Depression

One of the most common approaches to treating depression is psychiatric medication. This can be a very important approach that many find helpful. It can allow clients to reclaim a sense of quality and functionality in their life. However, psychiatric treatment has its challenges and limitations. These have to do with both the attitude of the client and with the aspects of the drug itself. Some clients have a fear and resistance towards the use of psychiatric medication, some are inconsistent with taking their medication, some struggle or have concerns about the adverse effects of psychiatric treatment, and lastly, some do not experience much improvement even when compliant with the medication. Homeopathic physicians present an alternative treatment that may be suitable for those with such challenges

Homeopathy is an individualistic, step-by-step treatment method. Though two people may have the same diagnosis, homeopathic physicians follow a holistic approach to assessment and care for their clients. They approach the treatment strategy by considering the history, understanding the client's lifestyle patterns and selecting the type and intensity of remedies to suit each person. The treatment is then a process by which the homeopath and the client continue together and modify the remedy as the symptoms shift. It is a journey that is supported phase by phase, step by step, along the treatment period. Studies have found that homeopathic treatment can have similar results as the common psychiatric medication fluoxetine found in most common anti-depressant medications.

At bmy, collaborating with a homeopathic doctor for your care presents a naturalistic medicinal alternative for the treatment of depression.

Although conventional treatment of depression typically focuses on the mental aspects of the disorder, it is important to remember the body-mind connection. There is no doubt that exercise is an important part of treatment for depression. These need not be overly vigorous, what matters is moving the body and engaging with the sense of muscle. Research has found that exercising just twice a week can reduce depressive episodes by 25%.

The physical aspect of depression and its impact on the body is often easy to recognize, as depression can be understood as a kind of system shutdown. People with depression tend to move slower, appear tired, and have slumped shoulders Research has found that a simple shift in posture can make a significant change in depressive states. According to research, recalling happy events takes longer and is more difficult to do in a slouched posture.

A study demonstrated that, participants whose posture was adjusted into an upright posture with the use of physiotherapy tape had a higher positive affect and greater verbal engagement than those in a stooped posture. This matters. Increasing the ability to connect with positive thoughts and emotions is an important part of shifting the depression pattern. It is also worth considering that yoga and Pilates practices include shifts in postures. As such, including yoga or Pilates as part of the weekly exercise routine is an important part of holistic healthcare.

When people are struggling with depression, they often have difficulty with emotion regulation and are inhibited by maladaptive cognitive patterns. There is often a sense of hopelessness, difficulty with motivation, and struggle with social connections. A holistic psychotherapist is able to hold the different aspects of depression in mind and work with clients to develop helpful coping skills, increase intrinsic emotion regulation, and explore different ways to improve life engagement to bring more balance, resilience, and wellness.

At bmy, the inclusion of holistic psychotherapy and somatic therapy modalities for the treatment of depression follows the stress and trauma physiology perspectives presented by leaders in the field such as Dr. Stephen Porges and his Polyvagal Theory and Dr. Peter Levine and his Somatic Experiencing model and approach. These perspectives consider depression as a frozen state and recognize the value of bringing more regulation to the physiology through comprehensive somatic modalities. You can read more about this in our e-Mag article: The somatic layers of depression.