Does getting out of bed every morning feel like climbing a mountain? Do you cancel plans because you “don’t feel like meeting people”? Is the feeling of tiredness and emptiness overwhelming you? You are not alone.
Depression is a complex and overwhelming condition affecting millions globally. You may feel like you are trying to walk through a maze blindfolded once you start searching for the best cure for your depression. That’s because custom methods, i.e. meds and talk therapies have more side effects than relief. As the quest for better mental health solutions continues, many are turning to alternative therapies, with hypnotherapy emerging as a compelling option.
Why, though?
Today, we’ll explore the science behind hypnotherapy for depression, how it works as a treatment, and whether it can offer new hope for those seeking to break free from the grip of depression.
Depression is more than just feeling sad or having a bad day. It’s a mental health condition that can affect every aspect of a person’s life, from relationships and work to physical health.
Common symptoms of depression include persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, changes in appetite or weight, sleep disturbances, and feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
Depression can destroy your sanity if you don’t get immediate help to manage it. You might have strong suicidal thoughts and you may attempt it too. Hypnotherapy can help you understand the seriousness of your situation.
Understanding the causes of depression is necessary for determining the most effective treatments. Here are some major contributors:
You will fall into depression after a trauma happens in your life. If you lose a friend or close family member, undergo abuse, or face hurtful situations… you can become a victim to this disorder.
Stress, particularly chronic stress, also plays a significant role. However, you may not know it. Your body tells you that you are stressed through: Upset stomach, poor sleep, and bad circadian rhythm altogether. In turn, these issues can push you into more depression.
Certain medical conditions can contribute to the onset of depression. Chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, can cause individuals to feel overwhelmed, hopeless, or trapped. Also, hormonal issues, i.e. thyroid problems can trigger depression too.
You may develop depression because of too much societal pressure. Your environment, relationships, social support, and life circumstances affect you deeply.
Feelings of loneliness, money problems, or no family or friends to meet and distract you… can make you overthink and feel hopeless. It leads you straight towards depression.
Now that you know exactly why you developed this disorder, let’s move towards facts and figures.
1 in 7 people develops depression here in Australia. The following stats highlight the urgent need for effective treatment options, including alternative therapies like hypnotherapy.
Source: NIMH.
8.7% of adult women experienced depression, while adolescent females had a depression rate of 20%.
13.1% of young adults and 13.3% of adolescents displayed depressive symptoms each year.
Older people don’t get depressed easily compared to youngsters: Studies found that depression is higher in ages 26-49 (7.7%), and 4.7% in people >50.
Up to two-thirds of adult population with depression reported severe mental and physical impairment (2017).
These statistics tell you how common depression has become. These figures also highlight the necessity of treatment methods that give quick results with long-lasting effects.
Hypnotherapy seems like a promising option, and practitioners and researchers are studying it more.
Yes, hypnotherapy works great for depression. Several studies tell you that. For example, a 2016 meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis found that hypnotherapy was effective in reducing symptoms of depression, particularly when combined with other therapeutic approaches.
Depressive patients felt much better and developed positive thoughts after they took hypnotherapy sessions… Says a study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.
Neuroscientific research provides fascinating insights into how hypnotherapy affects the brain. Researchers have recorded brain activity through MRI before and after hypnotherapy. They say that hypnosis changed the brain activity in the areas that control emotions and self-awareness.
For example, a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that hypnosis increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, a region involved in controlling emotional responses, which explains how hypnotherapy can help manage depressive symptoms.
Brain imaging studies have also shown that hypnotherapy can lead to changes in the brain’s default mode network (DMN), a network of brain regions that is active when the mind is at rest and not focused on the outside world. Dysregulation of the DMN has been linked to rumination, a common symptom of depression. Hypnotherapy helps reduce rumination and build a more positive and present-focused mindset by modulating DMN activity.
Related Read: Understanding the Power of Hypnotherapy for Trauma Treatment
Hypnotherapy offers a unique way to treat the underlying reasons behind depression by tapping into the subconscious mind. You can uncover and address the deep-seated emotions, suppressed emotions, habits, and thought patterns that fuel these mental health struggles through working with the subconscious mind.
Hypnotherapy dives deep into the root causes of depression unlike traditional therapies that primarily focus on conscious thought processes. It shows you a path to healing that is both life-changing and bold.
Depression happens due to issues that you never got to resolve. You can focus on such events buried deep in your subconscious through hypnotherapy.
It allows you to find and understand the actual cause of your depression, whether due to past traumas, unresolved conflicts, or even influences from previous lives. By bringing these issues to light, Finally, you can start to heal from the beginning once you discover those factors or triggers.
Depression is frequently linked to suppressed emotions such as anger, shame, or resentment. These emotions keep broiling in your subconscious and develop depressive symptoms if you leave them unchecked.
