A New Cure for Depression?”
A recent study interviewing patients who had received neuromodulators, "wrinkle-relaxing injections", such as botulinum toxin, Dysport, and Xeomin to smooth out facial lines from hyperdynamic facial muscles of expression showed a decrease in the number of people reporting they were depressed after having the treatment compared with the number of people reporting feeling depressed before Botox treatments. The findings suggest that how you look may actually affect how you feel. Erasing frown lines and softening forehead wrinkles can make you look less angry, anxious, and worried, as well as less tired and younger.
Anecdotally, from what I have observed in my practice, Botox may also improve interpersonal relationships and have a more positive impact in the way people interact with you. Subconsciously, if you appear mean or unfriendly, people will interact with you differently. I have a patient who initially was receiving Botox injections to diminish frown lines so he could compete with the younger people at his computer technology job. After several months, he revealed that his job evaluations had improved. He felt that he had not changed his work habits or productivity in any way yet he was now receiving feedback as being someone who had "high standards and worked hard to achieve what he thinks needs to be done " versus his former evaluation, which characterized him as "having difficulty getting along with others, and being inflexible, and opinionated." Needless to say, he has continued to have his Botox done on a regular basis.