Avoid Fast Food For Mental Health

Dr Kathi J. Kemper has written in her book"Mental Health, Naturally", that you should avoid fast food in the best interest of your mental health. Fast food is generally found to be low in essential nutrients and high in calories, salt, and the type of fatty acids which promote inflammation. Inflammation in the brain has been found to be linked to feeling depressed and having memory problems. Also, inflammation is linked to joint pain, diabetes, and heart disease. Natural fruits and vegetables along with grilled or steamed fish and fresh water or fruit juice should be encouraged in the place of fast food and soda pop.

Mental Health Is Not Just The Absence of Mental Illness

Dr Kathi J. Kemper writes in her book "Mental Health, Naturally", that "mental health is part of an interrelated package of overall health, including physical, mental, and spiritual health." The US Department of Health and Human Services is quoted by Dr Kemper as defining health as being "the successful performance of mental functions, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships, the ability to adapt to change, and successful coping with adversity." And the World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well being, not just the absence of disease or infirmity. And so in order to be truly mentally healthy you have to work at it daily. There is a mind/boy/social relationship between all aspects of well being. People who do not encourage the nurturing of all of these aspects of your health, such as psychiatrists, are not really interested in your mental health. And governments and people who do not encourage other people to earn money and work with them to do so, for whatever reasons, are not nurturing their mental health since it takes financial freedom to be able to successfully realize all of the aspects of health. Psychiatrists and the people they work with have a consistent pattern of undermining the income earning potential of the people who have the great misfortune of seeing them, instead of working with people to nurture their careers and income earning potential.

MoodCalm from Native Remedies for Mood Swings

MoodCalm from Native Remedies is a safe, non–addictive FDA–registered natural remedy, which contains 100% homeopathic ingredients which are especially selected to relieve mood swings, uncharacteristic behavior and agitation, as well as anger outbursts. The selected homeopathic ingredients for MoodCalm have been proven to safely reduce extreme emotional highs. MoodCalm helps the body and mind to make a transition back into equilibrium naturally. MoodCalm is taken internally and works very quickly to soothe the nervous system and promote a calm, balanced and stable mood. MoodCalm is presented in small dissolvable tablets, MoodCalm is easy to ingest and hassle–free with no artificial colors or preservatives. Due to the safe and effective homeopathic formula, MoodCalm ca be used without risk of negative interactions. And it may also be used safely during pregnancy and for all ages. Therefore, MoodCalm can make all the difference, without compromising health. All Native Remedies homeopathic products and biochemic tissue salts are manufactured in an FDA and GMP registered pharmaceutical facility which is under the supervision of qualified homeopaths and responsible pharmacists. The individual ingredients are listed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS). Lifehas often been described as a rollercoaster – however, sometimes these highs and lows can be very difficult to cope with. An elevated mood may feel great, however excitability and agitation can be considered a problem. This could put a strain on relationships at home or work and even with the law. People who are experiencing excitability and agitation may find it difficult to settle down and focus on the task at hand and may become erratic and impulsive, and they often act without thinking. It is also very common to experience severe mood swings that lead to outbursts and other extreme behaviors that affect daily functioning in a negative manner. There is a lot that can be done to naturally calm emotional outbursts and to reduce mood swings. It is a very good idea to reduce or remove caffeine, refined sugar and alcohol – all of which can exacerbate mood swings, as well as hyperactive and impulsive behavior. Food allergies should also always be considered, as well as a healthy diet and a balanced sleep pattern. And in instances of severe mood swings, insufficient sleep can further intensify mood imbalances. Regular exercise is also very effective in helping to vent frustrations and release any pent–up emotions that would otherwise be released inappropriately.

Natural Interventions for Depression

Natural interventions work very well for depression. Dr Earl Mindell writes in "Natural Remedies for 150 Ailments" good natural remedies include vitamin B-complex, licorice root, St. John's wort, detoxification, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and avoidance of psychiatric drugs, alcohol, illicit drugs, extreme forms of dieting, and processed foods. Dr Harold Mandel also suggests trying to find time to spend outdoors in the fresh air daily. And spend time with your family whenever possible. Pets also help remarkably well to help lift a down mood. Dogs, cats and rabbits make particularly nice pets for around the home.

Dietary Considerations for Anxiety

Dr Robert A. Anderson writes in his text ,"Clinician's Guide to Holistic Medicine", that recommendations for the nutritional support of anxiety emphasize complex carbohydrates (whole grains, brown rice, barley, millet, corn, heat), whole wheat pasta, seaweed, vegetables, kasha, and foods which contain L-tryptophan (bananas, milk, sunflower seeds). A good diet for anxiety is also low in protein, fat, and strong spices, High levels of lactate are associated with anxiety and panic disorder and therefore foods which contribute to lactate production should be avoided and include caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, sugar, and highly acidic foods. Dr Harold Mandel also suggests daily exercise and meditation can help with anxiety.

Valerian for Anxiety and Insomnia

Valerian is an herbal remedy which is used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Winifred Conkling and David Y. Wong, MD write in "The Complete Guide to Vitamins and Herbs" that valerian is "probably best known for its ability to improve the quality of sleep, hasten onset of sleep, and reduce the number of nighttime awakenings. Valerian does not have addiction and withdrawal symptoms which are associated with barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Valerian can cause drowsiness and so you should not drive while taking it. Sometimes there are side effects from valerian such as excitability, headache, upset stomach, nausea, and blurred vision in which case this herb should be discontinued.

