We all feel a bit low or down every now and again. Depression, however, is when you feel persistently sad or lethargic for weeks or months and you find it impossible to ‘snap out of it’. You might feel overwhelmed and this could bring with it a sense of hopelessness. You might lose interest in life and the things you used to enjoy. It’s worth pointing out that if you have teenagers or children, their symptoms of depression will probably lean more towards irritation and frustration.
If you’ve seen your GP and are reluctant to try medication or the options offered have not worked, then hypnotherapy might be for you. There are now several research studies that show hypnotherapy is an effective intervention for treating depression.
Most hypnotherapy sessions are split into two distinct parts, ‘the talky bit’ and hypnosis. The talking bit, which could be either counselling or psychotherapy, will help you to understand why you feel as you do and to understand what can be done about it. The length of your hypnotherapy session could vary from 30 – 90 minutes. An initial consultation will generally be held prior to your hypnotherapy sessions starting. This is to agree the aims and goals of your treatment, to discuss your symptoms and to give you a guide as to the number of sessions required. This will vary from client to client and depend on how severe the depression is. As a rough guide for long term results, depressive symptoms can usually be relieved in 8-10 hypnotherapy sessions.
Depression is not just a low mood that you can ‘pull yourself out of’. It is a serious mental health disorder that affects the way you think, feel and act. You might feel like you are in a low mood or simply feel nothing at all, but one thing for sure is that it will affect your everyday life. After a while, you could find yourself withdrawing from life, letting go of hobbies and friendships. Unfortunately, the more you withdraw, the more you feel isolated and lonely. A lack of confidence and low self-esteem can mean that you struggle to go back to doing what you were doing before.
There are many things that can trigger a depressive episode, including money worries, work stress, relationship stress, illness, divorce, bereavement or even the birth of a baby. You might be experiencing work stress and then money worries kick in leading to a downward spiral in your emotions. Sleep often seems like an escape in these situations, yet the more you sleep the worse you feel.
The reality is that it is often your perception of what’s going on, rather than the actual events in your life, that causes this downward spiral. The more negatively you feel about one area of your life, the more your brain attaches this negativity to other areas too. This creates a vicious circle that makes you feel even more depressed.
Hypnotherapy can help you to reverse this vicious circle by helping you to feel more refreshed after sleep. The increased energy will help you to address the things that need changing in your life and get you back on track.
Unfortunately, depression can develop over time, making it hard to spot. Contrary to popular belief you don’t have to have a low mood to be classified as depressed. If you feel numb and have lost interest in the things you used to be interested in, you might also have depression.
As well as these, you may experience other symptoms including: significant weight gain or loss; lethargy; fatigue; feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt; an inability to concentrate or make decisions; or recurrent thoughts of death.
If you have been experiencing some of these for a prolonged period, then it might be time to visit your GP. If you already have a diagnosis of depression and nothing is working, then hypnotherapy could be the answer.
If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, it could be a sign that you’re struggling with your mental health. It’s important to recognise when things don’t feel right and to understand that you’re not alone. These feelings are valid, and reaching out for support can make a difference. Common symptoms include:
Depression can arise from a variety of causes, often due to a combination of factors, and it can affect anyone at any stage of life. Understanding the potential triggers can help in managing the condition and seeking the right support. Some common causes of depression include:
Each person’s experience with depression is unique, and understanding these causes is a step towards finding appropriate care and support.
If you’re experiencing depression, it’s important to know that there are various treatment options available to help you manage and overcome it. Seeking professional advice is crucial, as your doctor can assess your symptoms and recommend the most appropriate course of treatment based on the severity of your condition. Common treatments include:
The right treatment plan can make a significant difference, and organisations like the Hub of Hope offer local resources to guide you through your journey.
It can be very difficult seeing someone you love suffer with the symptoms of depression. There may be an obvious cause for their depression such as a redundancy, serious illness or a bereavement. However, there is often no obvious cause. This isn’t a sign of weakness on their part, nor is it something they can snap out of quickly, so you will need to be patient.
People with depression can come across as selfish but it’s important to remember that they are just struggling to cope with their own emotions. They don’t have the emotional energy to manage anyone else’s emotions right now. Remember too that it isn’t personal – they are likely struggling to connect emotionally with anyone, particularly the people they love the most.
It’s important to take their depression seriously. This can be tough, particularly when you feel that your own needs are being ignored. Talk to them to find out how you can help and encourage them to do what they can. It’s important that you’re there for them and can show them how important they are to you. Encourage them to seek the help they need, even if that means you do the research and take them for help.
Remember that their progress will probably be measured in very small steps. Although what they achieve might seem like little to you, it could feel like moving mountains for them. So celebrate every win, no matter how small, and be prepared to remind them of those wins. Learn all you can about depression and remember to look after yourself: you will not be able to support someone else if you are not in a good place yourself.
It can be tempting to hide your loved one’s depression or even apologise on their behalf for the things they do or say. However, making excuses can only make it harder for them to seek help and might isolate them further. Remember that you cannot fix someone with depression, nor are you responsible for it. You can encourage them to get the professional help they need but, ultimately, their recovery must come from themselves.
