Depression can greatly impact quality of life from employment to relationships. Many people have experimented with all types of treatment that range from traditional antidepressants to herbal remedies to psychotherapy. More and more individuals are seeking natural forms of treatment for depression such as water therapy.
Water Therapy to Treat Depression
Living with depression causes many people to seek other forms of treating their condition. The emotional state of depressed individuals often makes it difficult for them to follow through with their daily routines. Researchers and doctors are always looking for new ways to effectively treat depression.
Nikolai Shevchuk, a researcher at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, believes that taking two to three cold showers daily can reduce depression. Shevchuk believes that we all have what is known as a “blue spot” in our brain. Encapsulated within this spot is noradrenaline, which is a neurotransmitter that is thought to help regulate depression. When you take two to three cold showers a day at 68 degrees, it helps to stimulate the “blue spot.” The chemicals are released and you start to feel your depressive symptoms lift. The showers should become a normal part of your daily routine once you are able to tolerate the 68-degree water temperature.
Although cold showers are thought to be effective, other people drink water to relieve symptoms of depression. Every individual has toxins within his body and drinking water helps to wash those toxins from his system. People who experience depression sometimes suffer from poor self care. They compromise nutrition and often do not consume enough water. Dehydration sets in and the flow of neurotransmitters slows down drastically. Drinking water helps to move the toxins out of your body and hydrates the brain and the movement of the cranial fluid. The cranial fluid contains the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are responsible for regulating mood.
Water can have a positive influence on your mood as well as decreasing symptoms of depression. People have utilized swimming with dolphins as a way to treat their depression. Spending time in the water and connecting on a natural level can increase the brain chemicals that help to regulate mood. Engaging with the mammals in their own environment is therapeutic and can invoke a sense of well-being and peacefulness.
If your symptoms do not lift with water therapy then it might be time to consult your doctor for additional assistance.