Depression Effects | Depression Definition | Depression Children | Treatment Of Depression | DEPRESSION MEN

The medical model in the field of mental health treatment involves identifying the symptoms of a disorder and   matching  those symptoms to  a list that has been denoted in the DMV-IV, the psychiatric book of disorders used by most in the mental health profession. A label is then determined for the disorder, and psychiatric drugs are  generally prescribed. Very simply, the medical model as it is commonly used, which is popular in many psychiatric circles, runs under the assumptions that mental health disorders are chemical imbalances that can be adjusted and controlled with what is considered to be appropriate drugs.     

Is this simplistic model for understanding mental health disorders accurate? Quite simply, no. The simple medical model is not an accurate way of viewing mental health disorders. Most who have undergone treatment based on the the use of the “medical model” find themselves disappointed. There are no substitutes for working hard at one’s mental health, with one’s relationships and family. There is no magic pill that can alleviate life’s many interwoven problems or heal emotional  wounds.

Psychiatric medication for mental health disorders, including those prescribed for ADHD/ADD, depression and major depression, and bipolar disorder (BD), as well as other mental health disorders, merely address symptoms but do not address the underlying problems behind the mental health disorder.

One might liken it to taking an aspirin for pain. An aspirin will help one to feel a less pain if there is a headache, but it doesn’t  address whatever might be the source of the pain, and after the aspirin’s positive effects are over, one again needs to  take another aspirin to get the same pain relief. Psychiatric drugs for psychiatric disorders are very similar. Most who have written on the subject, including those who support the general use of drug treatment for mental health disorders, agree that drugs used in treatment based on the “medical model” address symptoms, but do not address the actual disorder. It It can be comparable to a “chemical band-aid”.

It should be noted that there are other models of mental health which are much more in depth and complete in  addressing the many interconnceted factors of mental health. One of those models of mental health is the bioecological model which was developed by Urie Bronfenbreener, Ph.D., who is the originator of the Head Start preschool program in the United States and a widely respected scholar on the subject of mental health, (recently deceased). Dr. Bronfenbrenner developed the thought that social factors on many levels can be and are in fact involved with mental health. While genetics may predispose a person towards mental health difficulties, they do not in general cause mental health disorders. Rather, it is more probably a combination of  genetics, with environmental and other factors that are involved. There is a multi-tiered approach to psychology which is more accurate and takes all of the many factors into consideration than does the “chemical imbalance” theory, known as the medical model.

Another approach to mental health models, is that of Positive Psychology, developed by Martin Seligam who developed has  ideas at Penn State University, U.S.. Rather than starting on the the idea of identifying and labeling disorders, along with subsequent treatment, rather, it starts on a positive foundation, with the goal of building on one’s positives and working towards goals. Positive psychology is a mental health theory that is pretty mainstream and widely accepted, and the application of which can circumvent the overtreatment through psychiatric drugs that many have experienced.

This article was written by John Samuels from the Association for Natural Psychology. Please also visit our bookstore. Natural psychology, self help for treatment of mental health disorders, natural cures of mental health disorders,  depression treatment without drugs, positive parenting, raising and teaching special needs children, and a variety of related subjects are considered. You can also see our new book,
Overcoming ADHD without Medication: A Parent’s and Educator’s Guidebook on Amazon, Alibris and other online locations. The Association for Natural Psychology is a New Jersey non-profit corporation.

Art, as a learned coping skill can be an excellent therapy for many mental health difficulties. It can be an effective method for children to develop self respect and can be of benefit in behavioral health applications for youth.

Art therapy is a professional therapy administered by board certified therapists, who use art along with therapy to help those with mental health disorders to open up and express themselves, as well as to heal  from emotional wounds from the past and present.

Both art as self-help skill, and professional art therapy can be an effective part of the healing process in such disorders as:

OCD,
Bipolar Disorder,
ADHD,
Schizophrenia and related disorders,
Autism,
Borderline Personality Disorder,
Depression,
Eating Disorders,
Substance Abuse.

Very briefly, for those who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, (OCD), art as a self help coping skilland arts therapy can help many with symptoms of  OCD to balance. It can be an effective  part of professional and self help therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).  For those with Bipolar Disorder, art and art therapy can be of much help for both adults, teens and children to balance mood swings associated with BD. Art can be a type of  natural mood stabilizer. Both arts therapy and art can be an effective part of  a healing process for those with and related disorders. When considered in a professional context it can be a way to help those with the symptoms of schizophrenia  to open up and express themselves. It is effective when young adults have a difficult time opening up to a professional.

Art and arts therapy have been used effectively for children with autism spectrum disorders.  An art teacher from New Jersey who works with children who have special needs feels that teaching children and teens who have various degrees of autism  art in his summer programs has helped them to develop the ability to focus. He describes how one of his students showed much improvement and went on to hold a full-time job. Art was part of what helped many of these children with autism.

