More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles
Women and Depression
Depression affects your body, behavior, mind and mood. While many people experience stress or depression during their lifetime, women experience depression at twice the rate of men, regardless of ethnic background or race. An estimated one in eight women will experience major depression.
Contributing factors include biological, biochemical, environmental, nutritional, genetic, social, and psychological. Research has found that successful people are more susceptible to depression because they demand much of themselves and others, often bringing on stressful family and professional relationships, excessive use of caffeine and alcohol both of which deplete the body of vitamin B.
Given the impact of depression on the body, women should discuss with their physician the extent and degree of depression they experience. While passing, situational depression is normal, chronic depression (i.e., persisting several weeks or more) can elevate blood pressure, worsen hypertension, reduce blood flow and antibody production and thus weaken the overall system of the body.
The resulting increase in harmful hormones deposited into the body can put one at higher risk of contracting various diseases and cancers.
While your doctor can determine whether you are clinically depressed, some common symptoms include
Feelings of restlessness or irritability
Lack of interest in friends, pleasure and normal activities
Increases in weight or appetite
Oversleeping
Feeling bad about yourself
Outwardly expressed hostility and anger
Difficulty in making daily decisions
There are many healthy, natural therapies that can combat depression, including participating in soft exercise, Qi gong, laughing or crying out loud, enjoying good friends and nature, or soaking in a hot bath. Acupuncture can also help.
Indeed, acupuncture works by stimulating the release of endorphins (the body's natural feel-good chemical) which combats the stressor hormones released in depressed individuals, and adenosine (the body's natural painkiller). Furthermore, ultrasound tests have shown that acupuncture increases blood circulation, reduces inflammation, and improves oxygen flow and tissue function at the needle site.
Neuroimaging studies have also shown that acupuncture can also increase the number of receptors for pain-reducing neurotransmitters. All of these results help to boost the entire organism of the human body to bring itself back into balance, where a sense of peak health can be attained, with no more stress than you can easily handle.
