Medications have a positive influence on mental health, but pairing psychiatric medications with lifestyle adaptations works better most of the time.
Let’s discuss how.

The Full Picture of Mental Health

Psychiatric medications accomplish a lot. They bring the brain chemistry into balance to reduce the symptoms while also allowing the person to function on a day to day basis.
For lots of people who have conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and others, medications are a must.
But while medication deals with the biological aspects of mental health, there are other aspects that are not dealt with, and those also influence how the person feels.
Those other aspects are the following:

• The quality of your sleep
• What you’re eating throughout the day
• How much you’re moving your body
• Your stress levels and coping habits
• The strength of your relationships

These factors, believe it or not, are very important. In fact, at times, they are very important.

Read more: Will I Be on Psychiatric Medication Forever?

The Impact of Lifestyle Choices on Brain Health

The manner in which our brains operate is influenced by our habits. Exercise is able to make the brain secrete natural mood-enhancing hormones like endorphins and serotonin.
By eating healthy foods, you are actually feeding your brain some food which enables it to better handle both positive and negative emotions.
Sleep quality and quantity also play an important role.
Insufficient sleep leads not only to fatigue but may also exacerbate symptoms of clinical depression and anxiety.
Lack of sleep can result in a bad mood the following day.
The positive thing about these activities is that they are not optional or an afterthought.
They are core components to improving your mental health and can be done at the same time you are receiving psychiatric treatment.

Integration of Lifestyle Improvements and Mental Health Treatment

So what does it actually mean to integrate lifestyle changes with mental health treatment? Integration does not mean that you feel the need to completely change your lifestyle in one day.
Integration is about making reasonable changes that are feasible for you and that you can maintain over time.
These changes are in addition to the ones you have already made regarding medication and therapy.
Here is how this can be done:

• Movement. Reducing anxiety and improving mood is as simple as taking a 20-minute walk
• Sleep. Your bedtime and how you wind down should be the same every night
• Eat well. Regular whole food meals are better than processed foods
• Manage Stress. Breathing, meditation, and journaling are good techniques
• Connect. Relationships should be positive and lift you up

Your mental health provider can provide a whole plan.

Real Results From a Holistic Approach

When people mix healthy lifestyle choices with medication, it is common for them to feel the positive effects and gain a level of overall well-being.
Plus, the positive effects of building healthy lifestyle choices are huge. They’ll help you because medication is not something people want to be dependent on.
Lifestyles are something people want to be in control of, and healthy choices are something you want to stick to for the long haul.
People can get control over their mental health. Instead of medication doing all the mental health work, you can be an active participant in your mental health well-being.

Getting Started With Medcanvas Psychiatry

Here at Medcanvas Psychiatry, we understand symptoms are just part of the bigger picture.
We strive to provide adequate psychiatric medication management while incorporating wellness changes that are beneficial for your mental health.

We can:

• Review your distinct circumstances
• Develop a treatment plan
• Guide you through practical and evidence-based strategies that get results

We are ready to help you improve your overall wellness.
Let us help you with your continued mental health. Book with us today.

FAQs

Can I change my lifestyle instead of taking medication?

Not all clients are the same. Your circumstances play a part. You will need to work with your mental health provider to develop a personalized plan.
Changes to your treatment plan should be strictly necessary.

When will I start noticing the outcomes of implementing changes to the way I lead my daily life?

The initial 2 to 4 weeks of change-making are the period when small changes are visible.
Large changes in how you feel and how your symptoms change usually take 6 to 8 weeks to be noticeable.

What if I have tried making changes to how I live my life and it hasn’t worked?

Making changes to how you live your life works best with the help of proper psychiatric care.
Your psychiatrist can help you identify what changes would be the most beneficial to your situation.