Psychiatry does seem stuck on a one way street at times with a few exceptions…
This I believe is the thread he is referring to… I would also add a few of the alternative treatments I have posted about which would go along with the holistic model. And yes, there is also the spiritual/shamanic type approach along with meditation.
Some people can be helped by meds. Others are not helped by meds. Like the OP says they are more of a chemical bandage. Meds themselves come with side effects and some of the stronger meds almost assure disability because they make you so tired.
It does take a lot of work and will power…Changing diet may sound simple but it takes work. Quiting drugs and alcohol can be difficult for many people. Changing your environment from negative exposure to positive can be a task. After i quit drugs I was of course approached several times and offered drugs, sometimes for free. Even threatened one time by some guys who said they would hold me down and blow pot smoke up my nose. They never tried, but I had to deal with the negative environment issues until most got it that I was quit for good, and the few that didn’t disappeared when I moved away.
Any alternative method of healing also requires work and you need to stick to it. there isn’t any one time practice you can do and magically be cured - you have to start with one step and keep on walking…