Depression is currently considered one of the greatest evils that affect humanity. Commonly, we all know someone who lives or has experienced difficulties in relation to these mood swings.
However, the term depression, in current language, has been used to designate both a normal affective state (sadness), as well as a symptom, a syndrome and even the manifestation of one or more diseases.
The clinical evaluation of the depressed allows to identify a range of symptomatic possibilities and physiological changes. The aspects that highlight the psychological characteristics and physiological changes that make up the depressive picture affect several areas of the patient’s life, compromising his personal and social activities.
We can group these symptoms into five distinct areas: mood, cognition or thinking, somatic aspects, body expression and social life. In this text, I will explain better about the treatment of depression through Pilates.
Symptoms of DepressionTreatment-of-Depression
Although the most typical characteristic of depressive states is the prominence of feelings of sadness or emptiness, not all patients report the subjective feeling of sadness. Many refer, above all, to the loss of the ability to experience pleasure in activities in general and the reduction of interest in the environment.
It is often associated with the feeling of fatigue or loss of energy, characterized by complaints of exaggerated tiredness, psychomotor changes, mainly slowing or psychomotor retardation.
Psychic symptoms generally refer to mood swings involving feelings of sadness, self-depreciation and feelings of guilt. Patients tend to allude to the feeling that everything seems futile, or unimportant.
They believe that they have irreversibly lost the ability to feel joy or pleasure in life. With this, there is also a reduction in the ability to experience pleasure in most activities, previously considered pleasant, depressed people may report that they are no longer interested in their favorite pastimes.
Physiological symptoms are also very common in the clinical picture of depression, such as changes in sleep (insomnia or drowsiness), changes in appetite (more commonly loss of appetite, and there may also be an increase in appetite), fatigue or a feeling of loss of energy, for example .
The depressed person can report persistent fatigue, even without physical effort, and the lighter tasks seem to require substantial effort and the time to perform the tasks can increase considerably, showing the need for a treatment of depression important.
In depression it is also common to observe musculoskeletal changes. Patients often refer to the sensation of heaviness in the limbs, discomfort and even prominent complaints of chronic pain such as headache, vague pains in the chest, abdomen, shoulders and spine.
It should also be remembered that the diagnosis of depression can be masked by these factors. Anxiety is also often associated.
Body expression becomes typical of depressive patients.
Characteristics such as low head, built-in chest, curved spine, difficulty looking people in the eye, devitalized look, unconcern with personal hygiene, unconcern with appearance, shallow breathing, slow and contained movements are some of the somatic manifestations evident in this type of alteration, which shows the need to treat depression.
How Pilates can contribute to the treatment of depression
As it covers the field of physical and mental health, it is of utmost importance that the treatment of depression is conducted by a multidisciplinary team, and some aspects of the disease need to be known in order to be able to draw up a treatment plan that takes into account the entire physical and mental context involved in this process.
One of the most difficult tasks in the field of physical and mental health is helping those who do not want help.
It is common that there is some resistance from the depressed person to accept family or professional help for the treatment of depression for several reasons.
The person may refuse help for not recognizing himself as sick, being afraid of assuming his own fragility in front of other people and damaging his image in social life (work, school, family, friends), experiencing a feeling of abandonment in life or for lack of information about the disease.
Within this context, it is observed that the bond of trust between the patient and those who try to help him is of fundamental importance to overcome resistance, making him feel welcomed, loved, respected and understood, which will lead to the natural process treatment without prejudice to the patient.
The Pilates method aims to work the body in an integrated way with the mind, seeking to improve neurophysiological conditions and rebalance the muscle chains, breathing, posture, and body stability, and all this helps in the treatment of depression.
The search for body awareness has aroused the need to improve the appreciation of the body in the environment, and the benefits can be reflected in the exterior and interior image of the individual who practices it.
In addition to these factors, the Pilates method also considers individuality as a way of approaching the student important, contributing to the narrowing of the approach between professional and student / patient, making him feel important, cared for and valued during the treatment of depression.
Nevertheless, the practice of Pilates by the patient with a depressive condition can also contribute to combat physiological symptoms, avoiding fatigue, stress, chronic pain and improving posture and quality of sleep.
