A quarter of the US population will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year, with mixed anxiety and depression the most common mental disorder. Depression affects 16 million adults in the U.S. alone and an estimated 350 million people around the world. People who suffer from depression experience daily bouts of hopelessness, fatigue, a racing mind, aches and pains. In other words, it’s much deeper than just sadness – it can hijack the mind and body.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Depression?

The following are some of the typical signs of depression that may take over slowly like a fog rolling in on what was previously a sunny day and now is becoming darker with each minute.

If someone has been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, they may be suffering from depression:
• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism
• Irritability
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
• Decreased energy or fatigue
• Moving or talking more slowly
• Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight changes
• Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with
treatment

Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some
people experience only a few symptoms while others may experience
many. Several persistent symptoms in addition to low mood are required for a diagnosis. The severity and frequency of symptoms and how long they last will vary depending on the individual and his or her particular illness. Symptoms may also vary depending on the stage of the illness.

Often these symptoms will be treated with drugs prescribed by a doctor. Anti-depressants, sleep medication, and perhaps a diet or stop smoking program will be prescribed. These treatment methods, of course, are aimed at symptom relief but don’t get down to treating the underlying cause.

Can Hypnosis Offer Relief from Depression?

Now, you might be wondering: Can something as simple as hypnosis really offer relief for depression?

Knowing that hypnosis works with the subconscious mind can help us understand why hypnosis is effective for depression by addressing the underlying causes.

With hypnosis for depression, we can reprogram the subconscious to better manage and release many of the underlying causes of depression, like weight gain, drug addiction, stress and worry, or negative self-talk.

Hypnosis for depression can help you to release many of the negative thinking patterns, bad habits, or suppressed traumatic memories that negatively limit the mind. At the same time, hypnosis can improve our coping abilities, help us get in touch with past positive memories, and enhance the effectiveness for traditional depression treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy.

How Does Hypnosis for Depression Work?

Hypnosis is a highly relaxed, state of mind which is like entering meditation with a goal to not just relax the mind and body – but also to reshape unconscious thoughts and promote positive thinking.

For depression specifically, hypnotherapy allows us to retrain the subconscious change those automatic thinking patterns that keep habits, negative thoughts and irrational responses (all factors that can contribute to depression) in place.

Clinical hypnotherapy is now regularly considered an option for alleviating the symptoms of depression. Book a call with the hypnotist to find out if hypnotherapy for depression is right for you.