Dealing with Depression
The causes of depression are varied and are no respecter of social class, wealth, sex or age - it can affect almost anybody and sometimes strikes without warning.
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Causes of Depression
Although depression does not always respond well to self-help, most depressions can indeed be greatly improved via one of the many therapies that are available to deal with the situation. Why 'most' depressions? Well, mainly because depression is considered to be a serious illness that needs handling with great care, sometimes needing medication as well as therapy, sometimes responding well to medication without other help. Clinical depression, which includes Bi-polar disorder (originally Manic Depression) and endogenous depression, is thought to be caused by brain chemistry. Both of these disorders need medication, as does the depression sometimes brought about by brain damage or brain surgery. With endogenous depression the individual is a constantly low mood, continually depressed; there is seldom, if ever, any change of emotional state and nothing seems to create a 'lift'.
Although depression does not always respond well to self-help, most depressions can indeed be greatly improved via one of the many therapies that are available to deal with the situation. Why 'most' depressions? Well, mainly because depression is considered to be a serious illness that needs handling with great care, sometimes needing medication as well as therapy, sometimes responding well to medication without other help. Clinical depression, which includes Bi-polar disorder (originally Manic Depression) and endogenous depression, is thought to be caused by brain chemistry. Both of these disorders need medication, as does the depression sometimes brought about by brain damage or brain surgery. With endogenous depression the individual is a constantly low mood, continually depressed; there is seldom, if ever, any change of emotional state and nothing seems to create a 'lift'.
Bi-polar disorder, on the other hand, is characterised by swings from lethargic depression to a euphoric state (mania). In the depressive stage, the individual is lethargically depressed and there is little or no urge to do even the basic essentials of caring for self; in the manic phase, the exact opposite applies and there is an excess of energy (sometimes accompanied by prodigious and selfishly-orientated sex-drive) and a euphoric feeling of being able to achieve almost anything. Not unusually, the sufferer, in this phase, will make elaborate and/or outrageous plans for success. The type of depression that almost always responds well to therapy, and often to self-help, is all forms of reactive depression. These are usually brought about by the tribulations of life, rather than by any clinical imbalance in the brain.
Depression Programme
Programme specifically designed for people suffering with depression.
The sessions start with a consultation to determine how specifically depression is affecting you, then we will provide you with techniques and tools to help you become happier in your life.
This is so important as we give you the tools to work on yourself which helps you understand how your mind thinks about things you hadn’t normally considered.
You will start seeing changes immediately and we will refine the therapy as needed. By the end of the programme you should become happier in your life.
We will finish each session with powrfull hypnosis where you feel very relaxed and we will affirm your goals and techniques with the spoken word.
The programme is delivered usually in 4 sessions.
You will aslo receive FREE personalsed hypnosis audios and free Skype or telephone support after the programme so you will have our support if needed. There were only very few people who needed our after support but it is there for you if you need it.
The sessions start with a consultation to determine how specifically depression is affecting you, then we will provide you with techniques and tools to help you become happier in your life.
This is so important as we give you the tools to work on yourself which helps you understand how your mind thinks about things you hadn’t normally considered.
You will start seeing changes immediately and we will refine the therapy as needed. By the end of the programme you should become happier in your life.
We will finish each session with powrfull hypnosis where you feel very relaxed and we will affirm your goals and techniques with the spoken word.
The programme is delivered usually in 4 sessions.
You will aslo receive FREE personalsed hypnosis audios and free Skype or telephone support after the programme so you will have our support if needed. There were only very few people who needed our after support but it is there for you if you need it.
Here are some of the causes of depression of this type:
In general, face-to-face work is better here, though some improvement can often be made via telephone or even online work.
Symptoms of depression
Depression symptoms can be enormously varied. Here are just a few - not an exhaustive list by any means:
For some people, the problem is at least partly dietary and many therapists are conversant with this aspect of the illness.
Two effective and easy self-help methods
Physical exercise
Although this can be difficult to start for the individual who is suffering depression, it is only difficult! It is certainly not impossible, even though you might think: "I just can't..." Once you have started, it gets easier with every session.
The reason that physical exercise can be an effective aid with the condition is that it encourages the release of Endorphins - the human body's natural 'feel good' chemical, that can work like an anti-depressant medication - into the bloodstream. The effects are often immediate and last longer as time passes, perhaps due to a 'reconditioning' effect upon the psyche.
If you are not used to physical exercise, be sure to consult your doctor before you start and also be sure to start slowly; brisk walking for 15 minutes is a good way to start and you can increase this as quickly as you feel comfortable to do so. You need to work hard enough to raise your body temperature and increase your heart/breathing rate but not to the point where speech becomes difficult. If you feel excessively tired or uncomfortable, STOP IMMEDIATELY.