Benefits of Pilates for TreatmentDepression-Treatment-2
Many studies consider well-oriented physical activity to be extremely beneficial to physical and mental health. As positive effects of the practice of
Pilates in the treatment of depression we can mention:
Increased energy and vitality
Reduced risk of osteoporosis and hypertension
Improved appetite
Reduced irritability
Stress relief
Improved sleep quality
Increased muscle tone
Improvement in appearance, energy and physical condition also increases self-esteem
The body posture of the depressed person is often marked by a curved spine, slumped shoulders and a lowered head, preventing the eye from seeking wider contact with the world around him. The expression of isolation and the lack of courage, energy and hope are clear.
In an attempt to stimulate the reaction of a friend, it is not uncommon to see someone saying encouraging phrases: “Lift that head!”; “Get that posture!”; “Look up!”. It is likely that people are unaware of the depth of this advice in treating depression.
By correcting the posture and looking up, the depressed person improves the energy flow of his body, expands his breathing and expands his eye contact with the world around him, changing his perception and thoughts.
In addition to posture correction, there are other body works that can influence the improvement of depressive symptoms through Pilates.
Among them are stretching exercises, mainly of the cervical muscles and the pectoral and abdominal regions, which help to enlarge and deepen the breathing. The strengthening of the posterior chain, inspiratory chain and Power House also help to provide stability and security to the student.
Due to daily activities and repressions of emotional expression, experienced in childhood, the respiratory process is impaired. The chronic tension caused in some muscle groups due to contained emotions, has serious consequences for the body and mind.
Among the causes of tension, we can mention the protection against sadness, causing the abdomen to contract; sexual inhibition, causing contraction of the belly, inhibition of verbal expression, causing contraction in the throat region.
And also cervical flexor musculature, inhibition of the expression of rabies, generating generalized muscular tension, of scalenes, trapezius and of the temples.
Recommended Exercises for the Treatment of Depression
Among the Pilates exercises, the most suitable for the treatment of depression are those that work on stretching the anterior chain, strengthening the posterior chain, inspiratory chain and power house (abdominals and pelvic floor), in addition to working on the stabilization of the trunk and waist.
But it is important to emphasize that the body must be worked as a whole, both stretching and strengthening all chains are important. Below are some of the exercises that can be used when treating depression.
Some tips to help the treatment
In addition to guidance in Pilates practice, it is important that the instructor knows how to deal with aspects of depression in the most beneficial and positive way possible. Therefore, some strategies can be adopted in favor of improving the treatment of depression:
Tip # 1
Listen to the complaint of the depressed person, avoiding making comments that trivialize their suffering; lead the person to perceive himself (appearance, attitudes) and emphasize how much he can improve.
Tip # 2
Demonstrate positive feedback during the practice of exercises in the treatment of depression, reacting with enthusiasm for each goal achieved, making the student feel proud. Implementing challenges now and then can motivate him and make him arouse the feeling that he can improve and self-confidence.
Tip # 3
Show the personal losses caused by the lack of physical activity, and alert him to the importance of keeping him active and assiduous.
Tip # 4
Do not show excessive compassion for the sick person’s pain. This attitude reinforces the idea that it really is very bad and that everything in life is difficult. Respect his suffering, but make him realize that you have enough energy to help him and that you believe in his ability to react.
Tip # 5
It is common for the depressed person not to take advice from family members. It may be that the interference of a friend or professional has more effect and that he is more open and receptive to talk about the treatment of depression.
Tip # 6
It is good to remember that pressing too hard can have the opposite effect and that patience and tolerance can produce an indispensable relationship of trust.
Tip # 7
In the most serious cases, or in situations in which the depressed person cannot collaborate, it is advisable that a family member or friend seek professional guidance, in order to understand the problem, to know the best posture to be adopted, and what care should be taken, especially in relation to the risk of suicide.
Concluding …
The Pilates method is a great tool to work on the individuality of the patient with this clinical condition in the treatment of depression.
This helps to strengthen the idea of valuing being and, mainly, improving the perception of the body and invigorating the mind, fighting stress, fatigue, relieving pain and encouraging the student to seek and awaken the best of themselves.
The relationship of trust between student and instructor is extremely important and must be worked on so that he feels safe and seeks motivation in his treatment.