According to a new study from the University of Auckland, improving your posture could have a dramatic impact on your self-esteem and depression. By simply sitting up straighter throughout the day, you could reduce your depression symptoms and have a more positive outlook on life. Let’s take a closer look at how this process works so you can take advantage of it.
Depression Causes Slumped Posture
Before we get into the benefits of sitting up straight, it’s important to realize that having bad posture could be the result of depression. Feeling sad, helpless, stressed and overwhelmed can create a metaphorical “weight” on your shoulders that puts a physical strain on your body. Think about walking through a crowd of people. Which ones look the happiest: the ones standing tall with their heads held high or the ones looking down at the ground? By consciously improving your posture, you are fighting against the toll depression takes on your body, which can ultimately make you feel better.
How Better Posture Could Help Your Depression
Sitting upright has several positive effects. It will make you feel prouder about your accomplishments, thereby boosting your self-esteem. It can also make you feel less fatigued throughout the day and allow you to get better rest at night. Good posture also makes you look more approachable, which will make other people want to be around you. Even if you don’t care much for social interactions, simply knowing that you are a likable person can quickly improve your depression symptoms.
Another benefit to sitting upright is reducing your self-focus. In other words, sitting straight will allow you to focus on other areas of your life, not just the problems you are facing at this time. Do you ever feel like you dwell on an issue for forever, so much that you can’t accomplish anything else throughout the day? Your posture may not fully correct that, but it can reduce the amount of focus you devote to the matter.
Reduce Your Depression Symptoms Even Further
Improving your posture is just the first step to improving your depression as a whole. By working with a depression counselor, you can get to the root cause of your depression and conquer the hurdles standing in your way. Contact a depression therapist near you to start your treatment program, and you can enjoy a better, brighter life well into the future.