Hypnotherapy provides a safe surrounding where you can face your negative emotions by jumping into your past… or gathering enough courage to confront people. Your negative emotions can transform, allowing you to release your emotional burdens and experience a profound sense of relief.
You might safe-keep your childhood traumas… and they might show up as depression. If that is the case, then you can meet your younger self during your hypnosis sessions. You can make it comfortable and more satisfied too. You can heal your old scars and unlearn negative reactions this way.
Depression forces you to see yourself and the rest of the world in a bad light. It is dangerous because you feel more lonely and more hopeless. That hollow feeling can destroy you if you don’t get instant help.
This method helps you realize and dispel these distorted perceptions and limiting beliefs. You develop positive and pragmatic perspectives by learning to reprogramme your subconscious mind.
This therapy works on the idea that your subconscious can better your physical and mental health. Hypnotherapists believe that you can call on your hidden strengths, i.e. resilience, confidence, and courage. You can become stronger because of your inner self.
You can become a depression patient if you don’t have at least one goal in life. Do you want to get a higher degree? Do you want a promotion? Do you want to buy a house? You must have a purpose to stay alive. Hypnotherapy helps you find that purpose.
You feel lighter as soon as you forgive yourself and others for their wrongs. You might find it difficult, though, because letting go is not easy.
Hypnotherapy allows you to make good choices and leave your grudges and self-blame behind. You can free themselves from the emotional chains that bind you to your depression by choosing forgiveness.
You will find that custom treatments, i.e. antidepressants and talk therapies are still the go-to treatment choices for depression. However, you might think they are not enough… or not good enough.
This is where hypnotherapy comes in. It is a unique therapy method that you can choose along with standard treatments or as a stand alone. Why should you choose it? Because it:
Banishes Negative Thoughts: Depression is often fueled by a cycle of negative thoughts that can feel impossible to break. Hypnotherapy helps you challenge and change these harmful thought patterns by accessing the subconscious mind, where these thoughts are deeply rooted.
Improves Emotional Regulation: Emotional Dysregulation is common in depression. You might feel overwhelmed by everything, sadness may engulf you, or you might become very angry or very sad.
Hypnotherapy increases your capability to regulate your emotions more expertly by teaching you how to stay calm and collected. You can better face the ups and downs of life by learning to regulate your emotional responses. This reduces the intensity and frequency of depression.
Builds Your Self-Esteem: Low self-esteem pushes you into depression… depression pushes you towards low self-esteem. It is a vicious cycle! On the other hand, hypnotherapy allows you to see yourself in a positive light. Also, it hikes your confidence by helping you reconnect with your strong side. That’s why it may be good for you.
You can get to know your inner self better in a safe and supportive environment during sessions. This allows you to build a healthier and friendlier relationship with yourself.
Brings Better Sleep: Depression comes with sleeping disorders. You may lay awake for hours and wake up drowsy, or you might stay asleep for more hours than you should. Unluckily, poor sleep patterns increase your depressive episodes.
Hypnotherapy lets you sleep soundly through the night and wake up on time. How? It helps you relax enough so you can recognize your hidden anxiety… or negative emotions that don’t let you sleep peacefully. As a result, your general well being improves with your sleep.
Helps Manage Physical Symptoms: Depression often manifests in physical symptoms like fatigue, chronic pain, and tension. Hypnotherapy relaxes you and relieves your stress to reduce these symptoms. It takes a holistic approach to healing because it accounts for both the mental and physical sides of depression.
No Meds and No Injections: Hypnotherapy is a natural and non-invasive treatment method… unlike medicines with potential side effects. You stay more active in your own wellness journey without medicines. As a result, it is best if you want to try alternative therapies or feel that conventional methods don’t work on you.
Long-Lasting Effects: You must go for hypnotherapy because it has long-standing benefits. Your wins during hypnotherapy sessions will stay with you for long… even after you leave your hypnotherapist’s office, you will have positive thoughts and regulated emotions.
Depression wrecks havoc in your life. However, recent alternative treatment modalities, i.e. hypnotherapy can help you manage it quickly. Even if it might not suit everyone, hypnotherapists can still use it as a useful leg-up along with traditional treatments and address the subconscious roots of depression.
In short, hypnotherapy gives you the exact cure you need in your life if you want to find new ways to manage your depression. Book a FREE consultation with our Clinical Hypnotherapist to learn more.
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Our Hypnotherapists are dedicated to help people to harness the power of the mind and
feelings, so that we can reach our true potential and be the best version of ourselves.
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Registered Address: Suite 1, 2 Benson Street, Benson House, Toowong, Brisbane, QLD, 4066 Australia
Our Clinical Hypnotherapists will guide you into a state of trance similar to daydreaming. By working with your subconscious mind, we will find out the underlying causes of your emotional suffering, and establish desired outcomes for you. To achieve this, we will use various techniques like Inner Child Therapy, Regression, Parts Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Rewind Technique, and more.
