Depression and Anxiety: The voices haunting within!
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You may be depressed or suffering from Anxiety and if you have tried to help yourself but find that you are still struggling maybe it is time to seek professional help? Hypnotherapy helps very efficiently with depression and/or anxiety simply because along with working with and changing the mindsets and beliefs system that are so rooted in your unconscious Hypnosis also helps in relaxing and calming down the mind and the body, which is something depressed and anxious people find very, very difficult to do! Thereafter their sleep, energy level, concentration and fitness level improves and allows them to work on themselves and their symptoms better.

We all have felt depressed or anxious at some point of our lives but we have coped in some way or the other. But some of us can come to a stage of depression and anxiety where the symptoms of worrying tendencies, helplessness feelings, critical harsh inner voices, obsessive compulsive thoughts or actions, feelings of hopelessness, insomnias, pains & aches, binge eating, severe stress, social phobias or even suicidal thoughts take over our functional lives.

 What Causes Major Depression?

There is no one definite cause of major depression. It is thought to result from physical, psychological and environmental factors. The neurotransmitters known as serotonin, noradrenalin and dopamine are believed to play a role in depression. Neurotransmitters are important in regulating mood and various other important functions. When an imbalance of neurotransmitters occurs, it is believed that depression can result. Genetics are also linked to depression, so if you have a familial history of depressive illness, you may be more vulnerable to the illness. Certain traumatic life occurrences such as persistent stress, bereavement, job loss or divorce may also precede depression.

Depression can be due to chemical imbalances in the brain, can be genetic in some cases but depression can be very much psychological and caused after a series of life experiences that have left the person very tired and hopeless e.g. after several failures, death of a loved one, bereavement issues that have never been faced e.g. the death of a father that one has been abused by, loss of job/security or years after experiences of child abuse or sexual abuse.

With severe depression most of the time medications and hospitalization seems to be the best starting point as these very severely depressed people are not in a state of helping themselves. Gradually as they get more able to focus, talk and listen for a length of time they can follow counselling or psychotherapy to work on their mindset and belief systems that are creating or aggravating the symptoms of depression.

The most commonly known types of depression are

With SAD, depression feelings and sensations seem to set in or get worse during long dark winter days and nights. As the sun disappears more and more so the moodiness and darkness within some people seem to increase. Known as SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorders are treated via medications or special equipment aimed to create the chemical balance that these people suffering from SAD lose due to some chemicals that are generated by the sun and light. They need special light equipment to help with SAD.

But often people who are facing mild depressive tendencies generally e.g. helplessness feelings or insomnias due to over thinking and over worrying find that the long dark days of winter with the effects of loneliness and isolation makes their emotional and mental state worse. They find that they are in need of more and more psychological support e.g. Hypnotherapy, counselling or complementary therapy during winter months that ever before. I believe it is due to the consequences of being in the dark that breed feelings of loneliness and isolation that they are feeling generally anyway but summer allows them to distract away from these feelings by bringing smiling faces of the neighbours, long sunny walks, summer holidays etc…..

Lots of new mothers or even after one or two years of motherhood some mother will find themselves suffering from the symptoms of depression, ranging from mild to moderate and even severe depression. These mothers will keep coping with their children but they find that they have a lower frustration tolerance level with the children, they cannot stand the pressure of crying babies, and they even have feelings of hate and rage against their own children which then creates guilt and fear that they are losing their minds. They find that they are cutting themselves away from friends and family, they cannot stand crowds and prefer crying in silence rather than talk their issues because they feel no one will understand how they can be depressed after having “this beautiful bundle of joy” as babies are commonly called!

The baby blues are very common and estimates are that as many as half of all mothers experience the baby blues symptoms of crying, gloominess, and a minor low mood. Baby blues are considered normal, and likely occur from hormonal changes; they don't usually require any special treatment. If your moods are more severe and last longer than a couple of weeks, however, you should see your doctor to check for PND.

Depression in new mothers is very common and is becoming more recognised and acceptable to express which should take the pressure of new mothers to always pretend that they are always happy and joyful as they are expected to be! Depression can set in because of the chemical imbalances that women go through before motherhood, during pregnancy, and delivery process; depression often comes in after months of coping with the changes of what motherhood really means in terms of changes in the woman’s body, spirit and mind, the way she is treated differently by family and society, the way babies can get on their nerves causing long draining days and sleepless nights.

