Heal the hurt with one of these alternative techniques (13 Photos)
Stacey Colino on Mar 9, 2012 at 3:13PM
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Pain can trigger depression -- and vice-versa. So it's not surprising that some medications can alleviate pain and depression, sometimes simultaneously. Even better news: Certain mind-body practices like yoga, tai chi and music can do the same. “Depression and pain happen to share a part of the brain that’s involved in both conditions, which means that mind-body techniques that affect those areas can be efficacious for both,” explains Rex Schmidt, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist at the Nebraska Medical Center Pain Management Program in Omaha. If you have chronic pain or persistent symptoms of depression, however, see a health care professional first. You may even find that one of these 11 mind-body techniques works with other treatment strategies to help heal the hurt -- and lift your mood.
