Between 45–67% of patients with a major depressive disorder (MDD) meet criteria for at least one co-occurring anxiety disorder and 30–63% of patients with anxiety disorders meet criteria for a co-occurring MDD, according to a study by Bessel van der Kolk, one of the leading researchers on trauma [1].
When anxiety and depression occur together it is known as a dual diagnosis. Holistic treatments for these conditions are used by many people as complementary to or alternatives for conventional treatments such as medication and psychotherapy.
The focus of holistic therapy is on the whole person, considering mind, body, spirit. Read on to learn more about holistic treatments for these conditions.
Understanding Holistic Treatment for Dual Diagnosis
Understanding how closely related anxiety and depression are in the brain helps set the stage for understanding why traditional treatments may not work for some people.
How Anxiety and Depression Overlap in the Brain
Anxiety and depression often co-occur, sharing overlapping neural mechanisms in the brain [2] [3]. In both conditions there is dysregulation in the amygdala, which is where fear and emotional responses are processed, and in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive control and mood regulation.
In both disorders, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which manages stress responses, is also hyperactive, and causes increased levels of cortisol, the “stress hormone”.
Imbalances in the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine also contribute to anxiety and depression symptoms. In neuroimaging studies, similar structural changes are shown, such as reduced volume in the hippocampus, responsible for learning and memory. These shared pathways explain why anxiety and depression often coexist and why treatments like SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can alleviate symptoms of both.
Why Traditional Treatments Often Fall Short
Although they have helped many people, traditional treatments for anxiety and depression, such as SSRI medication and psychotherapy like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), often fall short for a significant number of patients for the following reasons:
1. Biological Complexity & Individual Variability
While medications like SSRIs focus on serotonin, depression and anxiety involve multiple neurotransmitters (dopamine, GABA, glutamate) and brain circuits, as we saw above. And not everyone responds the same way.
Genetic Differences: Not everyone metabolizes drugs well. This makes medications less effective or causes side effects.
Inflammation and Gut-Brain Axis: There is emerging research showing links between chronic inflammation and imbalances in the gut microbiome to mood disorders [4]. Traditional treatments don’t always address these.
2. Limited Efficacy of Medications
Delayed & Partial Relief: It can take 4-6 weeks for antidepressants to take effect (if they do at all). Only about 40-60% of patients achieve full remission.
Side Effects: Many discontinue treatment due to side effects such as fatigue, weight gain, emotional blunting, and sexual dysfunction.
Tolerance & Relapse: For some patients who develop tolerance, symptoms can return after stopping medication.
3. Psychotherapy Limitations
Access & Consistency: There are many barriers to therapy since it requires time, money, and a skilled therapist.
Cognitive Rigidity: Due to trauma or neurobiological factors, some patients have difficulty reframing thoughts such as in CBT.
Not All Therapies Fit All Cases: Those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder may need other therapy approaches than CBT, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
4. Underlying Causes Often Ignored
Lifestyle Factors: Mood disorders are worsened by poor sleep, diet, lack of exercise, and chronic stress, but these are rarely a priority in treatment.
Trauma & Childhood Adversity: Unresolved trauma underlies many cases of anxiety and depression. Medication alone can’t fix this.
Social & Environmental Factors: Such realities as social isolation, financial stress, and toxic relationships are rarely addressed in traditional clinical settings.
5. One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Trial-and-Error Prescribing: Often, doctors cycle through medications without precision testing, such as genetic or biomarker analysis.
Lack of Personalization: Treatment plans aren’t always tailored even though what works for one person may fail for someone else.
6. Stigma & Misdiagnosis
Mislabeling Symptoms: It’s possible that anxiety and depression can mask ADHD, bipolar disorder, or even thyroid issues resulting in ineffective treatment.
Reluctance to Seek/Continue Care: Bad experiences with side effects or the feeling of stigma cause many to give up treatment.
Holistic Therapies for Co-Occurring Disorders
There are many types of holistic therapy for anxiety and depression. Among them neurofeedback and nutritional psychiatry show evidence-based promise.