In cases where the mothers themselves have limited resources that they had not recognised maybe due to lack of boding themselves with their own mothers or fathers; maybe due to loss of childhood due to parents dying too soon or separating,maybe due to child abuse or emotional abuse that left these new mothers scarred emotionally and mentally. They coped because they are survivors and can be living a comfortable and secure life now but a new baby in their arms can trigger all of those primary and raw needs of their e.g. being held, being loved unconditionally, be accepted completely, being adore etc….can crop up and trigger feelings of grieving and crying that they do not understand and feelings that their partner or husbands find very difficult to accept as well!!!

Bipolar illness also known as manic depression disorder is a serious medical condition that is responsible for drastic changes in moods. These changes usually prevent a person from functioning in a healthy manner. Bipolar disorder is also commonly seen alongside other mental health disorders such as anxiety. The actual term 'bipolar' represents the two sides or 'poles' of a person's mood. On one side is the low mood of depression and on the other is the high mood known as 'mania.' A person will experience mood swings, which involve a flip from a low mood to a high one, and vice versa. These swings can vary from mild to severe and include characteristic cognitive patterns and behaviours.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder involve two separate phases: the manic phase and the depressive phase. During the manic phase, symptoms tend to be those of extreme excitability and elevated moods. A person will often be overly talkative, to the point that others have difficulty understanding the person. They are also very hyperactive and may even be agitated. Other signs of mania include:

Manic episodes are usually of shorter duration than depressive ones. A depressive episode will last approximately 6 months while a manic one is about half that time. During diagnosis, a person is often diagnosed with major depression but once a manic episode is experienced, the diagnosis evolves to bipolar disorder.

During the depressive phase, a person will have a low, sad mood, often with feelings of intense helplessness and misery. They may cry a great deal, and experience anxiety, guilt and withdrawal from friends and family. Other symptoms that characteristic of the depressive phase are:

Depression isn't just experienced by adults. In fact it also affects many children and adolescents each year and impacts the entire family. The symptoms of depression are often quite different from those experienced by adults and often mistaken for “acting out” behaviour or “playing up” or “just being moody” and pushed aside until it becomes very severe.

Why Do Children Get Depressed?

There is no one answer for why kids get depressed. Stressful events such as moving house, death of a pet or family member and divorce can all trigger depression in a child. Other experiences that may contribute to childhood depression are: Change to a new school, someone in the home suffering from long-term illness, Bullying at school

Recognising Depression in a Child

As with adults, a diagnosis of depression is usually dependent on depression symptoms being present for two or more weeks. Some of the symptoms a child may experience are:

Although both men and women experience depression research has suggested that they feel it in different ways and may have varied ways of coping with the symptoms.  Statistically, more women attempt suicide but more men are actually successful in suicide. It is thought that this is because men tend to use more obviously lethal suicide methods such as using guns, while women are more likely to make attempts with an overdose, for example. For this reason and the fact that the signs of depression are more likely to go unnoticed in young and older men, it is important that depression in men is specifically addressed.

How Most Men Cope With Depression?

Men tend to deal with depression differently than women. They are more likely to engage in reckless behaviour such as heavy drug and alcohol use or food binges. This behaviour is sometimes seen as 'normal' for young men and isn't taken seriously as a sign of depression. Men also tend to experience exhaustion, annoyance, lack of interest and motivation in friends and work, while women are more acknowledging of feelings such as sadness, anxiety and poor self-esteem. There is a stereotype of the depressed person crying, sad and withdrawing from friends but this is often not the case for men.

Men are much more likely to keep feelings secret and show aggression and frustration in dealing with the symptoms of depression. They may pretend that things are fine and that their feelings are just a mood that will pass soon enough. Other common symptoms of depression in men are: Anger/Aggression, food Binges, Overweight, Difficulty concentrating, Sleep disorders, Headaches ,Fatigue ,Loss of interest in sex ,Feelings of inadequacy ,Thoughts of suicide. Alcohol and drug use can be more pronounced for men who suffer from depression and it can further mask symptoms of depression although long-term, will usually exacerbate them.

