complexity and severity of the disease. Similar to chronic illnesses like cancer or autoimmune disease, depression does not discriminate. It can affect anyone at any time, even those who are otherwise “blessed.” Depression is a biological, brain-based disease, and it requires proper care. If you haven’t already, please seek professional help. A great practitioner or center will not only provide you with that compassionate support you are seeking, but also help you in educating those around you.

Q.) Ever since my dad’s death last year, I’ve felt hopeless, restless, and can’t sleep through the night. My primary physician recommended antidepressants, but I declined. I’m just grieving, I’m not depressed…right?

A.) My condolences on the passing of your father. Losing a parent is never easy, and there is no right way, or right length of time, to grieve. It is certainly true that grief can turn into depression, just as pre-existing depression can complicate grief, and the symptoms are nearly identical: despair, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, inability to concentrate, and loss of interest. Personally, I’m much less concerned with whether grief or depression is causing your suffering, than I am with the fact that you are suffering. One year of struggling with sleep, energy, and motivation has probably been incredibly disruptive to your sense of wellbeing. You might find that talking with a mental health professional about your loss, and exploring options for healing that may or may not include medication, helps you adjust to this new reality and find the strength to return to a full life.

Q.) A close friend recently confessed that she has depression. This came as a shock to me as she consistently optimistic and cheerful. Is there anything I can or should do to support her through this?

A.) You’re a good friend to ask this question. Depression can be an extremely isolating illness, more so when loved ones shy away in fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. Often the most powerful thing you can do is to simply be there. That might mean holding your friend’s hand while she cries, offering to drop by with dinner, or leaving her a sweet voicemail. Don’t be afraid to ask her if there’s anything you can do to make her feel better. I would also recommend that you learn as much about depression as you can. Popular myths about depression, including the idea that those who present as optimistic and cheerful can’t be inwardly depressed, can be harmful and minimizing.

If you have questions about depression or want to learn more about treatment of depression or other mental health issues, please contact us. We would be happy to provide information, resources, and support.

The post Ask the Psychiatrist: Depression appeared first on True Life Center.

Q.) I’m finally ready to get help for my depression, but I’m confused as to whether I need a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, or counselor. Don’t they all do the same thing?

A.) First of all, I want to commend you for having the courage and awareness to seek help. Reaching out to any of the professionals you listed would be a good place to start. All have the training and insight to refer you elsewhere if need be, depending on the severity of your depression and the kind of support you are looking for. Generally speaking, you will need to see a psychiatrist (all of whom hold M.D.’s) if you are interested in exploring medication as part of your treatment. Psychologists, therapists, and counselors are differentiated mainly by their education, training, and licensure. As you begin making phone calls, inquire about the credentials, specializations, and treatment approach of each. It’s most important that you find someone you trust and feel comfortable with. If, after a conversation or initial session you find yourself thinking, “this person gets me,” that’s usually an indication of a good fit. If you’re still unsure, I recommend contacting a comprehensive treatment center like True Life, where all of the professionals you mentioned are under the same roof, and a team member can listen to your unique story before providing recommendations.

Q.) A friend suggested I attend rehab for my bipolar disorder. Isn’t rehab just for addiction?

A.) I’m guessing your friend is using the term “rehab” to refer to inpatient treatment programs (also known as residential treatment), which require that patients live-in the facility for the duration of treatment. Though a majority of inpatient facilities deal primarily in addiction, residential mental health treatment programs do exist. Whether or not inpatient is the right solution for you depends on a number of things including the severity of your illness, the stressors in your environment, your financial situation, and your treatment goals. If you’re looking to focus solely on recovery, without worrying about the distractions of daily life, inpatient programs offer a controlled environment, close supervision and highly scheduled days. Alternatively, outpatient mental health treatment centers like True Life typically offer programming that allows patients to spend several hours a day, several days a week at the facility. These type of programs, commonly called Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are often more affordable than their residential counterparts, provide increased schedule flexibility, allow patients to maintain work and family commitments while receiving treatment, and give patients the opportunity to immediately incorporate what they learn at treatment into their real lives.

Q.) Therapy is expensive! Can’t I just talk to a friend about my problems for free?

A.) You’re right – good mental health care is not cheap, nor should it be. You are paying for the time and expertise of a professional who will remain objective and confidential while listening for understanding, encouraging independent thinking and self-reflection, and delivering feedback designed to promote long-term, sustainable growth. Your friends, wonderful as they may be, are simply unable to provide the same type of guidance. I encourage you to consider the cost of not seeking professional help. Ignoring or delaying treatment often comes at great personal cost in terms of job performance, broken relationships, physical health and more. Your life and wellbeing are worth investing in!

If you have any questions about mental health care, please give our admissions team a call at 858.202.1822. We are happy to assist you in finding the care you need, even if True Life isn’t the right fit.

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