This article has been written by Amy Biancolli and published by Mad in America. It begins:
“Those in the psychiatric profession are accustomed to talking about dose-response in terms of prescribed treatment — so many sessions per week, so many milligrams per day. Those on the receiving end are accustomed to hearing about it.
Take this at bedtime. Swallow that with breakfast. Go there for refills.
But what about non-drug prescriptions for mental health? Which regular, doable, no- or low-cost activities can alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression and contribute to a sense of well-being?
As it turns out: many.
In study after study, researchers have calculated the dose-response benefits of ordinary hobbies, habits, and lifestyle practices that are available to almost anyone, almost anywhere, without any trip to a doctor or a drugstore.
No little slips of paper covered with scrawly handwriting. No Latinate abbreviations that only a pharmacist can comprehend. No pills rattling around bottles and spilling onto the floor. Instead, the list below includes examples of daily activities that researchers have found to be good for mental health. Each links to relevant studies and, when available, an estimated allotment of time (i.e., the dose) that’s been shown to ease distress (i.e., the response) …”
You can read more from here.
