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.
Treatment Advice For Dealing With Depression In Your Everyday Life
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.
Stay up with your social activities. If you feel particularly withdrawn, you may be tempted to skip leisure activities. However, it is very important to surround yourself with people you care about. Continue to do your normal daily activities. Falling out of your normal life routines can make you feel even more depressed.
Go back to activities you used to enjoy, even if you don't feel like it. Going through the motions of a fun activity, such as painting or playing a sport, can help you feel more energetic. You might find that are truly enjoying the activity after all, once you get started.
One way to combat depression is to help yourself feel good. It sounds simple, but when life has gotten to the point that you find it difficult to get out of bed and get dressed in the morning, no matter how difficult or tiring it may be, hop in that shower and pick out a flattering outfit to wear for the day. Looking good will help you to feel good as well.
A good way to eliminate some depression is to listen to motivational speakers. Don't try to do it all yourself, listen to others who can help inspire you and show you different ways to think positively. If you can immerse yourself in uplifting thoughts of others or read about their uplifting stories and inspirational activities, this can only help make you feel less depressed.
One of the best ways to battle depression is to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and avoid emotional eating. People often times tend to overeat as a way to escape their depression and avoid dealing with uncomfortable inner feelings. By overeating, you are only putting off feelings that need to be dealt with and, in the long run, making your depression worse.
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 that person becoming burnt out listening to you.
Do something that you truly enjoyed doing when you were a child. As we grow up, we sometimes try to act like we are too mature for certain fun activities. If you loved swinging on a playground or playing board games, feel free to let your inner-child out and do those things.
Smile at yourself in the mirror even if you are feeling depressed. The simple act of smiling website can actually make you feel happier. You can also try laughing hysterically in a ridiculously fake laugh. After a while, that fake smile or fake laugh might turn into a real one once you start to feel silly enough about what you are doing.
If your job is part of the cause of your depression, you may want to think of cutting down on some of your harder duties. Talk to your boss about how you are feeling and ask if you can do lighter projects. Try not to bring the stresses of your job home with you.
Acknowledging to yourself that your depression needs to be managed is a positive step. To avoid the temptation of sleeping in late or staying in bed throughout the day, purposely schedule appointments before noon to get you up and ready for the day. Always try to schedule your appointments early. Waiting until you wake up to decide your schedule, may put you at a disadvantage to taking charge of how you spend your day and you may be tempted to remain in bed because of the depression.
If you suffer from depression, try to avoid a diet with lots of carbohydrates. Studies have shown that too many carbohydrates can cause depression or make it worse. Instead, try to eat a diet that has a lot of protein in it and try to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.
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.
Getting treatment for your depression ensures that you are trying to keep it under control so that you can live happier. That may not work with everyone, but it is really important to take control for your future. So, do yourself a favor and do your research, seek aid from a physician and apply the above tips to your every day routine. You will be happier for it.