Family pressures can be a real pain, but I want to reassure you that you're right in your defiance. There is no substitute for medical treatments. The ultimate goal for most of us is to one day no longer need medications and constant psychiatrist appointments, and that's a positive goal, but it's also a long-term goal. So sticking with those treatments is important. Keeping an open dialogue with your doctors is important. And finding the right doctor for you is important.

But on the home front I think you need to alleviate the pressure, and the easiest way to do that is to placate your parents. Now you can't placate them by forgoing medical care, but you can accept their offer for you to try something different in addition to medical care.

At the very center of all of those spiritual healing practices is wellness and mindfulness, or at least their baser components are of that nature. This often involves developing an emotional intelligence about your moods and your environment, relaxation techniques and meditation. Many, many people with mental illness engage in a variety of practices like these to a degree of success.

So I'd approach it from that angle, "Mum, Dad, I understand where you're coming from and I know you want the best for me. I'm going to continue medical treatment because I feel it's important - there are risks that I'm not willing to take with my health. But I am willing to meet you half way. I have heard that some of these things you want me to try can be really helpful in bringing a sense of calm and lessening tension and pressure. I need some calm in my life, I need space where I can relax and let go of my worries. I have also heard some of these things you want me to try have an emotional intelligence focus, which could help me monitor how my illness makes my moods change. Those are the things that I am willing to try - but they would be in combination with medical treatment. I would appreciate it if, in meeting me half-way on this, you accept my judgement about my health and understand that I do hear what you're saying, and I do take it into consideration."