Posture and Depression

We have previously talked about how to set up your work station with proper ergonomics, so check out our previous blogs and videos.
 
What I want to talk about today, is how these poor choices in posture can impact on your wellbeing. For example, it has been said for a long time that a slumped posture is a diagnostic feature of depression. (2) One recent study looked at what happens when we straighten out our posture. They found an increase in arousal, a positive affect and lower levels of anxiety. (2) Another study found that improving our posture has the potential to assist our sleep, pain threshold, and blood pressure! (1)
 
These studies demonstrate the importance and the far reaching affects your spine and posture has on your total body and brain function!
So, if you have noticed that you are feeling a bit flat, not sleeping as well, and just generally struggling to get through your work, book and appointment and let us see if we can help manage this.
 
Also have a look at how you have set up your work space. Make sure that it allows you to have good posture, and make sure that you take regular breaks from sitting and your screens.
 

1. Hackford, J., Mackey, A., Broadbent, E., The effects of walking posture on affective and physiological states during stress, Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry (2018).
2. Wilkes, C., Kydd, R., Sagar, M., & Broadbent, E. (2017). Upright posture improves affect and fatigue in people with depressive symptoms. Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry, 54, 143-149.