A large percentage of those who have suffered from child abuse, art and arts therapy can be of much value in recovery. Art as a self help skill and professional art therapy can help many of those suffering from depression to get away from depressing or violent news content, which is common on the television, as well as to avoid other programming, which can be contributing to one’s depression. Additionally, by engaging in art, and seeing the work of one’s hands, what one created through his imagination and will, it can help most who are suffering or who have suffered with mental health disorders to develop self-esteem.

This article was produced by John Samuels of the Association for Natural Psychology. Please also visit our bookstore. Natural psychology, self help for treatment of mental health disorders, natural cures of mental health disorders,  depression treatment without drugs, positive parenting, raising and teaching special needs children, and a variety of related subjects are considered. You can also see our new book,
Overcoming ADHD without Medication: A Parent’s and Educator’s Guidebook on Amazon, Alibris and other online locations. The Association for Natural Psychology is a New Jersey non-profit corporation.

Statistics indicate that around 50% of all Americans will experience some mental health disorder in their lifetime. One of the most common mental health difficulties is depression. Millions of anti-depressants of several varities are prescribed every year, and Prozac, fluoxetine, has become  a household word.  While antidepressants do offer some persons temporary relief, over 50% of those who takeantidepressants don’t experience any significant relief with their use. Additionally, of 50% of the adults who take anti-depressants, sexual dysfunction is a common side effect, and the most common reason for the discontinuation of  SSRIs, of which Prozac (fluoxetine) is the most common.

While depression has commonly has been described as a “chemical imbalance,” which psychiatrists and other physicians attempt to correct by prescribing what is thought to be appropriate drug treatment, there is much more involved in our mental health. Urie Bronfenbrenner, a well-known and respected scholar in the field of developmental psychology, demonstrated that our mental health is the result of a complex interaction of a number of factors, genetic, physical, environmental, and also social. Our mental health  isn’t simply a “chemical imbalance.”

Keeping that in mind, then, there is no simple solution for depression or for major depression, there is no miracle pill as Prozac was once thought to be, and to recover from depression, can take a certain amount of hard work and sacrifice. While antidepressants can help some get through a crisis, it is generally acknowledged that they are both overprescribed, and their positive benefits are not long-term. Rather, their effectiveness is for a limited time and so, aren’t necessarily the best course in terms of lifestyle, that it, they are better not to be used as a long-term, lifestyle drug.

There is much that can be accomplished in overcoming depression in terms of self help and this can be true for major depression as well. For mild to moderate depression, exercise can be an effective therapy, one that many feel has been very effective. One man who had suffered with mild to moderate depression found that moderate exercise several times weekly, helped to keep his mind clear and out of depression. Many have found that brisk walking can be an effective therapy, Especially when one exercises daily, or at least four times a week. Exercise, to be effective, needs to be to the point that one breaks a sweat, and for at least thirty to forty minutes for each session.

For some, diet can be one factor, even with ADHD or bipolar disorder. Cutting out as much as possible on sugar and refined carbohydrates, not consuming any alcohol,  if one suffers with depression or bipolar disorder, really, any mental health disorder, is essential. Cutting out smoking as a habit is also very important for good mental health as well.

There are other lifestyle changes that can effectively help in depression, cutting out television and movies as a source of diversion, and replacing them with other positive, but active, physically, and/or mentally challenging activities. Why? Because watching television and movies as a way of life, sedates the mind. The news is often times depressing for many of us, some movies are either depressing, or mind-dulling. Violent films or action molvies are like a drug, in that they over-stimulate the mind, and then there can be a subsequent corresponding low, in the absence of that artificial stimulation. TV lends itself well to depression, as the passivity of the habit can dull the mind, it can be difficult to get it kick-started again. If watching many hours of TV a day is a way of life, cutting out television can make all the difference for some in overcoming depression, and some other mental health disorders as well.

Time spent watching TV can be replaced with time engaging in art work, learning languages, which strengthens the mind, exercise, walking or hiking, going to parks and enjoying nature, and so on. Reading is more strengthening to the mind as opposed to watching television, which is generally mind-dulling. Reading to keep informed is a better choice than watching the TV news and news programs nightly. These are just a few ideas for those who are battling depression, other ideas can be found on our website.

This article was produced by John Samuels of the Association for Natural Psychology. Please also visit our bookstore. Natural psychology, self help for treatment of mental health disorders, natural cures of mental health disorders,  depression treatment without drugs, positive parenting, raising and teaching special needs children, and a variety of related subjects are considered. You can also see our new book,
Overcoming ADHD without Medication: A Parent’s and Educator’s Guidebook on Amazon, Alibris and other online locations. The Association for Natural Psychology is a New Jersey non-profit corporation.