If you're one of the millions of people who struggles with depression, you're not alone. Depression is a common condition that affects your way of feeling, thinking, and acting. And at times, it can be debilitating. So when it comes to exercise, that's probably the last thing anyone suffering from the symptoms of depression would want to do. However, research shows that physical activity — especially low-intensity activity like somatic exercises — is just as effective for depression as prescription drugs. And that's because somatic exercises stimulate hippocampus growth, while prescription drugs do not.
Here's why that's important...
The Connection Between Depression & The Hippocampus
Studies show that people who suffer from depression have a smaller hippocampus than those who don't. And the hippocampus is the part of the brain that regulates mood — among other things like learning, memory, and emotions.
The shrinking of the hippocampus is thought to be caused by several factors, including chronic stress, elevated levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), and reduced neurogenesis (the formation of new neurons) — all of which can either lead to depression, be a result of depression, or be a cause of depression.
So the connection between depression and the hippocampus is complex.
However, when it comes to the common treatment of depression (which is typically taking an anti-depressant), the hippocampus is often overlooked. Taking an anti-depressant isn’t ever going to get to that root cause of a smaller hippocampus — it’s simply just masking the symptoms of it.
But that's not the case for somatic exercises and physical activity.
The Connection Between The Hippocampus & Somatic Exercises
In order to naturally heal the root cause of depression, you need to stimulate cell growth in the hippocampus. Which is something that somatic exercises and physical activity can do.
Somatic exercises are a type of physical activity that triggers the release of growth proteins, causing nerve cells to grow and make new connections in the hippocampus.
Exercising has multiple physical benefits, including protecting against heart disease, diabetes, and chronic illness, as well as improving sleep and lowering blood pressure.
When it comes to the impact of exercise on our mental state, high-intensity workouts trigger the release of endorphins, known as the body's natural feel-good chemicals. This phenomenon, often described as the exhilarating runner's high, is frequently reported by joggers and serves as a great source of joy and satisfaction.
However, when it comes to depression, the true value of healing from depression's debilitating symptoms lies in the consistency of low-intensity exercise over an extended period of time.
Healing Your Depression Naturally With Somatic Exercises
By engaging in somatic exercises, individuals with depression can being naturally healing themselves by stimulating hippocampus growth.
But healing depression naturally isn't the only benefit that somatic exercises will have on the body.
More benefits include things like:
- Help you finally lose the unwanted weight you've been trying to get rid of
- Heal your chronic inflammation
- Balance your hormones
- Relieve your sciatica
- Get rid of chronic back pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, and neck pain
- Stop you from clenching your jaw at night
- Allow your hips to stop popping all day long
- Get you into a normal sleeping routine
- Curing your gut and digestive issues
- Treat your daily headaches
- Clear your brain fog
- & so much more...
Try our signature course Release Stress & Stored Trauma In 30 Days to begin stimulating hippocampus growth so you can start healing your depression naturally with somatic exercises.