Neurofeedback Therapy: Rewiring Anxious and Depressed Brain Patterns
Neurofeedback helps rewire dysfunctional brain patterns typical of anxiety and depression—without drugs. With real-time EEG monitoring, patients learn to regulate brainwave activity. This either calms overactive stress responses (high beta waves) or augments underactive mood-regulation circuits (low alpha/theta waves).
During the sessions, the brain “retrains” itself towards healthier patterns, leading to reduced symptoms, improved emotional control, and long-term resilience. Evidence supports its effectiveness, especially for treatment-resistant cases [5].
Neurofeedback promotes lasting neural changes without side effects, unlike medication. By empowering individuals to take an active role in healing their mental health, neurofeedback offers a personalized brain-based approach to therapy.
Nutritional Psychiatry for Anxiety & Depression Relief
Nutritional psychiatry is an emerging field focused on the role of diet in mental health. It validates the long-held belief that diet plays a key role in managing anxiety and depression. Dietary changes offer a natural, side-effect-free way to stabilize mood long-term, unlike medication.
Neurotransmitter production and the reduction of inflammation are supported by key nutrients such as omega-3s (fatty fish), magnesium (leafy greens), zinc (pumpkin seeds), and B vitamins (eggs, legumes).
Serotonin levels are influenced by the gut-brain axis. Probiotics (yogurt, kimchi) and fiber-rich foods nourish gut bacteria. Studies have shown that depressive symptoms can be reduced by up to 30%, compared to processed diets, with a Mediterranean diet (whole foods, healthy fats).
Trauma-Informed Yoga and Mindfulness
Trauma-informed yoga combines gentle movement, breathwork, and mindfulness to help regulate the nervous system and release stored trauma. Unlike traditional yoga, it emphasizes choice, safety, and body awareness—avoiding triggering poses such as Bound Angle Pose / Baddha Konasan. Research shows it reduces PTSD, anxiety, and depression by lowering cortisol and increasing GABA (a calming neurotransmitter).
Paired with mindfulness, it rewires stress responses, fostering emotional resilience. Ideal for trauma survivors, it offers a body-based healing path when talk therapy falls short.
Bessel van der Kolk and others studied yoga for women with PTSD. They concluded that yoga may improve the functioning of traumatized individuals by helping them to tolerate physical and sensory experiences associated with fear and helplessness and to increase emotional awareness and affect tolerance [1].
Summary Table: Holistic Strategies for Anxiety & Depression
This table provides a quick summary of holistic treatments and the evidence for some.
| Approach | Evidence of Benefit | Notes |
| Mindfulness Meditation | Strong | Reduces anxiety & depression [6] |
| Exercise | Strong | Boosts mood, reduces symptoms [7] |
| Healthy Diet | Moderate | Stabilizes mood [8] |
| Sleep Hygiene | Strong | Poor sleep worsens symptoms |
| Herbal Remedies | Mixed, promising | Consult provider first |
| Aromatherapy | Moderate | Promotes relaxation |
| Acupuncture | Mixed | May help some people |
The Benefits of Integrative Care
Unlike conventional approaches that often focus on suppressing symptoms, integrative care combines evidence-based therapies—nutritional psychiatry, neurofeedback, trauma-informed yoga, and mindfulness—to address the root causes of anxiety and depression.
Long-Term Healing vs. Temporary Symptom Relief
Treating the whole person (mind, body, and nervous system), promotes lasting recovery rather than short-term fixes. Studies show integrative methods reduce relapse rates by enhancing neuroplasticity, balancing gut health, and regulating stress responses.
One large scale study examined 3,900 patients diagnosed with a depressive and/or anxiety disorder, and treated with an interdisciplinary multimodal integrative healthcare program. 63% of patients achieved remission of depressive symptoms and 67% achieved remission of anxiety symptoms after one year. This personalized, holistic model empowers patients to build resilience, offering sustainable relief where medications or single-modality therapies fall short [9].
Fewer Side Effects Than Antidepressants and Anti-Anxiety Meds
A study found integrative care (mindfulness, diet, exercise) reduced depression relapse rates by 40% over 18 months vs. antidepressants alone, with minimal side effects [10].
