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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by zazenduck on June 9, 2006, at 10:11:09
Eric Finzi, MD, PhD, says the injections prevented the patients from frowning, which, in turn, helped to lift their depression.
"I think there is direct feedback between the facial frown muscles and the depression center of the brain," Finzi tells WebMD. "If you can prevent the negative signals that occur when someone frowns, the brain interprets this as meaning that things are better."
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=62042
This reminds me of the DBT distress tolerance lesson about half smiling in all situations. It was adapted from the Buddhist monk Thich Nach Hahn's teaching. Although the study was small and flawed I think it is an intriguing idea to look for evidence that it it actually works! I hope larger more controlles studies will be done. I think I prefer the half smiling meditation to Botox injections personally :-} (half-smiling of course).
Posted by Dinah on June 9, 2006, at 12:58:56
In reply to DBT half-smiling and Botox study, posted by zazenduck on June 9, 2006, at 10:11:09
I *hated* that exercise! Maybe it's because I read about it and didn't experience it with others.
I have at times tried to cultivate a half smile purely for reasons of vanity. :)
Did you find the exercise useful?
Posted by zazenduck on June 9, 2006, at 15:48:40
In reply to Re: DBT half-smiling and Botox study » zazenduck, posted by Dinah on June 9, 2006, at 12:58:56
I was actually more familiar with the Hahn book. I just mentioned DBT so it wouldn't get redirected;) I am interested in DBT but have no actual in person experience. I just read the book.
I think meditating with or without the halfsmile does make one aware of softening face muscles and it makes sense that the brain would react as if the mood was happy/relaxed rather than setting up a feedback loop with frowns/tension.
> I *hated* that exercise! Maybe it's because I read about it and didn't experience it with others.
>
> I have at times tried to cultivate a half smile purely for reasons of vanity. :)
>
> Did you find the exercise useful?
Posted by MidnightBlue on June 9, 2006, at 16:13:27
In reply to DBT half-smiling and Botox study, posted by zazenduck on June 9, 2006, at 10:11:09
If insurance will cover it give me the botox! But just the frown lines between my eyes. LOL
MB
Posted by llrrrpp on June 9, 2006, at 16:13:57
In reply to Re: DBT half-smiling and Botox study, posted by zazenduck on June 9, 2006, at 15:48:40
It sounds like if you spend too much time in the half smile, you may *need* botox injections to get rid of assymmetrical wrinkles (joke)
not joke:
On sunny days, when I have to wrinkle up my face into a squint, I feel grumpy. Then, I wonder why I feel grumpy, then I start to slip down the slippery slope of negative thinking [hello! depression! can I come hang out for a while?]. It took me a while to figure this one out. Now I try to wear sunglasses, or at least to stop myself from squinting.
Same thing happens when I play on pbabble sometimes without my glasses. I think at least 10percent of the negativity in my negative posts may be due to having to squint. (the other 70% is some combination of being human, and being crazy)
I also do a lot of physical therapy that focuses on inhibiting unnecessary muscle tension. After these sessions, I find that I have a bounce in my step, I feel happier, I feel more capable and more confident. Why? just because I have shed some "baggage" in the form of-- I was tensing up my neck, back and chest to carry around the pain of the world...
Well the mind-body is a two way street. Our moods affect our muscles, fortunately, I think our muscles affect our moods too. Maybe this is why exercise is a good anti-depressant for some.
-ll
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