It’s common to see individuals arguing back and forth about whether or not to use medication. Often, the debate is black and white in nature. Either you’re for the use of drugs in every scenario, or you’re completely against them.
The truth is, though, it’s okay to utilize a prescription at times and look for alternative remedies at others. That said, here are a few suggestions for other ways that you can address your health problems if you don’t want to turn to drugs as part of the answer.
1. Get Professional Help
The first suggestion that is always worth considering is professional help. This gives you access to an expert with deep knowledge, training, and experience. It can open up the door to possible solutions you may not be aware of at the moment. At times it can even help you eliminate certain drugs you’re using while helping you identify other options that could be more effective.
Going to “a professional” can take different forms. For instance, you can go to a therapist or a counselor for mental health concerns like depression. You can also visit a chiropractor or masseuse for physical ailments like recurring back pain.
If your problem is with the drugs themselves, such as suffering from something like Seroquel side effects or withdrawal, you can even attend a treatment program. This can give you a professionally approved, drug-free path to follow as you work your way back to a healthy state.
2. Consider a Change in Diet
Diet is one of the biggest factors for your health. The old adage that “you are what you eat” really does bear weight. Nowhere is this more clear than when it comes to addressing your health.
For instance, if you suffer from high cholesterol, you can reduce the saturated fat in your daily meals. High blood pressure can be connected to too much salt. In addition, things like caffeine and alcohol can have nasty side effects.
At the same time, you can also look for things to add to your diet to help as well. It’s wise to create a well-balanced diet that is tailored to your personal body’s needs. You can also try to add essential nutrients like vitamin D, vitamin C, and Omega-3 fats into your routine.
3. Incorporate Meaningful Exercise
Exercise is another huge medicine-free way to resolve a plethora of health concerns. The simple act of getting your heart rate up can release endorphins and help restore a balance to your mental health.
Also, exercise can lead to things like weight loss. This can help manage conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, and even cognitive decline. You don’t even have to become a gym rat to achieve results. Going for a swim, riding your bike, or even walking the dog on a regular basis are all effective ways to get your heart rate up.
4. Spend More Time Outside
Mother Nature is a powerful antidote to the trials and tribulations of life. If you’re looking for a low-chemical, organic way to manage your health problems, there’s nothing more natural than nature itself. Spending time outdoors can lead to several different benefits, such as:
- Exercising more often;
- Breathing fresh air;
- Getting more vitamin D;
- Improving concentration;
- Increasing happiness.
Unless the weather is bad, it’s always worth the effort to schedule some time in the great outdoors.
5. Get Better Sleep
It sounds simple, but good sleep is hard to come by for many. If you know that you don’t feel rested in the morning, you can help your health by trying to sleep better. This involves two different considerations.
First, measure how long you’re sleeping each night. The average adult should get at least seven hours of sleep on a consistent basis. It’s also great if you can sleep on a routine – i.e. go to sleep and wake up around the same time every night.
Second, analyze the quality of your sleep. Are you waking up a lot? Is your sleep environment hampering your slumber? Look for things like darker curtains, aromatherapy, and a better mattress to boost the quality of your rest.
6. Analyze Your Mental Activity
Runaway thoughts, cycles of depression, and anxiety can all contribute to poor health. While these can be addressed with medication at times, there are also many other ways that you can improve your mental health. For instance, you can:
- Spend time meditating or praying each morning;
- Cultivate an attitude of gratitude, thankfulness, and positivity;
- Try to identify cognitive distortions that are impacting how you process things.
Working to rein in your mind is a critical part of long-term sustainable health.
7. Overhaul Your Environment
Your environment can be full of a variety of different health threats. Eliminating these can help you manage your health while avoiding the need for medication.
For example, you can declutter your living space to reduce stress. You can also shift to green cleaning solutions to avoid the long-term effects of chemical exposure. You can even install a quality air purifier to help improve the air that you’re breathing.
8. Stay Social
Never underestimate the power of socializing with others. From texts and phone calls to video chats and, ideally, interpersonal interactions, the act of socializing is critical to your health.
Not only does socialization help you avoid the effects of prolonged isolation. It can also help you stay accountable about your own health needs. In other words, staying social includes both group activities as well as intimate connections with individuals that you trust.
There are many different ways to address your health problems without resorting to more drugs. That doesn’t mean you can’t tap into the power of medication at times. However, always be open to supplementing your prescriptions with things like a good diet, plenty of exercise, quality sleep, and so on. If you can strike a good balance, it will optimize your chances of having sustained health for years and even decades into the future.
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