Major Depressive Disorder, also known as MDD, is a medical condition that can affect one’s mood, behavior, and even physical functions. Up to 40% of people who have the disorder do not achieve desirable results even with proper medication. But who could have thought that the calming, deep-breathing exercises of yoga can become a complementary therapy for overcoming depression?
Researchers believe that yoga is helpful to those who are not taking any medications and to those who are taking medications but with unfruitful results. In line with this, individuals with MDD were randomly assigned into “high-dose” and “low-dose” groups. Both groups were involved in 90-minute classes with home practice per week. The “high-dose” group takes three classes while “low-dose” takes two classes resulting to significant decreases in their depressive symptoms. According to Dr. Chris Streeter, associate professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, yoga provides a new side-effect free avenue for treatment compared with mood altering medications.
Vocabulary:
Complementary [adjective] – serving to make whole or improve something
Overcoming [verb] – to get the better of
Unfruitful [adjective] – no valuable result
Significant [adjective] – large enough to be noticed or have an effect
Neurology [noun] – a branch of medicine concerned especially with the structure, function, and diseases of the nervous system
Avenue [noun] – a channel for pursuing a desired object
Altering [verb] – to make different
True or False:
- Minor depressive disorder can affect one’s mood, behavior, and even physical functions.
- Yoga consists of calming, deep-breathing exercises.
- Researchers believe that the method is helpful to the elders.
- Chris Streeter is an associate professor of Psychology and Neurology.
- Looking at the aftermath of their study, researchers believe that yoga can provide a new avenue for treating depression.
Express your opinion:
- What are the things that you do when you feel sad?
- Who do you talk to for inspiration and encouragement?
- How do you think discouragement help us grow?
- How will you encourage anyone crying with despair?
- Some people say that they talk to themselves when they feel down and sad. How do you inspire yourself to do more even on hard times?
Defend your argument:
- Sadness is normal person to feel. But when it worsened, it’s bad.
- Laughter is the best medicine.
- “Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.” ― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow