Are There Alternatives To Medicine When Searching For Stress Remedies?

Now, more than ever, the amount of people visiting their doctor with stress-related symptoms, especially depression, is on the increase. Depression referral cases alone total some 25 million annually in the U.S. Commonly this is due to anxiety caused by recession, such as money worries or employment issues. Doctors themselves are under pressure to turn around patients in quick time, and often anti-depressant pills are routinely prescribed (in fact in 90% of cases).

I have suffered from mild depression myself, a few years back, when faced with work pressures. In my own circle of friends and work colleagues I knew several who had experienced the same at different periods of their lives. Some, like me, were determined to get through their problems without turning to medication. A higher number were prescribed a course of pills to help combat the symptoms, and to make them feel a bit 'happier'.

The problem with pills is that, if you take them for an extended period of time, 2 things can happen. You can either become immune to their beneficial effects, and end up having to be prescribed with an alternative, or stronger dose, to be able to continue with treatment. Alternatively, your doctor can feel you are well enough to be weaned off the pills. Unfortunately, this can be easier said than done. Unpleasant side effects can kick in, such as a feeling that your eyes are being pressurised, almost as if they may pop out. The only way to stop the feeling is to take the pills again - which then becomes a continuous cycle.

That's why, sensibly, many people try to take a self-help, natural route to resolve their illness. It's certainly worth considering in the first instance, with medication used as a 'last resort' if all else fails. Three such natural methods to consider are: -

* Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - Known as CBT, this method is based on the premise that our thoughts dictate our feelings and behaviour. At the heart of this stress relief technique is the idea that if we can change the way we think, we can start to improve the way we feel - even if the actual situation causing the anxiety in the first place does not go away. This is the method I used to successfully put my feelings of stress behind me

* Imagery Psychology - Applying musical and audio techniques, imagery psychology is used to place the recipient's brain into a state of clinical relaxation. One of the advantages of using imagery techniques is that other specific areas such as smoking, weight-loss or insomnia can also be tackled. Again, there are similarities to CBT, in that the imagery is used to train the brain into new ways of thinking, without resorting to medication

* Yoga Meditation - with this method, the patient (or student) uses meditation to transform their thought processes with the aim of achieving enhanced awareness and fulfilment of their needs or desires. The training improves concentration and focus, whilst reducing feelings of stress or anxiety. This then brings about full body relaxation, a feeling of improved health, and more confidence.

Stress-related symptoms can naturally weaken your body's overall defence system leading to the increased chance of minor illnesses such as colds or flu, right up to more serious conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. Whilst natural, self-help techniques can successfully combat stress, the added benefit of an all-round improvement to your health warrants serious consideration.


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