Hypnotherapy is a very relaxing therapy and, once you relax, your body no longer feels in danger. This causes a drop in your level of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. This can help you to have a better night’s sleep where you wake up feeling refreshed, with more energy. Using positive language during hypnosis can help you to feel more motivated, confident and improve your self-esteem. All of these are important if you want to break free of the vicious cycle created by depression.
When you are in a trance state, you will be in a state of focused attention. Different brain waves become more prevalent and you will be able to see things from a different perspective, altering your perception of your life. The change in brain waves will also make it easier for you to take on new ideas and new ways of thinking. Most hypnotherapists use an element of talking therapy these days and this supports the trance session by helping you to evaluate your current behaviour and the way you think.
It is always important to contact your GP about your depressive symptoms before seeing a hypnotherapist. They will be able to offer you a variety of options to help you to get your symptoms under control.
Hypnotherapy works in two ways. Most hypnotherapy approaches use a blend of talking therapy plus trance. The talking element of the session will help you to look at your depression from a different perspective. You might explore your current behaviours or thought patterns that are getting in the way. The talking element might be some form of Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or a Solution Focused (SF) approach. The aim is to help give you a better understanding of how to get better. This will then be followed by a trance session where the therapist will use hypnosis to relax you into a trance state. While in the trance state, which is a natural state of focused attention, you will be able to let go of any tension and relax fully. This allows your brain to move from flight and flight mode into a state of deep relaxation where you can change your perception of your life. When you are in a trance state the predominant brain waves change from Beta to Alpha and Theta, these allow you to change the way you think and to problem solve more effectively.
Hypnotherapy has been shown to be a very effective treatment for depression to help you to get your life back. It was also found that hypnosis was more effective when combined with a psychological element rather than just hypnosis alone. However, it is not possible to guarantee a cure with any condition.
Even before lockdown many hypnotherapists were running online hypnotherapy sessions for depression. The good news is that there is now evidence to support the effectiveness of online hypnotherapy sessions for a range of conditions. All you would need to take part in an online hypnotherapy session would be a laptop, tablet or smartphone, access to the internet and somewhere quiet where you can relax.
You can expect to see some slight improvement in your sleep after the first hypnotherapy session, particularly if listening to an MP3 download every night. However, everyone is different and much will depend on the severity of your symptoms and your commitment to the hypnotherapy process. However, you’ll probably need a few sessions before your friends and family start to notice any changes. After around 8 sessions, you should see a consistent change in symptoms, feeling calmer and more relaxed. You will probably notice a significant increase in motivation and willingness to interact with others.
As hypnotherapy is considered to be a complementary therapy in the UK, we are not allowed to publish success rates for depression. Your commitment to the hypnotherapy process is also very important. If you engage with your hypnotherapist and follow their advice, such as listening to an MP3 download every night, then your treatment will be more effective than if you don’t. A number of research studies have shown hypnotherapy to be effective for reducing depressive symptoms.
The cost of hypnotherapy for depression can vary from one therapist to another. This will depend on your location and the qualifications and experience your hypnotherapist has. To give you a rough guide prices can vary from £40- £150 per hour.
The cost of hypnotherapy for depression can vary from one therapist to another. This will depend on your location and the qualifications and experience your hypnotherapist has. To give you a rough guide prices can vary from £40- £150 per hour.
Self-hypnosis can help with depression as all hypnosis is technically self-hypnosis. This is because it is your brain doing the work, with the hypnotherapist as the facilitator. However, it can be difficult to achieve on your own and therefore finding a qualified hypnotherapist to help you initially is the best solution. Once you have experienced going into a trance state a few times with their help you will find it much easier to go into that same state on your own. The counselling or psychotherapy element of the hypnotherapy session would be missing from any self-help approach and research has suggested that hypnosis is more effective alongside it.
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to support hypnotherapy for children in alleviating depressive symptoms. It is well known that children often find it much easier to go into a trance state than their adult counterparts. This is thought to be because children are more open about trying new things than many adults. However, there is a need for more research into the treatment of depression in children using hypnotherapy.
Self-hypnosis can help with depression as all hypnosis is technically self-hypnosis. This is because it is your brain doing the work, with the hypnotherapist as the facilitator. However, it can be difficult to achieve on your own and therefore finding a qualified hypnotherapist to help you initially is the best solution. Once you have experienced going into a trance state a few times with their help you will find it much easier to go into that same state on your own. The counselling or psychotherapy element of the hypnotherapy session would be missing from any self-help approach and research has suggested that hypnosis is more effective alongside it.
Start out with the basics, Search for “hypnotherapy for depression” in Google or Bing. The results will contain a map with local hypnotherapy businesses. Start looking through their reviews either in the search engine or on their social (Facebook) pages.
The best hypnotherapists will be registered with a professional association and with organisations that are accredited by the professional standards authority. There are only two in the UK and they are the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) and the National Hypnotherapy Society.
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