ABSTRACT
Many people who are anxious or depressed feel out of contact with their bodies. When they are feeling depressed, their heads drop and their chest area becomes more concave. They shrink a little and tighten up. These types of physical reaction can actually enhance their depressive symptoms. Trying to cure depression just by changing their thought patterns makes things very difficult, even almost impossible, as their physical energy levels are still quite depressed, or even blocked by their muscular tensions. This is where some knowledge of body-orientated psychotherapy or "somatic psychology" can be very useful. Their patterns of breathing are very important in helping to restore their sense of vitality. Increased breathing in the upper chest area is very important, if not absolutely necessary. An increased healthy use of the body, breathing exercises, and, most importantly, increased somatic awareness, will all become very important factors on the way back to emotional and physical health.
