What’s Your Mug Telling You? Hack Your Face for Happiness

I keep seeing headlines about a study supporting Botox injections as a treatment for anxiety and depression, so of course I’ve started nerding out thinking about the mechanisms that might make something like this work.

First, I looked for the actual study (not just an article about the study) and found that there are actually quite a few, so I think the one that is making news right now is actually a meta-analysis - a study that looks at other studies. 

The first thing I noticed was that the location of the Botox injection is the glabella lines - also known as the 11 lines - the parallel, vertical lines that form between your eyebrows when you frown. This same area contains the acupuncture point Yintang, which is known to have a mentally stabilizing effect. So this is one possible mechanism (unknown to the researchers of course) that may be at play.

However, the effect was not reported immediately, or even at 2 weeks - instead the improved mood was noted at 6 weeks. While it may be a result of the continual stimulation of the acupuncture point, there is probably something more going on. 

The leading theory on why this treatment is effective relies on something called the facial feedback loop - in which the physical expression of emotions, like smiling or frowning - provides feedback to the brain that reinforces, or even sparks, an emotional experience. Since Botox tightening reduces the physical expressions of worry and anxiety, it tricks the brain into feeling less worried or depressed.   

After my own personal experience this week, I have to say I agree with this theory. No, I didn’t get Botox. Actually, it was kind of the opposite. I was lucky enough to get gum surgery last Monday, and ended up with some swollen chipmunk cheeks/jowls. (Thank goodness we wear masks at work!)

As the days passed, I started to feel a little blue, and then I looked at my face. The corners of my mouth looked (and felt even more so) turned down, like a classic sad emoji. The physical drooping of my face was tricking my brain into thinking I was sad! So I got to thinking that maybe there are non-toxin-injecting ways we can hack this same facial feedback mechanism to our benefit. 

Here’s what I came up with:

One way is through meditation. There is a practice in the meditation world, sometimes called the Inner Smile, which uses this very same mechanism. Here’s a great article about all the benefits, as well as a recorded guided meditation you can try out yourself. 

The other way is with facial rejuvenation acupuncture. We can treat those same areas (bye-bye 11s!)  AND add in body acupuncture points to address mood disorders. Win-win!

What has your experience been? Can you think of a time that this has come into play in your life? Do you have other ideas of ways to hack this mechanism?

I’d love to hear!

Chipmunkly yours,

Karen