Dance Has the Possibility to Decrease Depressive Symptoms

Can Dance Decrease Depressive Symptoms?

This article will discuss why dance decrease depressive symptoms.

Depression

On average, about one out of four women will suffer from depression in her lifetime, but that is still quite low when compared to men. Women are more likely to develop depression and the symptoms will usually be more intense.

A person can have a genetic predisposition towards depression but the exact cause is still not known. It is known that a chemical imbalance is involved in some cases of depression and it is the same chemical imbalance that occurs with an overdose of antidepressant drugs.

Most people suffering from depression do not have any problem with their brain. A chemical imbalance in the brain does occur, however, and it's these types of illnesses that can be treated with medication.

Doctors prescribe antidepressants to treat depression, for example. The most common type is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which work by blocking the production of the chemicals serotonin and dopamine.

A depressed person's serotonin level is low and the dopamine level is increased. In the short term these two chemicals work in a manner which makes you feel very happy.

Over the long term these chemicals do not work and this gives rise to depression.

Research on dance and depression:

Depressive feelings are an important aspect of the human experience. The good news is that there are steps one can take to help decrease or manage depressive symptoms.

Not only does exercise and sleep aid in treating depression, but according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), dancing can help as well.

However, only about 5 to 10 percent of people who experience depression are diagnosed with major depression. The rest are experiencing moderate to mild symptoms, while some suffer from extreme or even chronic.

The key to explaining why dancing is so helpful for treating depressive symptoms lies in the brain chemicals called the monoamines. Monoamines help to enhance cognitive functioning, and if the balance in your brain is off, you will experience symptoms of depression.

Increased levels of monoamines are also associated with improved mood and other important mental abilities. Many researchers believe that changes in the brain in people with depression may be due to genetic factors and some believe that diet and sleep habits may play a role.

The NIH asserts that dancing can improve your overall mood, and physical activity also releases dopamine, a chemical that can increase pleasure and decrease depression symptoms.

Specifically, aerobic exercise decreases symptoms of anxiety, depression, and substance use. Furthermore, researchers are finding that exercise training, including aerobic exercise training, can improve sleep quality, improve physical and emotional symptoms of depression, and improve memory, among other positive effects.

The study by the NIH was published in 2014.

Most studies are encouraging, but they do not tell us that dance is a cure for depression or even that it will help treat symptoms of depression in most people.

Bottom Line: Exercise, and specifically dancing, can help with depression, and dance therapy may be a beneficial method for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. It is also recommended that you consult your primary care doctor before you begin the process.

portrait, pose, model

Signs of Depression:

People who are depressed show many of the same outward symptoms as depression.

Their feelings of sadness are more intense.
They may have a tendency to feel anxious and nervous.
They may not sleep very well.
They may feel tired and tired a lot of the time.

They may be having mood swings.
They may have decreased energy levels.
They may have reduced sex drive.
They may be having less or less satisfying sexual experiences.
These symptoms are often combined and experienced as a whole.
Common symptoms of depression include:
Feeling depressed most of the time
An inability to think clearly
Loss of pleasure
Decreased interest in life
Not eating well
Changes in weight
Psychological symptoms such as guilt, hopelessness, and helplessness
Mood swings or significant change in mood
Fatigue and sleep disturbances

If there is someone close to you who is suffering from depression, make sure you reach out to them. When it comes to the true causes of depression, however, it is best to first understand the major changes in the human body as a result of depression and then develop a therapeutic approach to relieve the symptoms of depression.

Other ways to reduce depressive symptoms:

Feelings of sadness are understandable. People who are in serious pain are often not able to think clearly.

Someone who has been depressed has been exposed to a mood enhancing stimulus, either physically (through exercise, eating well and good diet) or mentally (via speaking to a therapist, for example).

There are some things that a person can do to get back on track:

At first the person should sleep more, exercise more and socialize more.
For people who don't like to exercise, the brain will create new neural pathways to help them to enjoy it more.
A supportive family member or friend may help the person to understand the changes in their brain.

Medications, such as anti-depressants can be used to help ease the symptoms. They don't work every time but can be helpful in a minority of people.
For the first two weeks the person should not take antidepressants, because the brain will be flooded with chemicals that act as a kind of detoxification process.