Physical Therapy For Anxiety And Depression

Although people think of anxiety and depression as being mental states, anyone who has experienced either one can tell you that both conditions will manifest themselves as physical symptoms that affect several parts of the body. Physical therapy can help to reduce symptoms for anxiety and depression; the comfort of the body should be considered to be an important component of mental health. The following is a list of physical therapy techniques that may be able to alleviate some of the physical symptoms that accompany stress and anxiety.

Also, if your depression and anxiety are due to chronic pain, physical therapy may be the one of best methods for dealing with the mental health aspects of your condition.

Massage

If you have tight muscles in your back and neck due to stress, anxiety, and tension headaches, a massage can help to loosen up your knots. Besides feeling nice, massage was shown in a study to reduce cortisol, a stress hormone, by 53% in patients. These patients also reported more energy and less depression overall.

Myofascial release massage

Myofascial release can help to improve depression and anxiety in patients who have fibromyalgia and/or chronic headaches. This physical therapy technique concentrates on releasing tight muscles through massage and stretching. The resulting release of tension can help to relax the body, relieving pain.

Flotation Tank Therapy

There is mounting evidence that using a saltwater flotation tank can help with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The sensory deprivation that results from laying in a tank that supports every muscle in your body, in a room that is warmed to body temperature, can help you relax enough to release anxiety. In one study, cortisol levels were shown to drop 22% post-float.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine that uses thin needles placed into points in the body that correspond to different organs. In a study published in 2011, acupuncture was shown to be as effective as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Another study, published in 2013, showed a drop in stress hormones for rats that received acupuncture. 

Exercise

Any kind of exercise can help with anxiety and depression. If you are suffering from chronic pain or other physical issues, along with depression, you may consider working with a physical therapist that can recommend specific exercises that are safe for you to engage in. Not only may you find improvement in your pain, you are likely to make a positive impact on your depression and anxiety as well.