Depression is a serious medical illness that involves the brain. It’s more than just a feeling of being “down in the dumps” or “blue” for a few days. For people with depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life. Symptoms can include
- Sadness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
- Change in weight
- Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
- Energy loss
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Depression usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30, and can affect both genders but it’s more common in women. Women can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder.
Hypnotherapy is highly effective in treating of depression, either on its own or in conjunction with other modalities such as medication or Cogniive Behaviour Therapy, because hypnosis can help build positive expectancy regarding treatment, address numerous depressive symptoms (including insomnia and rumination), and modify patterns of self-organization (such as cognitive, response, attentional, and perceptual styles) that contribute to depressed thinking and mood.
Another effective approach to depression using hypnosis emphasizes retrieval of past positive experiences and the development of coping skills.