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Alternative Treatments
Many consumers have found alternative healing
practices to be very helpful in their recovery. Herbal remedies, meditation,
yoga, and acupuncture have helped many people. Alternative treatments
are becoming more accepted in mainstream medicine as well. Many of these
practices are being researched to determine their role in healing and
recovery. Some have had excellent results, while others have shown little
or no promise and even others may be problematic. If you decide to use
an alternative healing practice to aid you in your recovery, be a careful
consumer.
In the old model of care, consumers were passive recipients of treatment
and relied on the experts to cure them. In the recovery model, consumers
and professionals are partners, where the consumer takes an active role
in his or her recovery. Consumers should adopt this same attitude when
exploring alternative treatments. If you decide to try an alternative
form of treatment, we recommend you do the following:
- Do research to learn as much as you
can about the treatment. Don't just rely on the recommendation of friends
or family. Read books and articles.
- Talk to your mental health professional
to find out if he knows anything about the alternative treatment that
you are interested in. He may be able to give you more information.
Your therapist may even be able to refer you to someone who specializes
in a particular treatment.
- If you plan to take herbal supplements,
it is very important that you talk to the doctor who prescribes your
medication. Most people believe that herbal supplements are safe because
they are natural. This isn't always true. Some contain powerful drugs,
which can interact with medicines that are used to treat mental health
problems. Others can even be toxic if taken inappropriately.
- Find out how much the treatment will cost.
Many consumers are surprised to learn that some of these treatments
are very expensive. Also remember that Medicaid and most insurance plans
don't cover alternative treatments, and you will have to pay for them
out of your own pocket.
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