Ginkgo Biloba for Brain Health

Health Online report Ginkgo biloba has been studied for its effect on dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. Ginkgo bioloba is an antioxidant, circulatory stimulant (particularly to the brain), cognition enhancing and neuroprotective. Studies have indicated improvements in cerebral blood flow, motor recovery, mood and behaviour, intellectual performance and memory with Ginkgo bioloba. This herb hasn't proven efficacious for those with mild to moderate Alzheimer's or vascular dementia, however it works well as a preventative, and in the earliest stages of dementia. It is important to consult with a Medical Herbalist or Pharmacist before taking Ginkgo biloba as it may interact with certain medications particularly warfarin and aspirin.

Music for Mental Health

The Association for Natural Psychology reports that "music can be a positive force for mental health, calming, relaxing, intellectually stimulating." Music can have positive effects on the mental health of adults, teens and children. Music affects our emotions, and it can create "channels" in our mind, and patterns of thinking. Music can also impart ideas and ideologies, powerfully and emotionally conveying a way of life. The choices we make in choosing music, the intensity and frequency of the music we listen to, can have a strong effect on our mental health. The type, intensity and amount of music we listen to can have effects on mood disorders. Music can be a stimulant to intellectual and cognitive development for children, teens, and even babies, as music can be a stimulant to intellectual and cognitive development.

Exercise for Depression

Natural Health Care Canada has reported on a groundbreaking experiment which took place at Duke University in North Carolina. In this experiment a group of 156 adults, all of whom were diagnosed with major depression, were randomly assigned to three treatment categories: exercise; Zoloft; and a combination of both. Those in the exercise group engaged in brisk walking, jogging, or stationery bicycle riding three times per week. All three groups had "vastly improved" or were symptom free at the end of the four-month period. However, in a follow-up study completed ten months after the beginning of treatment a remarkable difference with regard to the durability of these different treatments was seen. In the follow-up analysis the researchers examined what percentage of subjects whose symptoms had fully remitted suffered a return of depressive symptoms when all forms of treatment had ended. The subjects who had continued their to exercise were least likely to become depressed. Researcher, James Blumenthal, said his findings suggest that exercise 'is an effective, robust treatment for patients with major depression.'            

Green Therapy

The Association for Natural Psychology has reported that time spent outdoors may help relieve symptoms of what the psychiatrists label as depression and ADHD, Obsessive–compulsive disorder, Bipolar Disorder and some other disorders. Regular exercise and outdoor activities, or unstructured "green time," have also been found to help children with labeled with ADHD and depression. It has been found that children labeled with ADHD who schedule regular time for outdoor activites such as walking in the park or hiking, exhibit less of the symptoms associated with ADHD. And a recent study found that more than 70% of adults who took time for this type of "green therapy" felt less depressed than those who did not. Up to 90 per cent of people have reported increased self-esteem after a country walk. And people who spent an equal amount of time at a shopping mall felt more tense and depressed afterwards.

Animal Assisted Therapy

Dr Fredricks has reported that animal companionship has been a source of comfort and relief from suffering throughout history. For years, pet therapy has been a subject of study for nursing and other health care disciplines which are concerned with emotional well-being and quality of life. There are many types of pet therapy, such as animal-assisted activities, animal-assisted therapy, animals in human therapy, canine visitation therapy, companion animal therapy, pet-assisted therapy, and pet-facilitated therapy. Animal assisted therapy helps with depression by providing psychological support in terms of emotional connection, stress reduction, reduced feelings of loneliness, and attenuation of depression. Owning pets has been shown to enhance well-being among all populations, including children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. Animal-assisted therapy also helps with what the psychiatrists label as schizophrenia. Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to encourage mobility, interpersonal contact, and communication and reinforces activities of daily living, including personal hygiene and independent self-care. Calm and friendly dogs and other pets also provide good companionship for people. Animal-assisted therapy is also very helpful for stress management. A nice cat, dog or other pet on your lap does wonders for your mood and stress relief. Animal-assisted therapy has also been shown to help with Alzheimer's Disease by increasing social behaviors such as smiling, laughing, touching, verbalization, and name-calling.

Religious Counseling

Some people prefer to seek help for mental health problems with religious counseling, rather than from therapists who are not affiliated with a religious community. Counselors working within traditional faith communities have been increasingly recognizing the need to incorporate natural psychotherapy , along with prayer and spirituality, to effectively help some people who appear to have emotional problems or who simply want to enhance their mental well being. Although some religious leaders are taught to believe the psychiatric drugs combined with religious counseling works best, this is simply never appears to be true. The psychiatric drugs are all highly toxic poisons which mimic the mental illnesses they are supposedly being used to treat and worse. If you have a spiritual belief system which you truly believe in religious counseling with a firm commitment to a purist approach to natural mental health care has the potential to work very well to help you realize a balanced state of mind.    

Cinema Therapy

Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D., has reported that Cinema therapy is often called "film therapy" or "movie therapy." This is a process where a therapist prescribes movies to help their patient explore their psyches. Although not very many therapists actually center their practices around cinema therapy, movies have long been a tool to help people in therapy achieve their goals. There are books with such titles as Rent Two Films and Let's Talk in the Morning and Hollywood Endings And How To Get One which can be found in the self-help section of your local bookstore. Many types and definitions of cinema therapy exist, just as there are many different application for cinema therapy. For example, the Chicago Institute for the Moving Image (CIMI) helps people seeking therapy for depression or other serious psychiatric illnesses, including people laneled with schizophrenia or suffering from amnesia, to write, produce, and direct their own movies.