How Chiropractic Adjustments Can Help Treat Clinical Depression
One of the most common mental illnesses in the United States is clinical depression. More than 19 million people are affected by it every year. Some of the most prescribed forms of treatment include psychotherapy and medication. For those who don't want to take medication, chiropractic medicine can offer another alternative.
What is Clinical Depression?
Clinical depression is more than just normal depression someone might feel due to a loss of a loved one or a traumatic event. According to the Mayo Clinic, It's a more severe form of depression that involves having five or more of the following symptoms for more than a two-week period:
- depressed mood or constant irritability
- reduced interest in activities
- weight loss or weight gain
- desire to sleep more than usual
- feelings of restlessness
- loss of energy
- feelings of worthlessness
- inability to make decisions or concentrate
- thoughts of death or suicide
If you feel you have clinical depression, it's important to get an appropriate diagnosis. Once you've done that, you can then explore treatment options.
What are the Dangers of Taking Antidepressants?
Many physicians and psychiatrists will most likely prescribe antidepressants to treat clinical depression. If you suffer with depression, chances are, you will do whatever it takes to get relief. While medication can help, it's important to be aware of the dangers of antidepressants and their side effects. Some of the most prescribed drugs in the world include antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Some brand names include: Prozac, Lexapro, and Paxil. Reported symptoms of these drugs include:
- heart palpitations
- blurred vision
- dizziness
- mood swings
- sexual dysfunction
- suicidal thoughts
There have also been people on antidepressants who have actually committed suicide. Because of this and the above-listed side effects, some people opt for a drug-free, alternative method to treating clinical depression.
How Can Chiropractic Adjustments Help with Depression?
While many chiropractors are seen for pain management, chiropractic adjustments can also help with emotional pain, including clinical depression. One study shows that 70% of the participants who suffered with clinical depression felt an improvement after getting an upper cervical adjustment. One of the reasons this type of adjustment works is because when there is a misalignment of the spinal column, it does not allow the proper signals to get communicated throughout the nervous system. When there is proper communication throughout the brain stem, spinal cord, and nerves, it can help to alleviate symptoms of clinical depression.
If you have been diagnosed with clinical depression and are looking for an alternative to antidepressants, see how a chiropractor, like Gerleman Chiropractic Office, can help.
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