Holistic mental health emphasises the connection between your body and your mental wellness. Unlike traditional mental health treatments that focus primarily on the psychological aspects, holistic approaches treat the individual as a whole—addressing physical and mental health.
As a result, holistic mental health treatments are gaining popularity as people seek more natural, balanced alternatives to conventional therapies.
What sets holistic mental health apart is its inclusive nature, offering a wide range of treatment options beyond conventional medication and psychotherapy. Rather than isolating symptoms or conditions, holistic practices address the root cause of the issue, looking at the full picture. Rather than just trying to ‘fix’ the symptom.
These natural mental health remedies, such as, natural meditation, and movement, enable individuals to explore mental wellness through different perspectives and activities.
Holistic mental health refers to a comprehensive treatment approach that considers the entire person, integrating body and mind to improve overall well-being.
While traditional therapies often focus exclusively on cognitive or behavioural aspects, holistic mental health practices aim to treat physical health as an integral part of mental health. This integrative mental health approach is rooted in the belief that psychological and physical health are inseparably linked.
Practitioners of holistic mental health consider a wide array of factors that may influence well-being, such as diet, exercise, sleep quality, and social interactions. By acknowledging the complex interplay between these elements, holistic treatments aim to create a balanced lifestyle that supports mental wellness on all fronts.
This often includes exploring alternative mental health treatments like meditation, which emphasise reconnecting with your body to activate your healing.
Holistic mental health offers a diverse range of therapies that cater to the physical and mental aspects of a person. These practices provide alternatives to conventional treatments, fostering healing through a variety of engaging activities and interventions:
1. Recreational Therapy: Recreational therapy incorporates activities such as arts, crafts, and physical movement to stimulate emotional and mental healing. Engaging in these activities promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and enhances overall well-being. Crafting, for example, can serve as a form of meditative practice, allowing individuals to focus on tactile experiences and temporarily set aside anxious thoughts. Physical activities, such as nature walks or dancing, help release physical tension, positively impacting emotional states.
2. Equine Therapy: Equine therapy involves building a therapeutic relationship with horses, which can significantly influence emotional and mental health. By caring for and interacting with horses, individuals develop a sense of responsibility, trust, and empathy. This therapy is particularly effective for those struggling with trauma or social anxiety, as it encourages non-verbal communication and builds emotional awareness through interaction with the animal. Forces people to feel and not isolate – to think and consider others.
3. Physical Movement: Physical movement, such as working out, running, or swimming, is often overlooked as a form of therapy. However, the impact of physical health on mental well-being is profound. Regular exercise and body movement can significantly improve your mental health across various aspects. In fact, mental health has strong roots in physical well-being. When you engage in physical activities, you’re not just building muscle or improving cardiovascular health; you’re also working through accumulated physical tensions that can contribute to mental health issues like depression. By prioritising your physical health, you’re taking care of 80% of your mental health.
4. Natural Meditation: Meditation is often synonymous with mental and physical balance. This practice helps individuals reconnect with their natural sense of themselves as they sit physically still, allowing them to resolve pains, stresses, both mentally and physically, on a deeper bodily level. Unlike technique-based meditation that comes from the outside in, natural meditation originates from the inside out, enabling a deeper connection to one’s own body and feelings.
5. Diet and Nutrition: Diet plays a crucial role in mental health, as nutrient deficiencies or imbalances can directly affect brain function and mood. Integrating a diet rich in whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats, supports brain health and can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. A balanced diet also promotes a stable mood and energy levels, contributing to overall mental wellness.
Holistic mental health practices offer several benefits that make them an attractive option for individuals seeking more than just symptom management:
Integrating holistic mental health practices into your daily life doesn’t require major lifestyle changes. Here are a few actionable steps to help you get started:
While traditional mental health care focuses on treating symptoms through medication or psychotherapy, holistic mental health approaches target the underlying causes of distress. Traditional therapies often provide immediate symptom relief but may not address other areas of life that contribute to mental health conditions.
Holistic approaches, on the other hand, work to create a balanced lifestyle that can prevent the onset of mental health issues. For example, meditation offers a natural way to reduce anxiety, while a healthy diet can prevent nutrient deficiencies linked to mood disorders.
A holistic mental health app was built on the life work and original discoveries of Undo’s co-founder and author, Matthew Zoltan, in holistic health and mind-body connection therapy.
In his clinic and meditation retreats, Matthew was achieving unprecedented results—what many would call “miraculous healings.” However, we weren’t sure what impact a mobile app using his healing approach would have.
The results have exceeded benchmark standards not only in the meditation app industry but also surpassed outcomes from psychology, pharmaceuticals, and other therapies—both in mobile apps and face-to-face treatment.
Users sought more than basic stress relief—they needed a deeper healing experience. This approach addresses:
This method stands out with its integrative approach, offering:
This holistic approach has led to significant improvements in users’ lives, including:
Users describe this approach as “life-changing,” with benefits such as:
One user shared, “My chronic back pain is finally manageable, and I feel more connected to myself than ever before.”
The measurable impact includes:
Holistic mental health offers a comprehensive, integrative approach that treats individuals as whole beings, addressing physical and mental health simultaneously. By incorporating practices like meditation, physical movement, and diet changes, individuals can create a balanced lifestyle that promotes long-term mental wellness.
Whether you’re looking for a new way to support your mental health or want to complement traditional treatments, holistic approaches can provide you with the tools you need to take charge of your well-being and restore your mental fitness.