Yoga as a Natural anxiolytic and antidepressant

If you’re reading this post, it is highly likely that you’re struggling with anxiety or at least know someone who is .

Poor Mental health affects more people every year than cancer or heart disease- every year  one in four people in the Uk are affected by a mental health problem. Living with mental health can affect many aspects of our daily life from physical and emotional health to relationships, work and finances.

I have suffered from anxiety and depression for almost 3 decades which had gone unrecognised due to lack of awareness. It has manifested in many forms as migraine attacks, hypertension, insomnia, laziness and poor performance, procrastination, loss of clarity and overthinking.

It was 4 years ago when i had a panic attack and had to be rushed to the hospital,  I started learning more about both anxiety and depression. I felt my heart in my mouth and that my blood vessels were going to burst. I have tried various medication, counselling or therapy to always hit a wall.This is when i got hooked onto Yoga, though i have been practising it for many years, i did not have a regular practice..it was always on and off.

I certainly won't say that Yoga is the only Elixir for every problem but  it has definitely made a huge shift in my life and changed my perspectives. Yoga has taught me to look at life with a different set of lenses. I have learned the power of Present moment through my yoga practice. It has taught me to trust in the state of impermanence and the flow of life.  

 Disclaimer: Whatever your condition before you try these practices, it is important you have a confirmed medical diagnosis and seek medical help. As it is important to understand your condition.

How does Yoga Qualify as an Anti-Drug for Anxiety and Depression

Yoga as a Present Moment Reminder:  Yoga is a form of movement meditation that connects our mind, body and breath as we move into the poses with the help of complex instructions. Focusing on our breath and body sensations as we hold in the pose brings us into the present moment where life is actually happening, by getting us out of our heads. These poses help stretch and relax the body and calm the mind.

Yoga makes us more Self Aware: Besides physical and physiological benefits yoga also helps improve self awareness which is an excellent tool for people with anxiety and depression. Yoga practice helps us cultivate moment to moment awareness of our body, breath, emotions and thought, thus gradually transferring the awareness into our daily life. It helps us become aware of our thoughts and feelings as they arise in the moment, thus being able to handle them better and cope well. It provides us with a space for reflection, self acceptance with shadows and all and leads us to inner peace and calm.

Improved Breathing: Pranayama  is the backbone of Yoga. Pranayama is a vast topic with very simple to complex breathing techniques for beginners and advanced practitioners  

A regular yoga practice improves our breathing pattern and teaches us to breathe deeper developing a gentle diaphragmatic breath. Most people with anxiety have a shallow and rapid breath, once we learn or adapt to a gentle diaphragmatic breathing pattern , it becomes easier to calm our nerves during stressful situations by breathing deeply.

Helps Combat Stress: We are in a time where people are busy and stressed due to their day to day lifestyles.whether it is everyday stress or anxiety disorder, yoga helps us shift from a fight/flight mode to rest and digest mode by way of improved breathing and learning to ease into difficult poses.. This can be transferred to our everyday life situations.

Improves Stability and balance: Yoga improves our physical strength, stability and balance by helping us feel rooted and grounded as we hold the poses. This sense of strength, stability and balance can be transported to other situations giving us internal strength and stability and a trust in yourself.

Provides benefits of physical exercise: Moderate exercise is good for both anxiety and depression.Yoga also provides benefits of physical exercise as we hold on or move into poses. It helps improve strength, flexibility and balance. It also improves the range of motion and joint health. There are many other physiological benefits which are listed in my previous blog.

Boosts Confidence and self esteem: A regular practice helps you build a deep connection with self and since Yoga is a non competitive and non comparative practice it helps boost confidence and self esteem by means of understanding yourself ( strengths and flaws)

Yoga helps build a meditation practice: A Yoga practice is not just about getting in and out of a few poses. It also consists of a meditation practice at the beginning or at the end, thus it helps you build your own meditation practice. A regular meditation practice helps you to become aware of your thought and behavioural patterns that might be working against you. A regular meditation practice also helps you to make a shift in your thinking and develop habits that help you move forward in life.

Effects on the brain : Yoga improves blood circulation to the brain, making you more alert, thus improving mental clarity. Scientifically speaking it improves production of GABA, serotonin and dopamine levels. It also causes a surge in energy levels.Yoga also helps us develop a regular meditation practice which in turn have these effects on the brain.

I have provided a link for relevant  studies to support the benefits of Yoga for mental health here.

On my journey and my struggle with anxiety and depression, I trained to become a Yoga teacher and I have made truce with them through Yoga.Though my symptoms are not completely cured Yoga is a safe haven to go to when i am faced with challenges or experience these bouts.Besides Yoga i have used other holistic therapies like Hypnotherapy, Energy healing and  Chakra balancing.