Letter to the Editor: Holistic healthcare should be more prominent
I wrote the following Letter to my local paper. (they publish almost every letter I send, and I encourage you to submit letters too!)
The first time I mentioned anxiety to my Dr., she offered me pills and no other options.
I recently read about a meditation study that enrolled participants in an 8 week class where they learned about mindfulness meditation and meditated in class, and this was just as effective as Lexapro at treating anxiety and depression.
The first take-away is that meditation is a real treatment for some mental disorders. Second, and more importantly, is that this was a system of support, not a take-home do-it-yourself assignment.
When you have knee surgery, you may be prescribed physical therapy. You go to a clinic, and a physical therapist tells you what exercises to do, serving as a professional instructor, provider of equipment, and as a social support. The social support and accountability is really important.
Many of you know how hard it is to continue physical therapy at home, on your own. There is no real accountability, and nobody to help you in that setting. It works for some people, but many of us need support. Those of us suffering from mental illness need support too.
Pharmaceuticals are a great option for people who want them, and many people's lives are vastly improved by them. Pharmaceuticals are an option, not the only option.
I'm writing this letter to ask that the medical professional establishment add holistic treatments like meditation to their repertoire and develop systems of support so these treatments are actually effective.
Other holistic approaches should be incorporated as well, such as exercise programs and casual social groups like helping a lonely and depressed, but athletically-inclined patient find a local sports group to play with. Material support can also be incredibly important - helping people get new clothes, or assistance with house-cleaning or going to the grocery store.