Depression
".....I've been feeling really good ever since. My thinking is not self-destructive, I'm not feeling self-conscious and I'm more confident. I've managed to turn my thoughts around and accept who I am and my feelings of anxiety have come right down. Margaret is a lovely lady and she turned it round for me."
Did you know that rates of depression have increased ten-fold since 1945, particularly in youngsters and teens? By 2020 depression will be the single biggest health concern behind heart disease. So, why is depression so prevalent when we have more, materially, than ever before, when we have an education system open to all, a health service and good social housing? Let's look at the causes:
There is no real evidence that depression has a physical cause so it is not a disease. The common explanation given is that there is a chemical imbalance in the brain, but that's a half-truth; the other half is that low serotonin levels indicate that your life isn't working, your needs are not being met and you feel stuck; not that you've got something wrong with your brain chemistry.
You may have experienced bereavement or another loss, been through a divorce, become overwhelmed at work and then become depressed. You may have perfectionist tendencies, work very hard to prove yourself or believe that you are not good enough.
If you're depressed at the moment you may be experiencing some or all of these symptoms:
There is no real evidence that depression has a physical cause so it is not a disease. The common explanation given is that there is a chemical imbalance in the brain, but that's a half-truth; the other half is that low serotonin levels indicate that your life isn't working, your needs are not being met and you feel stuck; not that you've got something wrong with your brain chemistry.
You may have experienced bereavement or another loss, been through a divorce, become overwhelmed at work and then become depressed. You may have perfectionist tendencies, work very hard to prove yourself or believe that you are not good enough.
If you're depressed at the moment you may be experiencing some or all of these symptoms:
- you are feeling miserable and sad
- you feel exhausted a lot of the time with no energy
- you may not be sleeping well, or too much, and feeling exhausted when you wake
- you feel as though even the smallest of tasks are impossible
- you've lost interest in the activities you used to find enjoyable
- you feel very anxious sometimes
- you find it difficult to think clearly
- there is a loss of hope
- you feel irritable or angry more than usual
- you feel you have no confidence
- you spend a lot of time thinking about what has gone wrong, what will go wrong or what is wrong about yourself as a person
How Can Hypnotherapy Help?
Because it is powered by strong emotion, depression tends to induce "all or nothing" thinking. Endless negative focus means that you sleep more and think more so I will explain, during a session, the cycle of depression and the relationship between depressive thinking styles, emotional arousal and exhaustion.
This may sound as though lots of sessions are required but that's not the case and just one session can make a big difference. You will leave the first session feeling more relaxed, both physically and mentally, and you will start to 'do things', which is the key to breaking the cycle of depression.
NOTE: Depression can be a result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which can be lifted in one session. Please click on the 'Trauma and PTSD' tab under Therapies to find out more.
- I will also examine and change thinking styles
- cut down the amount of negative rumination
- look at behaviour and teach skills to have your basic emotional needs met in the wider world
- reduce levels of anxiety
- teach you how to relax deeply
- aim to increase your confidence
- help you to find solutions to your immediate problems.
This may sound as though lots of sessions are required but that's not the case and just one session can make a big difference. You will leave the first session feeling more relaxed, both physically and mentally, and you will start to 'do things', which is the key to breaking the cycle of depression.
NOTE: Depression can be a result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which can be lifted in one session. Please click on the 'Trauma and PTSD' tab under Therapies to find out more.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Kitty Terwolbeck, @lattefarsan
