Evolution and Depression

Scientific American takes a look at depression from a different perspective in asking if perhaps it’s the result of an evolutionary process that’s more helpful than harmful.

The authors posit that our brains play an important role in survival and reproduction, and therefore they should be resistant to high rates of malfunction. Most mental illness is rare, except for depression. Why is that?

One possible answer is that depression isn’t a disorder at all, but rather an adaptation that brings both costs and benefits.

Here’s an example:

So what could be so useful about depression? Depressed people often think intensely about their problems. These thoughts are called ruminations; they are persistent and depressed people have difficulty thinking about anything else. Numerous studies have also shown that this thinking style is often highly analytical. They dwell on a complex problem, breaking it down into smaller components, which are considered one at a time.

Without completing restating the entire article here, the main point being articulated is that depression is nature’s way of letting you know that you have some complex social problems to solve, and that your brain is actively engaged in seeking those solutions. And rather than attempting to stop depressive ruminations, therapists would be wise to encourage them in an attempt to find the answers to the problems causing the bouts of depression in the first place.

If you’ve suffered from depressive episodes, I’d like your thoughts on this concept. Does this ring true for you?

Link , via Scientific American

Can Yoga Help Workplace Stress & Anxiety?

With the often relentless pace at work, it’s sometimes difficult to carve out even a half-hour for lunch. Stepping away for 20-30 minutes to have a bite to eat, stretch my legs, and just get away from the workplace energy for a little while can be helpful in reducing those feelings of stress and anxiety that slowly surround me like a misty fog.

So when I read about this study that included guided workplace yoga and meditation to help with stress relief, my first thought was, “Where do I sign up?”, although I’m unsure that anyone wants to see me in full downward facing dog while wearing my Dockers.

I’ve written before about the benefits of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy, most notably here and here. Conceptually, being able to recognize and be aware of your stressful, anxious state is the first step toward doing something about it. Over time, I learned breathing and relaxation techniques that can be put into use in just about any situation, at any time, the result being a more relaxed, unstressed version of me.

The study, conducted at the Ohio State University here in Columbus, was specifically designed for office worker types wearing business apparel, and involved an hour meeting once a week during lunch, plus 20 minutes per day of yoga and meditation performed at the subject’s desks. The results were impressive:

Mindful attention awareness increased significantly and perceived stress decreased significantly among the intervention group when compared to the control group’s responses. Overall sleep quality increased in both groups, but three of seven components of sleep were more affected in the intervention group.

On average, mindfulness increased by about 9.7 percent and perceived stress decreased by about 11 percent among the group that experienced the intervention. These participants also reported that it took them less time to fall asleep, they had fewer sleep disturbances and they experienced less daytime dysfunction than did members of the non-intervention group.

Two things jump out at me from this study – one, that simply being exposed to the concept of mindfulness, becoming aware of what you are feeling and why, is enormously beneficial. Secondly, there is an amazing sense of empowerment that comes from having effective tools, like yoga and meditation, to help address the stress and anxiety, and feeling better even a little bit can help spur you on, which can lead to even more effective results.

If you would like to know more about the study, you can read the full details at Anxiety Insights. Go forth and unwind those tight muscles and loosen that tense mind!