In many cultures, including our own, it is often seen as unacceptable for men to show emotions such as fear and sadness. This can be a particularly difficult barrier that prevents men from speaking out about depression. In addition, there is an intense pressure for men to be successful, particularly as monetary providers in a family. Men are also less likely to see a doctor about depression and when they do, are not generally as direct about symptoms compared to women.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be prompted by many different kinds of traumatic events but it can be particularly debilitating in these days with terrorists threats, major thefts, bomb threats and murder threat being so more prevalent in our society. A number of natural events e.g. tsunami, earthquakes, floods can also cause PTSD in the survivors.

While many people will experience a traumatic event in their lives at some point in time, they tend to commonly feel symptoms that are temporary and normal following the event. They might experience a decreased appetite, anxiety, concentration challenges and sleep disorders.

These symptoms, however, are generally short-lived and they decrease as time goes on. Yet, in some people they can be persistent and may, in fact, increase over time, leading to a diagnosis of PTSD especially if it was a very traumatic event that the person has lived through and thought has processed but the emotions are still lingering. Often with PTSD the symptoms can take months or even years before they manifest themselves and take the person by surprise.

It actually was not until the Vietnam War that PTSD was initially described as a disorder and received its name. When it was found that soldiers returning from the war could not adapt to 'normal' life afterwards, investigation into the possibility of a disorder occurred.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a disorder that can trigger depression or be influenced by symptoms of depression. PMS involves a range of uncomfortable symptoms that occur during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The luteal phase is the latter half of the cycle which commences following ovulation, as oestrogen levels begin to fall. PMS symptoms can last for just a few days or the entire period of approximately two weeks after ovulation.

In its mildest form, PMS symptoms can leave you feeling Bloated or cramped, irritable, experiencing increased cravings and hunger, Struggling to concentrate, Crying, Angry, Tired from disturbed sleep patterns

Diagnosing PMS and Depression

You will likely receive a diagnosis of PMS if any of the symptoms above are consistently present each month following ovulation. Depression can be present alongside PMS or as a specific symptom of PMS. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression regularly throughout the month, your doctor will likely diagnose you with clinical depression. If your depression is only present during the luteal phase each month, you are more likely to receive a diagnosis of PMS. Symptoms of depression that occur throughout the month and are not related to the menstrual cycle are not PMS. People who are clinically depressed may still, however, experience other PMS symptoms such as bloating and irritability.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

When severe depression occurs during the luteal phase and alongside symptoms such as anxiety, overeating, exhaustion and mood disorder, PMDD may be diagnosed. PMDD is more severe than PMS and represents symptoms that are so detrimental, a woman's relationships, work and day-to-day activities are intensely affected. If you have been diagnosed with PMDD, you may find that you have difficulty concentrating and you also feel a severe loss of control over your life. At the more extreme end of PMDD, you may be experiencing suicidal thoughts.

How does Hypnotherapy help with Depression?
How does hypnotherapy help with Anxiety?

With Depression and anxiety often your hypnotherapist will ask you questions about your medications if you are taking any because even if a non-medical person, your hypnotherapist works ethically and will either ask you to talk to your GP about you seeking hypnotherapy or they will send a letter telling them about Hypnotherapy, in case your GP wants further information or wishes to discuss side-effects of the medications. With most cases of mild depression where the person is still functional though Hypnotherapy can start as soon as the client is ready to start.

Most people suffering depression and/or anxiety respond very easily and well to hypnotherapy simply because they are very eager to feel relaxed and safe and the first session of hypnosis feels very releasing and relaxing often to their mind and body.

Hypnotherapy works on a deep emotional and mental level to alter a person's thought patterns. At a very basic level, hypnosis aims to replace a detrimental and negative thought pattern with a positive one. It is often guided by the hypnotherapist who is a bit like a driving instructor helping you learn to drive your physical, emotional and mental attitude and behaviour in a healthier way. Hypnosis is a set of tools aimed to work directly with the right brain called the unconscious brain. That part of us humans is like an animal that responds more emotionally and instinctively to life experiences.

