YOUR HEALTH: Stimulate your depression
Treatments include counseling, medications, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS, to stimulate the mood-regulating parts of the brain.
"Not all patients respond to the medication or to the neuromodulation," explained Dr. Francisco Romo-Nava, a physician scientist at the University of Cincinnati's Lindner Center of HOPE.
Dr. Romo-Nava and his colleagues are studying a new way to treat mental health disorders.
The neuroscientists are testing a device that delivers stimulation to a patient's spine.
Dr. Romo-Nava says the stimulation will improve the feedback in the central nervous system that is sometimes disrupted when a person has a psychiatric disorder.
For now, patients undergo spinal stimulation for 20 minutes, three times a week, for eight weeks.
"The kind of stimulation that we use is very well tolerated," he explained.
"The most frequent description is like a tingling sensation
Researchers say this stimulation therapy could be the first step to developing better treatment for some patients.
Dr. Romo-Nava was granted a patent for the stimulation method that utilizes transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
He says his research team is trying to determine how often, and how long, patients should undergo the stimulation for the best results.
Between 80% and 90% of people with depression respond well to treatment, and almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.
A new form of magnetic brain stimulation relieved symptoms of severe depression in 90% of participants in a study conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
The researchers are conducting a larger, double-blinded trial in which half the participants are receiving fake treatment and are optimistic it will prove to be similarly effective in treating people whose condition hasn't improved with medication, talk therapy, or other forms of electromagnetic stimulation.
Fast And Useful Tips To Beating Depression
So, you've made it. You're ready to beat your depression, correct? Well, now is the time. You probably have a lot of questions and fears with regards to how to start and what to do, but don't worry, this article can help. Listed below are some tips that will help you get started with treating your depression.
By taking a hot bath, you can relieve depression and calm your nerves. Soft music, a book, or even lighting candles can change an ordinary bath into a relaxing experience. As well, try to make your water warm; warmth can help you relax your muscles.
Examine your life. If you are unhappy because you feel like you are being walked on, focus on becoming more assertive. If you find yourself assuming people are thinking badly of you, remind yourself that you are not a mind-reader and that you have no basis for that belief. Keep it light and humorous, as you cannot battle negative thoughts with more negativity.
For those suffering from depression, try to practice relaxation techniques. If you use these techniques everyday, you may find your depression symptoms reduced and in general, you will feel more relaxed. You could practice yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation. Have a friend do these things with you.
You need to keep in mind that you're in charge of your thoughts. Adjust your vocabulary to remove negative words such as depressed. It can be construed as a very negative way to refer to your feelings. Instead, say something like "in a low cycle" or "feeling a bit down". This will help you keep your feelings in perspective so that you can gain control of them once more.
Play dress up. Take the time in the morning to get yourself ready, even if you are not going anywhere. Putting on your good clothes, including shoes, can increase your confidence and your mood. Feeling sloppy and frumpy in old, stained clothes may be comfortable, but it does nothing for your mood.
Make an attempt to keep a healthy group of friends available, instead of just relying on a single best friend to confide in. You run the risk of more info that person becoming burnt out listening to you.
Whether you have clinical depression or just routine sadness, you should be in contact with a professional. They can provide you with a more specific diagnosis, and advise you of any course of action you should take to manage the depression. They can also let you know the kind of depression you suffer from.
If you are feeling depressed, there is no better way to combat those thoughts than to dance. This will get your body moving and get the blood flowing through your body and to your brain. Although when depressed exercise is not appealing, get up and force yourself to dance. Play happy uplifting music and stretch those muscle and move. Your body, soul, and mind will be happier for it.
One of the best things depressed people can do is to learn gratitude. Being thankful for the positive things that you have in your life, in comparison to those that are less fortunate, will make you appreciate what you have, instead of dwelling on the things that you don't have.
Depression comes in all shapes and sizes. The first thing to realize about depression is that if you have it, you don't need to be ashamed of it. Seeking out professional help should never make you feel like a failure or a weak person. It takes a strong individual to realize and accept that they need help.
A great way to deal with depression is to make sure that you do not lose track of your social life. This is extremely important because if you do not have a social life, you may lose touch with the people who are in the best situation to help you with your problems.
Get exercise. Activity can be very therapeutic, so having a regular exercise schedules can make your life happier and healthier. Learning to enjoy your exercise and having a healthy life will cause you to increase your positive moods. Having proper nutrition can also keep your health and happiness on a high note.
Remember that one of the key things about getting out of being depressed is that you have to stay positive. You not only have to stay positive but you have to try new methods of trying your best to better your life. The tips you just learned are great places to start getting your life positive and back on track, so start today and be hopeful. The only way out of this is to apply yourself -- remember that.