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Wellness Continuum
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Psychiatric drugs are by far the most commonly prescribed intervention for mental distress. However, given their limited effectiveness and significant risks, people are searching for better options.
Fortunately, there are 27 non-drug approaches shown effective in thousands of "gold standard" studies. Although they are not a universal panacea, non-drug options often provide significant and sustainable relief, sometimes fully eliminating symptoms with little or no side effects.
The field of Integrative Mental Health uses both drug and non-drug approaches, combining them in a best-of-both-worlds manner.
The full array of options align to a Wellness Continuum that identifies four categories of interventions:
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Preventive: Wellness practices that help avoid mental distress.
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Restorative: Approaches that reinstate mental wellness by addressing potential root causes.
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Symptom Relief : Methods to minimize mental distress.
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Over-Care Avoidance: Ways to avoid unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment.
Clustering the options of Integrative Mental Health into the Wellness Continuum highlights that drugs are just one piece of the puzzle.
Often, the best path to recovery is using a variety of approaches individualized to your unique bio-individuality, history, and preferences. The 27 non-drug approaches are detailed in the book, Choices in Recovery.