First of all, I am not a doctor or a therapist. I’ve just spent most of my life learning from them, to undo the effects of the major depression I’ve had since childhood. If you suffer from depression, first talk to your medical professional to see which approach is best for you. That’s what I’ve done, but I add to what I’ve learned by trying a few other things on my own. Don’t do anything to yourself that is potentially self-harming, any new technique or approach is worth researching thoroughly, just to be sure. What works for me may not work for you, we all have our own ways of responding to different treatments. I just know that not all my recovery has come from what I learned in the doctor’s office. With an exceptionally strong will, my mission has been primarily to increase self-esteem and combat those inner feelings of sadness that never go away (effects of depression). Here are some ways that have helped me live a productive and successful life, despite mental challenges.
Six months ago, I had to go to physical therapy for a herniated disc in my back. The therapist hooked me up to a small machine called a TENS unit for one of my treatments. They put small non-invasive sticky circles (electrodes) on the part of my body that needed therapy and then turned on the machine. It felt so good, like a massage. Depending on how the therapist adjusted the dials, the machine would produce thumping or pricking sensations in my back. There are also knobs to adjust the intensity of each sensation. After researching the TENS unit on the internet, I ordered a small one, about the size of a deck of cards.
From what I read about them, TENS machines are not only good for distracting your body into feeling good sensations instead of pain, but they can also cause your body to produce endorphins, or feel-good chemicals. This intrigued me, since I have depression, I’ll take whatever I can to feel good (as long as it’s both moral and legal). So, I set out to try this on myself and see if it had any merit. to theory. After years of taking various antidepressants, some work more than others, but none completely eliminates depression, in my experience. Since I am not a scientist or a doctor, I read everything related to the TENS machine. There are rules that come with the machine, such as not to put the electrodes on the head, neck, or heart areas. Be sure to follow all of them carefully. People with pacemakers should not use TENS units, because it can interfere with the way they work. As with medications, consult your doctor before using one.
Placing the electrodes along my spine and adjusting the TENS settings to the recommended low frequency (pulse) levels. You want a low muscle contraction and use TENS for about 20-40 minutes. If you set it for higher muscle contractions, your muscles may ache later, so I trust what the experts say, to use it on low settings. For more detailed information, I found these sites helpful:
http://www.bootsmaternityrentalproducts.co.uk/abouttens.php
http://www.medcareservice.com/Pain-Control-Mechanism-Article.cfm
It seems that using the TENS unit has helped my overall mood as after using it my demeanor is calm and relaxed. Although I don’t know if this is due to the machine itself or not, but I think that using it has helped me. Combined with other treatments, this TENS therapy is helping me (along with other techniques to reduce depression) to make life more enjoyable. Go ahead and research TENS units online and see if this is something for you. In my view, it is a viable way to help combat depression.
