It's probably not a surprise that depression is the most common disorder affecting the world today. It's easy to see how modern life creates a sense of loneliness and alienation that leaves us feeling empty and alone in a world that is full of noise, movement and people being busy.
It can be one of the worst conditions to endure because it takes away all the joy of living. We look out into the world around us with vacant stares and souls that are trapped in the depths of misery. It's true to say that depression often changes the whole landscape of our lives.
Sometimes depression occurs after a major event, such as redundancy, retirement or a bereavement, and it's understandable that when we are undergoing a drastic change it is often the case that it takes some time to adjust.
Other sufferers will say they don't know why they are depressed as they feel that they have everything they want in life and that they should feel happy.
Depression doesn't occur on its own, however. It always highlights that some other areas of life need improving, whether we feel ready to admit that, or not.
Help for Depression and Relief with Hypnosis
People who are depressed often experience very low moods and lose interest in their usual activities. Sometimes it feels as if it's hard to get out of bed, but no matter how much sleep a person gets, they still feel exhausted.
The reason a depressed person still feels tired after such sleep is because they've spent too much time in the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycle. This is a particular type of sleep where we are dreaming. During this dreaming period, we re-run the events of the day and move them from the older, emotional part of the brain into the intellectual, sensible part of the brain for processing.
Normal REM sleep helps us to feel better once this process has taken place because it discharges unexpressed or unresolved desires and urges that have been suppressed during the day. Unfortunately, when we are in a depressed state we spend far too long in this part of the sleeping cycle.
How Hypnotherapy Helps
When we use hypnotherapy to help alleviate the symptoms of depression we are able to elicit a deeply relaxing trance state which can restore and rejuvenate the mind in ways that sleep has not been able to do. The REM cycle of sleep is very energetically draining on the brain, using even more energy than the waking brain does. It is little wonder, then, that spending too long in this brainwave cycle is absolutely exhausting. We aren't getting enough deep sleep, which is the type of sleep required to restore our mental and physical health.
Another way that hypnotherapy can help is by the use of positive suggestions. These are given to the subconscious mind so that change can take place at a deep level. Consciously we might be aware that we feel very low and would wish for things to be better but the actual shift in emotion will only occur when the thoughts change. These dark thoughts stem from subconscious processes that are beyond the control of the conscious mind, which is why the trance state and hypnosis can work so well.
When a person is in a depressed state of mind, the brain tends to look at everything in a very black and white kind of way. There is also the tendency to think that nothing will ever be right again, so a state of permanent darkness casts its shadow over us. By utilizing the deeply relaxing hypnotic process, these thoughts can improve, allowing for a new sense of hope for the future. We can start to feel positive about life again. This is a crucial element of our wellbeing and particularly important if suicidal thoughts have been considered.
Anxiety, Worry and the Spiral Downward
Sometimes depression can take root when we feel insecure and start to worry too much. Often anxiety co-exists with depression which makes us feel even worse. This creates a chain of worry, overthinking and very negative thought patterns that only serve to sink us deeper and deeper into the abyss.
Humans require certain needs to be met in order to feel happy and fulfilled in life and hypnotherapists can work with their clients to identify what these needs are. By understanding the client's thought processes and recognizing what changes need to be made, the hypnotherapist can create unique and tailored suggestions to help them get the most beneficial outcomes.
Connection and Belonging
We all need to feel a sense of belonging and connection in life and sometimes this chronic sense of hopelessness and despair pervades everything because we don't engage in any activity or socializing that makes us feel appreciated, cared for, loved or wanted.
There are many reasons why we lose our connections to other people and start to feel isolated, but by talking with our hypnotherapist we can begin creating a more confident, self-assured foundation for ourselves so that we can feel comfortable in different situations. This, in turn, can lead to new friendships and alliances being made.
Building strong social networks is one of the important factors that can influence our levels of happiness and lead us from depression into feeling more secure.
We understand that depression is not forever. Just like clouds moving across the sky, the depressive moods can lift and the sun can return. Hypnotherapy can be the light in the darkness that guides you from that low place into that future where everything starts to feel good again.