Does anyone just use alternative treatment options?

Hi all,

Just wondering if any of you refuse to take medication and have tried a few different things to help manage your condition? What worked well for you and why? What didn't work and why?

What made you choose an alternative treatment to medication?

Thanks!

Dear Emster,

I tried various medications - antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines - I couldn't tolerate the side effects. For example, depression isn't something I often experienced, not clinically, just being down from time to time, and I found that even though antidepressants took the edge off of my anxiety, somewhat, they made me feel depressed, and the trade off wasn't worth it.

Person-centred, trauma-focused talk therapy has been working for me. And I have recently started chanting when I feel obsessive thoughts or excessive negative emotion beginning.

TBH I didn't really choose it. It was decided that as I had run the gamut of medication it was really the only option left, however, I had went through a series of misdiagnoses that lead to the medication-based treatment options. I suspect that the fact that medication wasn't working partially informed the correct diagnoses, and then the appropriate treatment followed.

I also spend a lot of time near the sea and in the trees. Nature is my safe place, it helps to have one of those.
I also write songs to discharge and tell my story - to have a voice, I guess - and paint the occasional picture. All these things help me feel validated and connected to life.

To Rainbowfairy and others

I just wanted to remark on the point you made that you write songs to
discharge and tell your story is very helpful.

For people who aren't skilled in writing, music, can be another way to discharge and relate with someone else's pain.

Medication without cognitive and behavioral therapy is not treatment, it is a slow painful death of a persons ability to learn, grow, and cope with life's circumstance/conditions.

Balance realignment of a distorted body, mind, and spirit is a personal journey.

Stick with the truth, things unfold in time. (unfolding is a slow opening until releasement.)
With the body... It is natural for the body to cure itself, I would look into Craniosacral biodynamics.
What is held in the mind/brain/spirit creates obstacles in the body.
WE can realign the skeletal system, the muscular imbalances, the brain (not always) will find new pathways to cope with dysfunction.

Understanding the difference between Emotions and Feelings and the velcro that keeps us stuck.

We are all victims of conditions and circumstance until we choose not to be.

Today we are so far removed from Nature. The mountains, oceans, the soil of the earth.
The trees above and the moss upon our feet and the creatures of the forest.
Take a walk until you hear nothing except the wind, breathe it in, be silent, and exhale.
That internal wind will calm an overwhelming mind.

If a person can't swim, they will either sink or float.
I can't swim but i can/do float.
In order to float you must learn to relax, breathe calmly, and become one with the water.

The soil of the earth provides nourishment, fresh water provides necessary minerals.
IMO, stay away from dead food.

Keep away from toxic people, even if it is family, ask for good people to come into your life. Reach out, be aware, good/kind/non judgmental people are close.

For things you can't resolve on your own get a professional help.
Be prepared for change.
Meditation is good but if you need help, you can learn.
It is about seeing clearly, de escalating the negative thinking/thought process.
While embracing the truth as it is, separating emotions/feelings, and changing how we respond/react in life.
H.

I refuse to take meds...and it's cost me. But I work with my T (doing a lot of stuff I think is straight up stupid, but oh well) have done some DBT, Mindfulness helped some....mostly just working with my T seems most successful.

Sometimes, I just cry. Go into my hole and bawl my eyes out. When that happens more than once a day I know it's gonna be a tough week. I've been better, I've been worse, but honestly, finally understanding what the hell is wrong with me is probably been more help than anything else. Just knowing I'm not alone in this...because I've been so alone in this.

For some, I think meds are helpful...just not for me.

My dx's are BP, OCD and BPD, I've been on meds and chose to go off them in October of 2011 as they made me feel more ill than before I was medicated...

I started therapy in March of this year, was never a fan of the idea but realized it would help so I'm giving it a shot and so far I find it helpful.

I really don't think I'm choosing an alternate treatment method so much as I'm choosing to manage my issues naturally, surfing the waves of my life if you will.

This takes a lot of research, and a shyt ton of self-awareness.

Music helps me cope a lot, it helps me discharge the emotions that are too big for me to contain, and it helps me find the words I seem to lose while depressed.

Journelling is a very good outlet for my BPD as it helps me not direct my bullshyt at my bf.

Keeping a regular sleep schedule, having a routine in place and being mindful of the present has helped tremendously.

Even my T agrees I've improved in leaps and bounds since choosing the non-medicated route and he fully supports my decision.

I have gone both ways meds-no meds! This last time I started feeling bad I had no insurance so I had to go the no med route which was rough but this place got me through as did meditation and relaxation. I finally got back on ins so now I am being medicated and trying to get a T and group therapy. I have a fear of not having insurance forever so I don't want to get on to many medications.

Dear Waiting4,

my partner has been using mindfulness meditation for panic and has had very good success with it. I bought him a book and corresponding CD as a present, and he has been really dedicated to it - he saw benefits very quickly. Silent meditation wasn't for me - I have always lacked a voice, so my self-care must involve providing me with a voice, hence I chant - it is basically "noisy meditation".

But I, like you, have found the most benefit in simply being in therapy and relearning what healthy relating is with my therapist modelling. I chose a male, as my primary problem was with my fathers (absent blood father, abusive stepfather). I recently received a "review" from my therapist, that I asked for (so I have something to look back on - memory isn't great) and one of the things he said was that he believes my willingness to engage deeply in therapy, even when it was petrifying, is what has driven our sucess. All the therapy in the world won't help us if we aren't ready to really get vulnerable and uncomfortable. And it is beautiful when we realise that we didn't die from it! Vulnerability - in a safe place at first - actually shows us what we are made of.

I'm all for having a toolbox of coping tools. Everyone is different so different things work for different people. Medication has it's place along with other tools and tricks I've collected over the years. So, what ever works for you is fine.

I quit medications for years looking for other options to treat depressive episodes, BP 2, and PTSD diagnoses.

I found help with DBT, mindfulness and meditation as mentioned above, and the other skills they teach, which I continue to use to this day. I also use acupressure and acupuncture. I still use herbs as well to treat other things including the anxiety and the nightmares, such as gaba, in particular now has been a lifesaver.

I have, however, gone back on medication, but do not need as much as before, very small dosages in fact, and feel more balanced combining all of the above.

I hope you find what works best for you. It can be a matter of trial and error, but the right thing(s) are out there it is just a matter of patience, staying in tune with your mind and body, and knowing you will find it.

I'm not a big believer in the use of meds and therapy for me. I suppose it's a mixture of not having professionals i can trust and a part of me that feels if i can't mostly sort myself out, how can others help?

Life's been pretty rough i won't lie. I don't think i'll reach old age or be someone who desperately clings to life. But i try and help others, fight for important causes, appropriate meaning even if i can't give it to myself. Maybe that's the trick. I mean it's a distraction if nothing else.

I wish you luck.