Ask the Pregnancy Chiropractor: Physical Wellness Tips for Those Battling Postpartum Depression & Anxiety
As a pregnancy chiropractor we see every day in our office that postpartum depression and anxiety remain a prominent concern for mothers that have recently given birth. With 1 in 7 women (and sometimes up to 1 in 5) suffering from postpartum depression, this is something that we see quite frequently in our office as a pregnancy chiropractor in our practice. While we recently compiled several postpartum depression statistics and have done many of our own studies, we really wanted to delve deeply into understanding what new moms can do to counteract the symptoms of postpartum depression.
Pregnancy Chiropractor Tip 1: Get moving.
The link between the brain and body has long been studied by experts. More and more research suggests that there is a direct link between your physical health and depression and anxiety. Exercise releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins. According to the study Exercise for Mental Health: “Aerobic exercises, including jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing, have been proved to reduce anxiety and depression.”
Any action that reduces anxiety and depression symptoms is critical in the postpartum period. Once you’ve been cleared for physical activity, exercise is everything to help improve your mood and how your body reacts to stress.
Pregnancy Chiropractor Tip 2: Squat.
There’s emerging preliminary research showing that lower body muscles are particularly important for nerve stem cells in the subventricular region of the brain — the area that gives rise to new, healthy nerves to carry out brain function. When animals and humans work their legs against resistance, they signal cells in the brain to make new nerve cells that support brain health.
Pregnancy Chiropractor Tip 3: Massage & Chiropractic
40% of our patients surveyed that were suffering from postpartum depression saw a decrease in symptoms after 90 days of chiropractic care. There’s also a defined link between depression and chronic pain. Knowing that chronic pain can be correlated with depression, alleviating or identifying the sources of that pain needs to be a priority.
The evidence is clear. Physical wellness — exercise, massage and chiropractic — helps with the symptoms associated with anxiety and depression by boosting brain health. If you’re struggling with symptoms of postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety, make sure to be as proactive as possible and inform your doctor or loved ones so that you can find support.