Helping you overcome your depression
Depression is one of the most common mental health issues that people deal with but the important thing is that with treatment and support, most individuals with depression can fully recover.
What is depression?
Depression can mean different things for different people so therefore it is difficult to define. The widely used description comes from the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) which is the authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders.
A medical professional will make a diagnosis for depression if the following three criteria are present:
- An individual is experiencing five or more symptoms
- These symptoms are during the same two week period
- The symptoms lead to a change from previous functioning
What are the symptoms?
The DSM-V has set out eight symptoms, five of which must be present to make a diagnosis for depression:
- Depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure
- Visible lack of interest in all or almost all activities most of the day, nearly every day
- Reduction of physical movement
- Fatigue
- Feeling of worthlessness
- Loss of concentration and indecisiveness
- Recurrent thoughts of death and suicide ideation
Depression can affect all aspects of life, such as daily activities, work and relationships. It can lead to negative views about oneself, others and the world.
Whilst medication does help with depression, there is overwhelming evidence that depression is far more a social problem than a medical disease. The social media has practically taken over the lives of millions of people, and whilst it can have some benefits, it does have its pitfalls. I discuss social media and the importance of being yourself online in my earlier blog here. There are arguments that medication as a standalone treatment for depression does not go far enough. Talking therapy and hypnotherapy have proven very useful in helping treatment depression.
How can hypnotherapy help treat depression?
During hypnosis, an individual is able to see new ways of understanding and responding. By engaging in focusing, you can uncover valuable qualities bringing them into your awareness and amplify your strengths.
This kind of technique is particularly relevant for depressed clients as it maintains focus and the added use of visualisation can help you re-define yourself as capable in a more efficient and easier way. It also allows you to internalise your focus looking at how you really are and what you want to achieve.
Metaphors are used a lot in hypnosis because they help in visualisation. The great thing about metaphors is that they can be tailored to you and your experiences. Milton H. Erickson was a popular hypnotherapist and he used metaphors all the time during his therapy sessions.
The seed of positive change planted in metaphors can help individuals anticipate a future and follow through on the set goals towards the preferred outcome. The mechanisms of metaphors particularly in depression can help enhance independence and offer you the opportunity to take control over life events.
You can find further information about Inner Resolve hypnotherapy here
The great thing about hypnotherapy is that you can also combine it with psychotherapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural therapy and Solution Focused therapy for instance. Because I have had training in psychotherapeutic techniques, at Inner Resolve you can have the best of both worlds. Click here to find out more about Inner Resolve hypno-psychotherapy.