Although rationally even a depressed person knows he/she should get up, exercise or read good books or eat healthily nevertheless if the right brain, the unconscious holds negative, unhealthy triggers such as “I m not good enough!”, “I am useless”, “I do not deserve to be happy”, “who am I to believe I can be happy” etc… triggers collected from life experiences which often creates symptoms of depression and anxiety anyway, we find that we keep getting depressed, even if we do not want to.

Although it feels to the person as if they are not doing much under Hypnosis except dozing off it is relevant that hypnosis research has shown that under a trance state the human mind is very alert and absorbing of messages on a deeper, rooted level. Thus your hypnotherapist aims to use powerful suggestions to address your specific problems and goals. Hypnosis is thought to be effective for depression as well as other mental health disorders that often coexist, such as addictions and anxiety.

A hypnotherapy session is usually a very relaxing and comfortable experience for most people. You may be hesitant or fearful to try a new therapy, perhaps believing that you will lose control during the session. There is a great deal of trust involved in the hypnosis process and a hypnotherapist will maintain confidentiality. During a hypnotherapy session, a therapist will guide you into a hypnotic trance, which is essentially a place of concentration, where outside distractions tend to dissolve. It is in this state that a hypnotherapist will offer powerful suggestions to encourage your thought patterns to become more positive or rather more constructive that then propels the body and mind to adopt a more healthy approach to things and events.

So that the person may find that the tears stop sooner, or the sleep patterns have improved or the emotional craving has gone…..simply because the unconscious brain has become more safe and relaxed and now it is running like a smoother car rather than like a panic-struck animal. These positive thoughts and beliefs ideally then translate to a stronger sense of self, increased confidence and a brighter outlook on life, all of which tend to decrease during depression.

We all know that depression or even anxiety affects all parts of a person: their body, mind and feelings. Hypnotherapy can address the subconscious part of the mind and can allow you to identify those thoughts and emotions that have led to depression. Through the use of hypnosis, you can potentially obtain a stronger grasp of your thought patterns as well as your emotions. Hypnosis is considered an effective means to reduce the sadness and anxiety associated with depression by encouraging positive affirmations and emotions.

Responses to hypnosis can vary a great deal. Your own ability to receive and respond to hypnosis is the key and the technique of the hypnotherapist is secondary. Most people are receptive to hypnosis and the number of people who can't be hypnotised at all is quite small.

Please remember that Hypnosis is so natural that we all can and do hypnotize ourselves every day, sitting under the sun for example or reading an absorbing book that takes us into another world. People who are suffering from depression or anxiety are already under a trance state because they spend so much time imagining the worst events, scenarios and images in their mind. Their mind is running on like a horror movie and they will be the first one to accept that. When I say to clients that they are the best hypnotherapists in the world because they can create a world of horror within seconds they just nod emphatically.

The trick here is that we hypnotize ourselves but we do not know how we are doing or what tools help us create that state of hypnosis; a hypnotherapist knows the techniques and tools of hypnosis and can use them and adapt them to each client’s requirements and goals.

Self-hypnosis can be a complement to any hypnosis performed by a therapist and a benefit is that it can be performed in the comfort of your home. There are books and tapes available to teach you self-hypnosis techniques, or a hypnotherapist may also teach you ways to perform self-hypnosis. Self-hypnosis is a way of encouraging a similar trance-like state that you experience in a formal session facilitated by a hypnotherapist.

Every hypnotherapist at some point teaches the client self-hypnosis knowing that the more the client practice self-hypnosis the more his/her unconscious mind will benefit from that state of calmness, inner safety and resilience that self-hypnosis creates. Often your hypnotherapist will give you a CD with their voice helping you initially to lead yourself into trance and then gradually you learn to lead yourself into hypnosis by yourself, thus feeling more empowered and confident that your mind and body is within your control.

Hypnosis can also be an excellent complement to antidepressant or non-medication based therapies. Many people experience depression but your feelings and experiences should be uniquely treated. With hypnotherapy, you can address your personal negative thought patterns and learn to replace your depression and anxiety with joy and fulfilment.

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