Relaxation
Many patients are interested in changing behaviors to treat their depression, but they do not have the time, interest, or resources to engage in professional psychotherapy. Relaxation training, also known as parasympathetic activation, can be a simple, effective way for patients to influence their mood. Click on the links to learn about some methods of inducing relaxation.
Now that you have learned about various relaxation techniques, move on to the last section of this unit to learn about light therapy treatment.
Evidence is mounting that depression is caused by a physiological response to emotional stress (Miura, Bradley) and that SSRIs combat depression by exerting influence on the stress response to the body (Zafir). As a result, stress reduction and relaxation activities should be considered an essential part of any integrative medicine (IM) treatment plan for depression.
While there are a host of relaxation techniques known to reduce stress in individuals, we will look at three of the most popular.
Several of the techniques (e.g., deep breathing, muscle relaxation) are simple enough that they can be taught to patients during a medium length office visit.
For patients who are interested, comprehensive information can be found in the Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook.
Guided imagery is another relaxation technique that can be taught in a medium length office visit. View the Guided Imagery education module.
(Brenden Brain, Galaxy Macau Poolside, Wikimedia Commons. CC: BY-SA 3.0.)