Before I say this, this is a controversial topic and I’m not trying to start a flame war. But I’m bipolar type 1 so in addition to severe depressive episodes I’ve also had panic attacks, psychosis, manic episodes where I literally don’t sleep for weeks, hallucination, been involuntarily commited for weeks. So I know what “real” mental illness is.

And yet, I strongly disagree with the narrative that yoga and meditation are ok for minor mental health cases but for serious stuff you need professionals. If you actually research the science behind psych meds, you will learn the “chemical imbalance “ theory is not scientifically substantiated. Many antidepressants work but only work as well as placebo-in other words they work because people believe they will work. Faith based healing. They are heavily pushed by a for profit pharmaceutical company, they want you to think it’s brought by the same people who brought you penicillin but really it’s the people who brought you OxyContin.

The doctors asserted if I quit my chemical cocktail of antidepressants, antipsychotic, and mood stabilizers I will inevitably go crazy again. And that I need therapy. But I slowly and carefully weaned off those things and replaced them with regular meditation, yoga, strict sobriety, journaling etc. I personally believe that modern psychiatry and mental health is not as solved as the professionals would like you to believe it is. And mindfulness and discipline can do wonders for mental health, and that searching inside yourself and finding awareness of your emotions can bring more benefit than any meds or therapy. Just my opinion but I encourage people to do more research about the actual efficacy of meds and therapy vs placebo and be open minded that things like yoga can be key ingredients in lifestyle changes that serve as the true foundation for good mental health even amongst those with the most serious “illness”.