S-M-I-L-E!
To many, the notion that smiling to yourself can help to make positive and lasting changes to depression seems ridiculous - yet it is well established that even a false smile, as long as it reaches the edges of the eyes, changes the body's chemistry. Although the mechanism is not clearly understood, it appears to again encourage the release of endorphins into the blood stream. So if you smile broadly at yourself every time you walk past a mirror or other reflective surface, there is a high chance that you will soon start to feel better.
It is well know that laughter eases depression - for a while there were 'laughter clinics' in London where people suffering from depression were encouraged by various means to laugh long and loudly.
If you're still not convinced, try this: Throw your arms into the air, force an expression of excitement/joy or happiness on to your face (ACT it!) and while keeping that position try to say: "I feel really depressed today" but saying it as if you mean it and actually sounding depressed. This proves to be impossible for most and usually, those who think they have managed it have not realised that they have lost the 'happy shape' that they took at the beginning.
This is, or should be, sound evidence that the body affects the mind; stand up, smile, walk briskly - and it is almost inevitable that you will feel better.
Many people are actually unwilling to attempt these self-help methods; investigation often reveals that they actually do not want the depression to lift. If this is you, search inside your mind to find out why (sometimes it's because attention is being sought, for instance) then address the problem directly. Without doubt, that can be one of the best forms of self help
If you are suffering from any form of depression, the earlier you seek help the more effective any therapy is likely to be and the sooner it will start to work.
- Redundancy
- Grief
- Relationship issues
- Money worries
- Career anxieties
- Stress
- Moving house
- Post-natal (some)
- PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
In general, face-to-face work is better here, though some improvement can often be made via telephone or even online work.
Symptoms of depression
Depression symptoms can be enormously varied. Here are just a few - not an exhaustive list by any means:
- Sleeping difficulties (waking early or laying awake)
- Tired all the time
- Tearfulness for little or no reasons
- Eating when not hungry
- Not able to eat
- Loss of appetite
- Obsessive thinking patterns
- Loss of interest in personal care/hygiene
- Poor memory/concentration
- Loss of interest in sexual activity
For some people, the problem is at least partly dietary and many therapists are conversant with this aspect of the illness.
Two effective and easy self-help methods
Physical exercise
Although this can be difficult to start for the individual who is suffering depression, it is only difficult! It is certainly not impossible, even though you might think: "I just can't..." Once you have started, it gets easier with every session.
The reason that physical exercise can be an effective aid with the condition is that it encourages the release of Endorphins - the human body's natural 'feel good' chemical, that can work like an anti-depressant medication - into the bloodstream. The effects are often immediate and last longer as time passes, perhaps due to a 'reconditioning' effect upon the psyche.
If you are not used to physical exercise, be sure to consult your doctor before you start and also be sure to start slowly; brisk walking for 15 minutes is a good way to start and you can increase this as quickly as you feel comfortable to do so. You need to work hard enough to raise your body temperature and increase your heart/breathing rate but not to the point where speech becomes difficult. If you feel excessively tired or uncomfortable, STOP IMMEDIATELY.
S-M-I-L-E!
To many, the notion that smiling to yourself can help to make positive and lasting changes to depression seems ridiculous - yet it is well established that even a false smile, as long as it reaches the edges of the eyes, changes the body's chemistry. Although the mechanism is not clearly understood, it appears to again encourage the release of endorphins into the blood stream. So if you smile broadly at yourself every time you walk past a mirror or other reflective surface, there is a high chance that you will soon start to feel better.
It is well know that laughter eases depression - for a while there were 'laughter clinics' in London where people suffering from depression were encouraged by various means to laugh long and loudly.
If you're still not convinced, try this: Throw your arms into the air, force an expression of excitement/joy or happiness on to your face (ACT it!) and while keeping that position try to say: "I feel really depressed today" but saying it as if you mean it and actually sounding depressed. This proves to be impossible for most and usually, those who think they have managed it have not realised that they have lost the 'happy shape' that they took at the beginning.
This is, or should be, sound evidence that the body affects the mind; stand up, smile, walk briskly - and it is almost inevitable that you will feel better.
Many people are actually unwilling to attempt these self-help methods; investigation often reveals that they actually do not want the depression to lift. If this is you, search inside your mind to find out why (sometimes it's because attention is being sought, for instance) then address the problem directly. Without doubt, that can be one of the best forms of self help
If you are suffering from any form of depression, the earlier you seek help the more effective any therapy is likely to be and the sooner it will start to work.
