Depression is a common and serious medical illness that varies from mild to severe symptoms and can cause sufferers to feel many different things. It is a mood disorder that “manifests itself as a state of emotional exhaustion and unhappiness that may be transient or permanent” (Polanco-Zuleta et al., 2021). Depression is an illness that is taking over people’s lives, young and old: 800,000 people a year who suffer from depression commit suicide (Polanco-Zuleta et al., 2021). Depression is medically different for each person and does not only affect those who suffer from it but their caregivers as well (Polanco-Zuleta et al., 2021). Those who have depressive disorders “generally have low levels of perception of self-efficacy which can impact their functional skills in their daily lives” (Polanco-Zuleta et al., 2021).
Studies have shown that dance movement therapy (DMT) has significantly impacted the reduction of depression symptoms. The movement to music empowers the expression of unconscious inner feelings and encourages the desire for aesthetic sensibility; such creative self-discovery arouses a person’s liveliness and makes a notable impact on depression. Body-focused therapies naturally form a connection to the awareness of bodily states (Merrit Millman L.S. et al. 2020) and trigger the development of introspection, a skill that brings sensation, action, and observation into the conscious mind (Merrit Millman L.S. et al. 2020). As individuals learn to apply newfound self-awareness to their emotions, the root of their pain becomes discoverable, and coping strategies can be brought to light, thus promoting self-efficiency and healing.
Not only does dance teach people to look inward and uncover the subconscious symptoms of depression, it also increases serotonin levels and releases endorphins. Serotonin releases mood-stabilizing chemicals and positively reinforces movement to reduce sadness, demonstrating dance’s short-term benefits. In comparison, endorphins are naturally occurring opiates often associated with euphoria, happiness, and well-being (Ogden et al., 2020, pg. 275). Both hormones serve as a natural pain reliever and a healthy escape from depression symptoms.
When studying solutions for depression in hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder, researchers discovered that pharmacological treatment and a dance program work hand in hand. When pharmacological treatment and a dance program were combined to treat patients with depression, it helped to decrease individuals’ symptoms. It also increases the perception of self-efficacy, which leads to a greater recovery rate (Polanco-Zuleta et al., 2022). Movement generates physiological and emotional well-being (Polanco-Zuleta et al., 2022) since it challenges the emotional exhaustion manifested by depression. Dance strengthens the heart, and organs achieve heightened stamina which trains the body to use energy more efficiently (Golen, T. & Ricciotti, H. 2021). The heart gets better at circulating oxygen and makes it easier for the mitochondria to produce energy, plus the body gets a “boost from an exercise-induced increase in hormones” (Golen, T. & Ricciotti, H. 2021) that makes people feel more energized and provides quick relief to depression symptoms.
Approximately 322 million people suffer from depression, and 800,000 people commit suicide a year, according to the World Health Organization (Polanco-Zuleta et al., 2022). These statistics show that depression affects not only those who suffer from the disorder but also their primary caregivers. When attending to a depressed individual, the role of a caregiver extends from bestowing basic needs to providing continuous emotional support. This is why the benefits of the dance program, in addition to pharmacological treatment, become crucial to the well-being of caregivers as well.
Since depression exists in age groups outside of young adults, Mala et al. (2012) focused their study on the specific benefits of dance movement therapy concerning a person’s stage of life. For example, the research of adolescent teens in the DMT program discovered modulation in serotonin and dopamine through the involvement of dance movement therapy (Mala et al., 2012), whereas balanced cognition and mood stability improvement was the main focus in the group of older adults. Since physical problems and isolation are the main reasons for depression development in people aged 60-74 years old, the beneficial effect of movement on balance becomes a topic of life preservation (Mala et al., 2012).
Falls are a major cause of mortality in older adults; therefore, refining balance is a significant advantage of DMT. Remarkable improvement in balance, higher behavioral morals, and higher self-esteem of older people in nursing homes have also been observed through dance movement therapy (Mala et al., 2012). These research results are inspiring since they exemplify the lengths of dance therapy in the reduction of depression from adolescent teens to people of age 74.
References and further reading:
- American Psychiatric Association: What is depression?
- Golen, T. & Ricciotti, H. (2021) Does exercise really boost energy levels?
- Heshmat, S. (2019) 7 Different ways to regulate emotion with music
- Polanco-Zuleta, K. M., et al. (2021) Effects of a dance program on psychophysiological variables in hospitalized patients with depression
- Millman, T., et al. (2021) Towards a neurocognitive approach to dance movement therapy for mental health
- Wu, C.-C., et al. (2022) Dance movement therapy for neurodegenerative diseases
