Massage Therapy is a Natural Treatment for Depression Available
Author: Business Local Listings Depression hits a lot of us at some time in our lives and it is such a relief to know that treatment or even prevention is within our reach through massage therapy, easily accessible even by just walking to a massage facility at 4th Street, Downtown St. Petersburg, right here in 33607.
The National Institute of Mental Health has reported that more than 20 million Americans over the age of 18 suffer from clinical depression each year. And that’s just clinical depression, which is different from what we laymen refer to routinely as being depressed.
While we say we are depressed whenever we feel sad, clinical depression is much more serious than that. It is actually considered an illness where the patient feels hopeless and anxious, and has trouble sleeping, loses appetite and experiences headaches, digestive disorders and fatigue.
Even the non-clinical depression we may take for granted could progress to severe clinical depression if not attended to. From a mere mood fluctuation, it could interfere more and more with our day to day activities and our life. The most severe cases find difficulty functioning and some even lead to suicide.
Depression has been found to be caused by depleted levels of serotonin in the brain. Antidepressants that are usually prescribed are meant to increase serotonin levels. Experts from the Northwestern Health Sciences University, however, recommend more natural ways of increasing levels of serotonin in the body.
Stress Reduction
Primary, of course, is stress reduction since stress has been found to be one of the major components of depression. It becomes a vicious cycle wherein stress causes depression which, in turn, increases stress even more. Natural stress relief can be had through mindfulness or a focusing of the mind on the moment. This can be achieved through various types of meditation, yoga, tai chi or even just quiet time alone focusing on happy thoughts.
Proper Nutrition
Omega-3 fatty acids are called good fats and are necessary to obtain proper brain chemistry for the production of serotonin. This can be found in cod liver oil, flax seed, flax seed oil, salmon, mackerel, herring sardines and trout.
There is also need for a proper balance in the intake of protein and carbohydrates since these are the raw materials used by the body in manufacturing serotonin. According to the experts from Northwestern Health Sciences University, protein is necessary for its amino acids which build serotonin. We should eat protein during the day, though, and eat complex carbohydrates at night in order to help us sleep better. Examples of complex carbohydrates are granola, whole grain bread, sweet potatoes, potatoes with the skin, starchy vegetables, corn, popcorn and whole fruit.
Vitamin B6 supplements are likewise recommended to further increases serotonin levels.
Massage Therapy
Finally, the experts recommend massage therapy to combat and prevent depression. In fact, depression has been listed as one of the primary illnesses for which therapeutic massage treatment has been documented to be most effective.
Any of the available massage styles could very well be effective for the prevention and treatment of depression, as well. It does not really matter whether you go for Swedish massage or deep tissue massage, or even sports massage. Even pregnant women have been found to be relieved of their depression with pregnancy massage. Make sure you go to a professionally trained massage therapist in St. Petersburg, though, and not just any massage quack in St. Pete. An unprofessional massage might just trigger even worse depression when you emerge with more aches and pains than before. You owe it to yourself to get only the best care possible.
About the Author:Massage Envy St Petersburg 4th Street
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