Secrets About Alternative Mental Health Information Only A Handful Of People Know.
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Although the concept of alternative treatments for psychological disorders such as ADHD, anxiety disorders and depression has been standard practice in eastern cultures for thousands of years, it’s now becoming more acceptable in the west.
“I got hold of a 900-page medical book on manic depression. Among other things, it said that certain amino acid deficiencies were common in manic depression. But the recommended treatment was drugs! I thought, ‘Heck, why not just take the amino acids?’ I did and that was the starting point on my road to wellness.”
– actress, bipolar patient Margot Kidder
At HealthyPlace.com, we want to help you learn as much as you can about mental health and all available treatments, including alternative mental health treatments.
And if you are looking to share experiences or need support, we hope you’ll join the HealthyPlace.com Support Network (our mental health social network). Many times, communicating with others who have common experiences or faced similar problems can be a great help as well as a source of comfort.
How to Select a Complementary and Alternative Medicine Provider
Important things to consider when you are looking for a complementary or alternative medicine practitioner.
Selecting a health care practitioner–of conventional1 or complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)–is an important decision and can be key to ensuring that you are receiving the best health care. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has developed this fact sheet to answer frequently asked questions about selecting a CAM practitioner, such as issues to consider when making your decision and important questions to ask the practitioner you select.
1 Conventional medicine is medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. Other terms for conventional medicine include allopathy; Western, mainstream, orthodox, and regular medicine; and biomedicine. Some conventional medical practitioners are also practitioners of CAM.
Key Points
If you are seeking a CAM practitioner, speak with your primary health care provider(s) regarding the therapy in which you are interested. Ask if they have a recommendation for the type of CAM practitioner you are seeking.
Make a list of CAM practitioners and gather information about each before making your first visit. Ask basic questions about their credentials and practice. Where did they receive their training? What licenses or certifications do they have? How much will the treatment cost?
Check with your insurer to see if the cost of therapy will be covered.
After you select a practitioner, make a list of questions to ask at your first visit. You may want to bring a friend or family member who can help you ask questions and note answers.
Come to the first visit prepared to answer questions about your health history, including injuries, surgeries, and major illnesses, as well as prescription medicines, vitamins, and other supplements you may take.
Assess your first visit and decide if the practitioner is right for you. Did you feel comfortable with the practitioner? Could the practitioner answer your questions? Did he respond to you in a way that satisfied you? Does the treatment plan seem reasonable and acceptable to you?
