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12 Steps to Sanity & Mental Health
Mental Health ~ Stress ~ Anxiety
Beyond Blue blog author Therese Borchard volunteers her personal plan for beating depression and promoting well being in her daily activities.
In commentary on the recently released The Depression Cure: The Six-Step Program to Beat Depression without Drugs by Stephen Ilardi, Borchard supports his assertion that our modern day lifestyles have nearly obliterated the anti-depression habits that were once a staple of American life. In summary, Ilardi proposes a lifestyle that re-incorporates omega-3 fatty acids, socializing with others, physical activity, sunlight exposure, personal support systems, and sleep. In agreement with his six steps, Borchard elaborates on her twelve step plan that, in comparison, supports medication as part of the overall strategy. Borchard explains that she is hesitant to dismiss medication from the list, as it was the critical addition to her plan that finally made the difference in her recovery. However, Borchard does point out that finding the right cocktail of medication(s) is paramount to a successful execution of the lifestyle wellness plan and that a bit of trial and error is to expected. In addition to Ilardi's recommendations, Borchard adds the following lifestyle choices and habits to her twelve step plan: find the right doctor, find the right medication(s), get involved by volunteering or outreach, start a gratitude journal, prayer and meditation, and time.
The message is clear: stop withdrawing, and choose to be active, open, and social. While these plans are not going to serve as an overnight miracle cure, they will make noticeable differences in your outlook and well being that will empower you to make lasting changes in your lifestyle and mental health. Also, try to think creatively to build a plan that's tailored for your interests to increase the likelihood of success and commitment. For example, in place of the prayer and meditation step, you could take yoga for anxiety classes. If you would like to try the medication-free route first, research Austin counselors who specialize in stress management counseling, or depression therapy. Finally, if you would like to meet and network with people who are having similar experiences and struggles, try attending one of the many mental health workshops in Austin. You can view many of them on the Feel Good Austin Events page at http://austin.feelgoodtown.com/event.
You can view Therese Borchard's blog at http://blog.beliefnet.com/beyondblue.
