What is depression?

Depression is a common psychological disorder and almost anyone can be affected at some point during their life. In its’ mildest form, depression can mean low spirits whilst not interfering with the ability to lead a normal life, it may just make everything that bit more of a struggle. At its’ most severe, it can be life-threatening. If an individual’s “low moods” interfere with their life or simply never seem to go away, or if they reoccur over and over, it could be a sign that they’re depressed.

Research suggests that between 5 and 10% of the population suffer from depression to some extent at any one time. Many individuals may not understand why they are feeling the way they are and therefore can be too embarrassed to seek help, believing the feelings will disappear sooner or later. However this usually means they suffer longer than necessary, as help is available for those suffering from depression.

Depression affects many people who can have feelings of long lasting sadness and is frequently described as walking around with a black cloud. Depression comes with a wide variety of symptoms which can include.

Symptoms of Depression

Depression affects people in different ways and can cause a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, some of which may be difficult to detect in the initial stages:

• Low self-confidence and self-esteem
• Pre-occupation with negative thoughts
• Feeling constantly pessimistic
• Feeling constantly sad, anxious or empty
• Tiredness and lack of energy
• Restlessness
• Feeling worthless, helpless or guilty
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Persistent physical symptoms, like headaches, digestive disorders or aches and pains with no clear cause.
• Variations in eating habits or appetite – gaining or losing weight
• Emotional outbursts – anger or crying
• Difficulty remembering things
• Being unusually irritable or impatient
• Getting little or no pleasure from life, hobbies or activities usually enjoyed
• Loss of libido
• Thoughts of death or suicide

What causes depression?

Frequently, there isn’t one single cause. It varies from individual to individual but depression is usually the result of a combination of factors. Our past experiences do have an effect on how we feel about ourselves in the present, and if those feelings are very negative, they can be the start of a downward spiral. In many cases, the first time someone becomes depressed, it’s triggered by a traumatic life event, such as being made redundant, breaking up with a partner, etc. People who are depressed exhibit changes to the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain. However, it is worth noting that it is not clear if this is a cause or an effect of depression. Often the causes of depression are emotional, yet different people will respond to similar situations in very different ways.

How can hypnotherapy help depression?

As hypnotherapists look at people as a whole, rather than just treating symptoms, hypnotherapy is very effective in treating depression by quickly identifying the causes and origins of the depression. Once this occurs people often describe it as “a weight being lifted” or a “light going on”. The treatment can also help you recognise any patterns of negative thinking, feelings and emotions that you may be caught up in.

Hypnotherapy and coaching can be used effectively alongside conventional medical interventions. It can be beneficial to see your hypnotherapist as a life coach because hypnotherapy allows much more time to be spent with you than at a GP appointment.

Depression can obscure rational, realistic thinking, making everything in life appear awful, all the time. Our dynamic hypnotherapy techniques can help you replace old thinking patterns with more useful ones. Hypnotherapy works with both the conscious and the unconscious mind in order to help you achieve the results you want. By helping you to understand the impact of past events in your life and to focus on the present, it is possible to create new patterns that will give you the strength and freedom in order to work towards the future you desire.