In 2023, a study by Leafwell suggested that Massachusetts was the second healthiest state in terms of mental health. It highlighted the culture, affluence, and overall quality of life. Yet, it is also claimed that around 30% of adults in the state have symptoms of anxiety or depression. It may be slightly below the national average, but it’s also far too high. That’s a lot of people in need of effective mental health care. So, what are the options for psychiatric services and mental health treatment in Massachusetts?
The Dangers Of Pharmaceutical Treatments For Mental Illness
The obvious route for many medical practitioners is to prescribe medication in the hopes the drugs will affect brain chemistry so far as to ease symptoms. While antidepressants and anti-psychotics can prove useful in some cases, they aren’t for everyone. Many dealing with mental health issues feel that the drugs merely mask deeper problems and leave them feeling like they aren’t getting any better.
To make matters worse, there are also various potential side effects patients are expected to face. For example, some who take antidepressants regularly also find they struggle with weight gain and sleep issues. Sleep problems are only going to exacerbate stress and anxiety levels, while weight gain can worsen feelings of low self-worth. There are also reported cases of people taking anxiolytics for anxiety and panic issues developing depression, paranoia, and memory issues. It’s understandable why many people dealing with mental health disorders wish to seek alternative treatments. So, what’s available that doesn’t involve potentially harmful drugs?
Non-Pharmaceutical Approaches To Mental Health Treatment
Lifestyle Changes
This first factor can be difficult for patients to hear. Often, doctors will tell people to make small changes to their lifestyle as a way of treating symptoms more than the underlying cause of anxiety, depression, or any other disorder. However, there are some benefits here that shouldn’t be overlooked. Dietary changes aren’t just there as a way to lose weight and build self-esteem. The right supplementation or shifts away from certain food products could alter your mood or brain chemistry positively. There’s also the potential of exercise for mental health, especially when enjoyed out in nature. You just have to find a form of exercise that brings joy rather than forcing yourself to follow a strict regime in the gym.
Psychiatric Services
On the opposite end of the scale, we have the potential of psychiatric services – more specifically, CBT. This form of talking therapy can prove to be an effective way of getting to the deeper issues at play. Therapists can help patients uncover deeper traumas and emotional triggers that make them more prone to anxiety or depression. It can take a while for patients to make breakthroughs, and sessions aren’t cheap. Yet, the right treatment plan with an empathetic therapist can work wonders on the right people. Don’t forget that if you’re not open to talking with a psychotherapist or doing intensive therapy sessions, it still helps to talk with someone. It could be a friend over a coffee date, a relative, or a beloved pet that won’t ask you any questions.
Alternative Therapies
Apart from traditional therapy practices, many alternative treatments are popular with people dealing with mental health issues. Many of the following are helpful for those who have mild symptoms and are working on self-regulated plans and self-care rather than intensive therapy. With that said mental health practitioners may still recommend group sessions in some of these practices or a regular treatment plan if it proves effective.
Two options that have become mainstream forms of relaxation are yoga and meditation. There are so many different types of yoga that there’s something to suit all tastes, and it can become a fun social activity. The hot yoga sessions aren’t as fun for relaxation and breathing techniques, but a session with puppies or goats has the added bonus of animal therapy. Yoga and meditation are also very easy to do alone, at home, in your free time. Others find that herbalism and aromatherapy are helpful tools for improving their mood and mental health. It can be fun to try different teas and essential oils to see which one has the best effect. Some herbs are deeply relaxing in baths and pillow sprays, while others are great mood enhancers for productivity.
TMS: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
A final option worth considering is TMS therapy. This alternative treatment is less well known, but it’s appreciated by those who enjoy its benefits. Trained practitioners carry out a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to interact with nerve cells within the brain. It’s a safe alternative to electroconvulsive treatment that can help restore a patient’s brain chemistry and mood. It’s all about the neuroplasticity of the brain. The organ is incredibly adaptive and receptive to new stimuli and ideas. You form new neural pathways all the time as you learn new behaviors and responses. This approach taps into that to enact positive change and reduce mental health symptoms.
Some of the best practitioners in Massachusetts, such as Dr. Jonathan Schwartz, MD, have seen success with this treatment and are trusted to provide treatment safely and effectively. It doesn’t work for everyone, with around 50-60% of patients seeing a significant reduction after finishing a course. Still, it could prove to be a great additional treatment on the road to recovery.
Is TMS Therapy The Right Option For You?
The main thing to take away from all this is that you have options. You aren’t limited to a long treatment plan with damaging pharmaceuticals because there are other choices out there. TMS may not be as widely talked about by MA doctors compared with other psychiatric services, but there are skilled professionals in Massachusetts ready to offer sessions. When balanced with other helpful remedies, like CBT, meditation, or whatever else seems to work for you, it could help. It could help you get to a better place with far less stress, fewer side effects, and a lot of hope for the future.
