Mental Health Problems
Mental Health Problems
If good mental health were an indicator of our society’s success, then current statistics cast a grim light.
Between 1990 and 2013, the number of people suffering from mental health problems worldwide skyrocketed from 416 million to 615 million, a 50% increase. As of September 2022, an alarming 970 million people around the world are grappling with mental health problems, resulting in 8 million deaths annually.
To understand what constitutes a mental health problem, we need to first grasp what good mental health entails. Typically, it implies the ability to live, think, feel, and react to daily situations in an appropriate manner. When these cognitive functions are compromised, that’s when mental health problems emerge.
Below, we outline some major mental health problems and conventional treatments, which may be effective in milder cases. However, depending on the severity, some issues might be resistant to traditional treatment.
This is where the remarkable properties of ibogaine offer breakthrough possibilities.
Extracted from the root bark of a West African shrub (Tabernanthe Iboga) traditionally employed by the Bwiti tribes of Gabon, ibogaine is a potent psychoactive alkaloid with a wide range of therapeutic applications, including addiction treatment and addressing mental health problems such as depression, anhedonia, PTSD, anxiety, and eating disorders.
The Most Common Mental Health Problems: Understanding and Addressing the Challenges
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health problems. While occasional anxiety is normal, those with anxiety disorders face persistent, overwhelming worry and fear that disrupt daily life.
Types include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder. Early intervention via psychotherapy, medication, or both is crucial for management.
Depression
Depression is a mood disorder marked by ongoing sadness, disinterest in activities, and lack of motivation, which can impact physical health and, in severe cases, trigger suicidal thoughts.
Treatment typically includes antidepressants and psychotherapy, while lifestyle changes like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and social support can also be helpful.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, previously called manic depression, involves extreme mood swings from mania to depression, with varying severity and frequency.
Management typically includes mood-stabilizing medication, psychotherapy, and education for individuals and their families to understand the condition.
Substance Use Disorders
Substance use disorders entail excessive alcohol or drug use, harming oneself or others, and include alcoholism and drug addiction. This abuse can affect work, relationships, and physical health.
Treatment typically involves detoxification, counseling, medication, and support groups, with long-term management often needed to prevent relapse.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia nervosa often begin as coping mechanisms for emotional, physical, or sexual trauma and can evolve into behavioral addictions.
Conventional treatments typically encompass behavioral therapy, medication, and educational support, with early intervention being especially beneficial for teens.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can arise from experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event, with symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, hyperreactivity, and intrusive thoughts. Often linked to military combat, PTSD can also stem from accidents or chronic abuse.
Standard treatments usually involve psychotherapy, such as cognitive processing therapy, and medication.
Ibogaine Treatment for Mental Health Problems
Ibogaine arrived in Europe in the late 19th century as a tonic for minor ailments, but its remarkable addiction-treatment potential was only discovered in the early 1960s.
Often typecast as merely an addiction interrupter, ibogaine has, in recent decades, proven effective in treating a variety of mental health problems, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and more at our Iboga Root Sanctuary (Ibogaine Treatment UK).
Ibogaine’s dual-action mechanism is what sets it apart.
As an “oneirogen,” it induces powerful, subconscious-sourced visions with eyes closed, enabling individuals to reexamine key past events.
Neurologically, it stimulates BDNF production for new neural pathways, essential for forming healthier habits and thinking. It also rebalances the brain’s reward system by normalizing dopamine and serotonin levels.
After the vision phase, patients enter a reflective “deep-thinking” phase, gaining insights and clarity on needed life changes.
It’s critical to understand that ibogaine isn’t a magic cure-all. While it may guide one in the right direction, it cannot do all the work.
This is why we offer holistic coaching in breathwork, bodywork, meditation, cold exposure therapy, and trauma-release exercises to complement ibogaine treatment. This combination empowers clients to heal from past traumas and establish healthier routines for their nervous system, benefiting both body and mind.