Depression

Definition

Mental state characterized by feelings of sadness, loneliness, despair, low self-esteem, and self-reproach; accompanying signs include psychomotor retardation or at times agitation, withdrawal from interpersonal contact, and vegetative symptoms such as insomnia and loss of appetite.

Description:

In ancient times, when we couldn't leave the cave to hunt for food, we needed a coping mechanism for the long winters. Depression was our way of coping, our way of hibernation so to speak. We would turn inward and shut down to cope mentally and conserve energy.

In this day and age, depression clearly has no requirement. If we cannot change or adapt our circumstances, then we may very well develop anger problems, depression or anxiety related disorders. A person suffering from depression clearly will be missing out on all that life has to offer. They can experience feelings of helplessness, and result in reckless behaviour or indulgence in drug abuse. An individual can lose interest in anything and everything, resulting in a complete lack of activity simply because they see no point in their efforts and actions. Thoughts may turn to suicide.

One of the most common mental health problems is depression. One in six people in Britain will suffer from depression at some point in their life and is most prevalent in people aged between 25-44.

To be diagnosed with clinical depression, you must be suffering from five or more of the following symptoms present during the same two week period. Please note it is up to your doctor to conclude depression as a diagnosis. At least one symptom is 1 or 5.

DSM IV (Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

1. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day. For children it can appear as an irritable mood.
2. Diminished interest or pleasure in nearly all, if not all, activities, nearly every day.
3. Significant weight loss/gain a change of more than 5% in body weight over a month, without dieting.
4. Insomnia / hypersomnia nearly every day.
5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day. Feelings of high anxiety or not being bothered to do anything during the course of the day (not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)
6. Fatigue/loss of energy nearly every day.
7. Feelings of worthlessness / excessive feelings of guilt nearly every day. Guilt may be delusional).
8. Diminished ability to think / concentrate/decide nearly every day.
9. Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying). Recurrent thoughts of suicide without any plan, or a suicide attempt or plan of suicide.

Therapy:

It is important to realise a person's goals. Goals once achieved, that will bring about a solution to the depression. During the course of therapy, symptoms will be specifically targeted such as insomnia, feelings of helplessness, appettite disturbance, agitation, fatigue etc, all of which are treatable using hypnotherapy. It is also important to break any limiting self beliefs, thought patterns that continually help to compound erroneous beliefs in your abilities and experience of life.

By stacking these building blocks together, you can begin to emerge from those physical and psychological barriers and break through to a new experience and understanding of life's values. Employing imagery through the use of hypnosis you can also begin to paint a brighter positive future. A future you can begin to enjoy.

Please note it is up to your doctor to diagnose Depression.

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