Depression
Most of us feel okay for most of the time. Yet depression is now recognised as the most common cause of disability.
The word “depression” covers a wide of range of mental states, from passing moods of negativity to clinical depression. Clinical depression is a major health disorder, with an abnormal lowering of mood characterised by a persistent loss of interest in usual activities. Doctors make a diagnosis of clinical depression when a person suffers from a group of symptoms for longer than two weeks. The symptoms include despair, bouts of uncontrollable weeping, lethargy, self-hatred, exhaustion, hypochondria, and in extreme cases, delusions and hallucinations. Depression can feel like a well with no bottom.
When you look at the word “depression”, you can see that it comes from de-press – to press down. What is being pressed down? Well, it’s probably Life's energy; Life's goal-seeking intentions. Many of us have what is quaintly called “smiling depression”, in that we function well enough, but carry a heavy soul and never feel the lightness which is also a part of the journey of Life. Depressive tendencies erode the quality of our lives and we may collude with it by feeling unworthy and not up to Life’s challenges.
Depression in mid-life is quite common; that realisation when we weigh up purpose against achievements. A mid-life depression is often a time of enlargement or transition, when those needs conflict with our stable, safe and steady lifestyle.
The key variable with depression tends to be a feeling of loss (transition). Whether the loss is to do with bereavement, status, or the end of a relationship, it will affect different people in different ways. Themes such as guilt, anger, fear, misery and despair are common factors that contribute to the feelings of helplessness.
Probably the most effective way of treatment with hypnotherapy is by way of identifying the events and resolving the originating negative emotions. No-one can move forward who cannot say, "I am not what happened to me; I am what I chose to become." The psyche uses depression to get our attention, to show us that something is profoundly wrong. It takes great courage to find the value in depression. The hurt and the suffering is a sign that something vital is still there, awaiting our invitation to come back into the world.
While hypnotherapy cannot perform miracles, it can help people to understand where their depression is coming from and the message behind it. Many people find that once these unknowns are known and accepted, they find it easier to adjust to their situation. In some cases, hypnotherapy may be used in conjunction with behavioural and cognitive therapy.
Ego-strengthening inductions can be tailored to the needs and characteristics of individual clients to make them feel good about themselves. But since this part of the technique is used to amplify positive feelings, there must be some positive feelings present in the first place for it to have any effect.
Anyone can get depression. It is not a sign of weakness, but a real illness, and sometimes people cannot – or will not – understand this. Telling someone to “pull themselves together” is not the answer.
For Hypnotherapy Birmingham for Depression, ring me on 0121 707 3588.