S-M-I-L-E!
To many, the notion that smiling to yourself can help to make positive and lasting changes to depression seems ridiculous – yet it is well established that even a false smile, as long as it reaches the edges of the eyes, changes the body’s chemistry. Although the mechanism is not clearly understood, it appears to again encourage the release of endorphins into the blood stream. So if you smile broadly at yourself every time you walk past a mirror or other reflective surface, there is a high chance that you will soon start to feel better.
It is well known that laughter eases depression – for a while there were ‘laughter clinics’ in London,UK, where people suffering from depression were encouraged by various means to laugh long and loudly.
If you’re still not convinced, try this: Throw your arms into the air, force an expression of excitement/joy or happiness on to your face (ACT it!) and while keeping that position and facial expression try to say: “I feel really depressed today” but saying it as if you mean it and actually sounding depressed. This proves to be impossible for most and usually, those who think they have managed it have not realised that they have lost the ‘happy shape’ that they took at the beginning.
This is, or should be, sound evidence that the body affects the mind; stand up, smile, walk briskly – and it is almost inevitable that you will feel better.
Many people are actually unwilling to attempt these self-help methods; investigation often reveals that they actually do not want the depression to lift. If this is you – and you will tend to know straight away if it is – search inside your mind to find out why (sometimes it’s because attention is being sought, for instance) then address the problem directly. Without doubt, that can be one of the best forms of self help.
If you are suffering from any form of depression, the earlier you seek help the more effective any therapy is likely to be and the sooner it will start to work. Whilst it is true that some people struggle for many years with this illness, it is also true that most of them do not have to. The only way to find out if you can be set free is to take that first step to finding help…
© Copyright Terence Watts 2003
