I recommend several types of professionals for depression. Talk-therapy used to be the only form of professional help I knew. It’s a great one. However, most people don’t know other things exist out there. Read below for my recommendations.
Talk-therapy: One-on-one
This can look like a therapist, counselor, social worker, psychologist and a few other titles. They come with lots of different names and letters. The main thing is that they have professional training and that you jibe with them. You can absolutely find a trusted friend or family member. That can be of great help-just to have someone listen is beneficial. However, I highly recommend also finding someone trained in the workings of the human brain and the way we think. They have the skills to not only listen, but hold you through some deeper times that may be too much for someone without the training.
Talk-therapy: Groups
Group therapy is magical. Some people don’t feel comfortable in a one-on-one scenario, and I totally get it. If that’s you, check out some local chapters of the following national groups. These groups exist to help you talk through your stuff, not feel so alone and also to offer others support going through similar things as you. A lot of healing can happen in your own depression by helping another through theirs.
Massage
Touch. It is incredibly healing. Find a good therapist (we have several!) and you can experience relief of all sorts of symptoms tied to depression like chronic pain, muscle tightness, “holding your stress” in your neck and shoulders down to a decrease in stress, worry and an increase in the overall feeling of “good”. Why? Massage promotes the bodies intuitive healing, much like acupuncture. Our bodies are made to release emotional feeling. In this day in age, we don’t know how to release anymore. Many of us don’t productively yell and scream, we don’t talk about our feelings, we don’t mediate and we don’t exercise and stretch-all of which help us let loose that pent-up energy.
Mayo published an article on depression and massage discussing how it even lowers a stress hormone (cortisol) by 30% and increases serotonin by 28%. Check it out, here > Can massage relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress?
Acupuncture
As I discussed in the previous post, depression is typically seen as liver qi stagnation. When our energy gets stagnant, we feel stagnant-we don’t want to move, we think slower, we talk slow, our facial muscles droop, our energy is low, our mood is low, our head hangs low. Sound like depression?
Acupuncturists can help you in a variety of ways from needles (great for releasing stagnant liver qi), herbs, cupping, nutritional therapy, ideas on meditation. It depends on who you see, but most have several tricks up their sleeve. One of my specialties is treating depression. Our other acupuncturist, Mindy, also loves treating depression. Send us an email or call the clinic. We are happy to chat with you about how we can help.
Chiropractic care
Most don’t think of chiropractic care as a tool in their tool box to treat depression. I do. I wholeheartedly believe that if your spinal cord
(aka: the main hub of our central nervous system) is compromised , you simply won’t function the way you are meant to. That includes emotions. Getting your spine aligned is a beautiful tool and a good addition to your depression care regiment. Want a great chiro in St.Paul? We have several at Langford and Karls Chiropractic.
Energy work
Bodywork/energy work is a huge category and kind of vague. Many even place chiropractic, acupuncture and massage care into this category (also, many do not). When you start to talk about energy as a something that lives within us, some get confused and even repulsed. It’s not quite mainstream, yet (although it’s been around since, forever!) and hard for many to understand. And I understand. I’m not here to convince anyone of anything. I do, however, want to present this idea to anyone who finds it intriguing and has yet to explore this concept.
When I describe energy work to others, I ask these questions: Do you pray? Do you use a cell phone? Does your heart beat? A “yes” answer to any of this means you use and rely on a substance that can’t be seen…so does bodywork/energy work. It actually uses the same energy as praying, cell phones and beating hearts. Cultures all over the globe have known this for a long time, and healing practices have formed from this understanding…healing from physical and mental anguish (ahhem…depression). Here are some suggestions of people I believe tap into this stuff on a regular basis, and could help you explore this topic as a way to understand and tend to your depression:
-Yogis
-Reiki masters
-Tai chi or qigong teachers
-People who practice the Tao originating in China, Native American medicines, Ayurvedic medicine of India, a shaman from the Tungusic peoples of Siberia
I know it can be hard to talk about, but if you’re up for it, comment below and Iet us know what you’ve tried to help combat your depression. It might help someone else who is reading this very blog.
Until next week!
-Rachel
If you need immediate assistance, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline or Mental Health Hotline for free, confidential, 24 hr safe support. You can also
reach out to us, to a friend or family member, to a therapist or a support group (NAMI, Open Door).