Depression and low mood? We can help, 

We are all down in the dumps from time to time, but feeling low all the time can be a symptom of depression. More and more people today are affected by depression or general low mood, and this may be either more people are experiencing depression, or more likely more people feel able to discuss their feelings.

The current situation globally, and for that matter locally may be putting more people under  more pressure, cuts to income, standard of living and job insecurities often coupled with mounting debts can make life seem very stressful, and make people feel less secure, less happy and more down. That doesn't however automatically lead to depression and two people in exactly the same situation may experience it very differently, no two people ever see the same picture, hear the same sound etc, because no two people can experience the same thing in the same way. 

Depression is an illness, it has symptoms and can be measured and treated, that's the good news; depression can be treated. another bit of good news; depression is not inevitable, it can be moved beyond and recovered from. often the first treatment you will be offered by your GP is an antidepressant drug, and these can be very helpful, they work at a chemical level to combat some of the symptoms which are most difficult to deal with such as panic, anxiety or sleeplessness. 

The causes of depression are complex but usually there are two key factors; how we think and how this impacts on how we feel. Think of it like this, something happens, we think about it, it affects our feelings. We think based on unconscious beliefs, so if what we believe is unhelpful ( for example: I am incompetent) then how we think about an event (for example: it was my fault) will effect how we feel (it's all my fault, I will never get any better so I should just give up) and then that confirms the unconscious belief because how we feel influences our beliefs. this can become a cycle it's hard to break out of.

More good news is that we can change and challenge what we believe and what we think. Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy works to help us cognise how our existing belief patterns are playing a role in our feelings and behaviours, and suggest alternatives. We are also able to set up new ways of thinking about things that can help us challenge the way we are responding (for example: I am neither competent nor incompetent, I am learning, so perhaps it wasn't my fault and I will just keep at it) to a situation.

Research suggests cognitive behavioural approaches are most effective when used with hypnosis, because this can bypass some of the conscious resistance. A Hypnotherapist can help with the symptoms of depression, anxiety and panic, low mood and negative self beliefs.

For more information or to arrange a free consultation ring Andrea Bradley 01922 649142