The problem of the human mind is incredibly complex. So it is natural that there are many ways to approach studying it. One of the methods we can use when trying to better the state of our mind is integrative psychiatry. With this approach, we have a belief that all parts of human psychology are intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole. That means, to fully understand someone, we need to look at them as a whole, not just at the separate aspects of his personality. There are several techniques that are quite common in psychiatry that are used here as well.
Of course, medications are prescribed in integrative psychiatry as well. But there is also thinking outside of the box in order to help people’s mental state. The substance of the matter is that this way of thinking believes that various circumstances demand a diverse type of therapy. So if you want to try out something new that is helping so many people around the world, maybe check out BetterHelp.com. There are many symptoms that could plague you that could be cured with this method.
Naturally, psychiatry often is like a magnet for different kinds of myths that follow it. Integrative psychiatry is not different in that regard. So let us look at some common myths about integrative psychiatry people think are true.
1. It is only for prevention purposes
The fact of the matter is that with this method symptom presentation and methods for preventions are taken into consideration. That means that these therapists have a good chance to find all of the obstacles to your good health and determinants that can assist us in getting healthier. More attention is given to biological factors. Metabolic and brain traits are of huge importance to the state of our mind, so it is crucial to pay more consideration to them.
To be honest, ordinary psychiatry never recognized the significance of diet, forming a healthy relationship with others, and generally psychical exercises. Integrative psychiatry looks at individual and their problems in a more comprehensive approach. That means that we can make some of our problems go away, not by directly confronting them, but by living a healthier and more fulfilling life in every other way possible.
2. Only strong medications can help with mental illnesses
Quite a peculiar myth indeed. It would be pretty hard to find an expert that sees therapy as nothing more than a dispenser for medications. Psychiatrists are much more than dispensers for the pharmacy industry. Integrative psychiatry recognizes that our physical health and mental stability are the foundation of a healthy individual. Our vitality is built from the bottom up. There is no aspect of human life that doesn’t have consequences on our mental health.
When we see a healthy person, we shouldn’t just note a lack of symptoms. We can see a way to how to treat actual problems. The most important principle is not to harm the health of the patient. Once we support the mind and the body, we can diminish any issues that the patients are suffering from. When our body and mind are in balance, the spirit can often heal itself. All we need is to support that healing process.
3. Integrative psychiatry is not only against medications it also potentially harms people
Like we mentioned already, there is nothing in integrative psychology that is against the pharmacy. It shouldn’t be that complicated to understand the basic idea of this method. There is simply a change from focusing on medicating the illness into promoting health. Medication is a way of helping people. But it is only one of the possible ways.
Integrative psychology is all about evaluating every individual as a whole and finding the best possible way to help them out. Being too fixated on medicating the patients can also be a bad thing. Since it is not addressing the root of the problems or helping the general state of health of that person.
4. When evaluating patients, only lifestyle and family history are in acknowledged
When diagnosing the patients we must take into consideration the physical health, mental state, and spirit of each patient individually. One of the principal ideas of integrative psychiatry is that there is no greater instrument that can help us more in our pursuit of health, than good nutrition. We are what we eat is a saying for a reason.
Ordinary therapy is not putting enough value on the benefits of a healthy diet. Instead of using medications for instant but temporary respite, it is much more immeasurable to bring the person in a state of health and balance. Sometimes that is done with a change in eating habits, exercising, or finding a new hobby.
5. People and their families are more inclined towards natural remedies
The truth is that what people and their loved ones actually look for is more options. So many people have tried to medicate themself but still, have mental problems after years of this approach. For some, medication might work, others want to try out something that could help them more. Giving patients more choices is a good thing. Establishing a connection with not only patients but their loved ones is essential in assessing what is troubling the patient, and what is his path to a better life. At its core, the goals of integrative psychiatry remain the same. Identify potential problems, understand your patient, and find a way to help them. But while doing that, we should keep our eyes open to all potentially vital means.
As we saw, integrative psychiatry is nothing if not common sense. Better lifestyle and diet will help our mental health immensely. That doesn’t mean that medications are never the answer to our problems, but it does mean that there are plenty of other means out there as well. The most crucial objective should be to find balance in our lives and let our body, mind, and spirit heal. Hopefully, we helped you disperse some of the myths that follow integrative psychology.