Integrated care with mindfulness, exercise, and anti-inflammatory nutrition can provide long-term stabilization without the side effects of SSRIs (e.g., weight gain, emotional numbness).
Unlike medications, holistic approaches address root causes (inflammation, neuroplasticity) for sustainable recovery. Patients report better energy, gut health, and emotional resilience, proving long-term healing is possible without pharmaceutical dependence.
Signs You’re a Good Candidate for Holistic Care
You may benefit from holistic therapies if:
- Medications caused side effects (fatigue, weight gain, emotional blunting) or provided incomplete relief
- Talk therapy plateaued—you understand your triggers but still feel stuck
- Physical symptoms (gut issues, inflammation, chronic fatigue) accompany mood struggles
- You prefer natural, root-cause approaches over symptom management
- Stress feels “stored in your body” (muscle tension, panic attacks, dissociation)
- You’re motivated to actively participate in healing (diet, mindfulness, nervous system work)
Frequently Asked Questions
How Soon Will I Notice Changes?
Some benefits—like reduced stress from mindfulness or improved sleep from dietary changes—may appear in 2-4 weeks. Deeper shifts (mood stabilization, gut-brain balance) often take 6-12 weeks as the body heals. Unlike quick-fix meds, holistic therapies create lasting change by addressing root causes. Consistency is key!
Can I Transition from Medication to Holistic Treatment?
Yes, but work with your doctor to taper your medication safely—sudden stops can worsen symptoms. Holistic therapies (nutrition, neurofeedback, mindfulness) can gradually replace or reduce meds for many. Success depends on severity, consistency, and professional guidance.
Does Insurance Cover These Therapies?
A 2023 study found 67% of insurers reimbursed at least one integrative therapy for depression.
Coverage varies, but many insurers now partially cover:
- Nutritional counseling (if licensed)
- Acupuncture (for pain/anxiety)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (often included)
Less likely to cover:
- Neurofeedback (check “biofeedback” codes)
- Functional medicine testing
- Trauma-informed yoga
Tip: Use CPT codes (e.g., 90834 for therapy) and get pre-authorization.
Improving Mental Health in Utah
Treatment for mental health conditions is available in Utah. Are you or a loved one looking for a compassionate space to heal from anxiety, trauma, PTSD, other mental health conditions, or addictions? Our licensed trauma-informed professional therapists and counselors at Corner Canyon Health Centers can provide compassionate help using a range of therapeutic and holistic techniques.
Reach out to our Admissions team now at Corner Canyon. We’re in a peaceful setting bordered by the beautiful Wasatch Mountains.
Sources
[1] van der Kolk B.A., et al. J. Yoga as an adjunctive treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2014 Jun;75(6):e559-65.
[2] Kaiser, R. H., et al. (2020). Large-Scale Network Dysfunction in Major Depressive Disorder vs. Anxiety Disorders: A Meta-Analysis of Resting-State Functional Connectivity. JAMA Psychiatry, 77(2), 172-179.
[3] Yang, X., et al. (2023). Neurotransmitter and Functional MRI Evidence for Shared Mechanisms Between Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorders. Molecular Psychiatry, 28(1), 1-12.
[4] Kim YK, Shin C. The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Novel Treatments. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2018;16(5):559-573.
[5] Marzbani H, et al Neurofeedback: A Comprehensive Review on System Design, Methodology and Clinical Applications. Basic Clin Neurosci. 2016 Apr;7(2):143-58.
[6] Natural Relief for Depression. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
[7] Natural Remedies to Alleviate Anxiety. Webmd.
[8] 10 Natural Ways to Reduce Anxiety. Healthline.
[9] Wijnen, J. et al. 2023. An interdisciplinary multimodal integrative healthcare program for depressive and anxiety disorders. Front. Psychiatry, 22 June 2023. Sec. Psychological Therapy and Psychosomatics. Volume 14 – 2023
[10] Eisendrath SJ., et al. 2016. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression. Psychother Psychosom. 2016;85(2):99-110.
