Facial Expressions and Mood Changes
Many of us respond to situations with almost unnoticeable changes in our face, the muscles pulling away from a smile and into some look of concern, anger, anxiety, you name it. We know that smiling can actually change your mood and lift that level of anxiety you've been feeling. This is probably due to the wonderful feedback system our muscles have and which quickly, like a good messenger, delivers the message to the mood centers in the brain. If the writer of that old line from a song, "let a smile be your umbrella" only knew how right he/she was.
Now, there are attempts to help us when we, again unknowingly give our brain that negative feedback which then results in a down-in-the-dumps mood or increased levels of anxiety. One really unique treatment is the use of Botox to keep those muscles from sending negative signals.
Does it actually work? Well, one physician with a really small sample (10 patients) claims it does, but he's not a mental health expert and there's no mention of how he measured the dramatic mood improvement. I'd think it might just be a case of looking better and less worried when you look in the mirror and your mood improves.
Can everyone benefit from this? I doubt it and at $400 a treatment, it seems rather expensive. I'd wait for a much larger study to be done and then review whether or not to consider it.
Related Topics: WebMD Videos: Treatment is Key for Anxiety, Actually, Laughter May Be the Best Medicine
Technorati Tags: anxiety, panic, botox
Now, there are attempts to help us when we, again unknowingly give our brain that negative feedback which then results in a down-in-the-dumps mood or increased levels of anxiety. One really unique treatment is the use of Botox to keep those muscles from sending negative signals.
Does it actually work? Well, one physician with a really small sample (10 patients) claims it does, but he's not a mental health expert and there's no mention of how he measured the dramatic mood improvement. I'd think it might just be a case of looking better and less worried when you look in the mirror and your mood improves.
Can everyone benefit from this? I doubt it and at $400 a treatment, it seems rather expensive. I'd wait for a much larger study to be done and then review whether or not to consider it.
Related Topics: WebMD Videos: Treatment is Key for Anxiety, Actually, Laughter May Be the Best Medicine
Technorati Tags: anxiety, panic, botox
4 Comments:
Facial expressions can be contagious. When someone smiles at us, generally, we automatically smile back.
It's the same with laughter. The new version of Tickle Me Elmo should be in everyone's life. He laughs, bends over and eventually rolls on the floor in hysterical laughter. You can't help but smile and even touch on laughter after watching him for a few moments.
A group (I believe in California) have laughter as their sole purpose for meeting every day. They stand on the beach and laugh. If you don't feel like laughing when you arrive, you certainly do when you leave.
Laughter definitely is the best medicine - it releases stress and increases endorphines making us happier, at least in the short term.
I'm surprised laughter isn't more widely promoted for everyone - not just for people stressed, depressed or anxious - but for people who are workaholics, worriers and type A personalities.
It is a proven science.
Facial expressions can be contagious. When someone smiles at us, generally, we automatically smile back.
It's the same with laughter. The new version of Tickle Me Elmo should be in everyone's life. He laughs, bends over and eventually rolls on the floor in hysterical laughter. You can't help but smile and even touch on laughter after watching him for a few moments.
A group (I believe in California) have laughter as their sole purpose for meeting every day. They stand on the beach and laugh. If you don't feel like laughing when you arrive, you certainly do when you leave.
Laughter definitely is the best medicine - it releases stress and increases endorphins making us happier, at least in the short term.
I'm surprised laughter isn't more widely promoted for everyone - not just for people stressed, depressed or anxious - but for people who are workaholics, worriers and type A personalities, too.
It is a proven science.
Last Friday I had Botox injections to relieve migraines and one of the side benefits has been in increasing my ability to breath, but I have noticed I feel more energy and have a sense of well-being.
I am a nurse and social worker with a clinical depression history, so at over $400 lasting 4 - 6 mths. (maybe), it is worth not taking injections for migraines and antidepressants which dry the mouth and cause constipation. Ms.Ferris W.
After 30 years of marriage, my ex asked me for divorce to marry a younger woman. I did not see this coming and his reasoning was I was not good looking and old.
I fell into total depression, and whether I was unattractive or not, I felt totally ugly and useless.
I assessed my looks in a mirror. Turkey neck, furrowed brow from crying and crying. (It's not just being dumped that was such a tradegy, but my Mother had just died, (the last remaining close relative I had), and 27 years earlier, my ex forced me stop my career. So, here I was, turkey neck, furrowed brow, no updated work skills and no savings or pension.
I disclose this to show what triggered the depression. I will skip the details what happened in my life and jump to the point.
I researched plastic facial surgeons and had my turkey neck fixed. (I did not disclose to the doctor my situation for fear of being turned down.) A depressed person will not suddenly become 'happy' again with cosmetic surgery. If you are not happy with yourself, a better looking you will not 'heal' you.
My family physician put me on 5mg of Prozac (10 mg I had bad reaction to). The Prozac did not 'cure' me. The only difference on Prozac was I no longer cried uncontrollably at any and all times. So, at least I dried up the tear flow.
My forehead was more noticable due to the depression frown lines and the toll all the crying had done. So, I thought, how can a 50 year old woman, no skills get a new career off the ground now. As simplistic as it may sound, I thought Botox...get rid of the deep furrows so I don't look like old, sad woman, and update my skills.
I went back to the same facial surgeon that did my neck lift for check ups, and got Botox for forehead while on my visit.
Finally! The part of this comment that I really wanted to address. I do believe the Botox helped my depression. (By the way, this is first time I have read a medical article mentioning this!) I did mention to my surgeon about 30 days later on a check up, I thought the Botox had helped relieve my depression. She just smiled and gave no comment. (I had disclosed the depression after the surgery.)
My reasoning was this. I was still depressed when I had the Botox. But everytime I went to frown, felt depressed, felt like crying, I could 'feel' the muscles I would use to do those actions fighting against being used, they would not work. My attention would immediately think, Botox! And, when I could not contort my face into those, what I will call 'depression modes' I would go onto thinking about something else (more productive).
Anyway, time has passed, divorce was final in July 06, and I have sunk back into depression. Bottom line, the furrows are back, I look so sad I cannot stand it, and a month ago I scheduled a Botox meeting with my surgeon. I am going tomorrow (Saturday, December 9). I will let you know my results.
My background is Medical Technology and I worked as a Chemistry Lab Tech until ex forced the 'early retirement' 27 years ago, however I have always kept up on medical news. I just finished a Microsoft Office course and am planning certification in it and will hunt for that new job after the New Year. That is...if not depressed. Depression is...so sad:(
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