Depression: Symptoms, Causes & Help

Depression is a common and serious mental illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.

Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:

  • Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
  • Losing interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed
  • Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
  • Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
  • Loss of energy or increased fatigue
  • Feeling worthless or guilty
  • Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions
  • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor or mental health professional to get a diagnosis and treatment.

Causes

The exact causes of depression are not fully understood, but there are a number of factors that may contribute, including:

  • Genetics: Depression tends to run in families, suggesting that there may be a genetic component.
  • Brain chemistry: People with depression may have imbalances in certain brain chemicals, such as serotonin and norepinephrine.
  • Life experiences: Traumatic or stressful life experiences can increase the risk of developing depression.
  • Medical conditions: Some medical conditions, such as thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies, can cause depression-like symptoms.
  • Medications: Some medications, such as steroids and beta-blockers, can cause depression as a side effect.

Treatment

There are a number of effective treatments for depression, including:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This type of therapy helps people to change the way they think about and react to their depression.
  • Interpersonal therapy (IPT): This type of therapy helps people to improve their relationships and social skills.
  • Medication: There are a number of medications that can be effective in treating depression, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants.
  • Psychotherapy: This type of therapy involves talking to a therapist about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
  • Support groups: Support groups can provide you with a safe place to talk to others who understand what you are going through.

Hypnotherapy for Depression

Hypnotherapy is a type of therapy that uses relaxation and suggestion to help people change their thoughts, behaviours, and emotions. It can be an effective treatment for depression, especially when used in combination with other treatments.

Hypnotherapy can help with depression in a number of ways. It can help people to:

  • Relax and reduce their anxiety levels.
  • Change their negative thoughts and beliefs about depression.
  • Learn coping skills to manage their depression.
  • Access their subconscious mind to address the root cause of their depression.

Hypnotherapy is not a quick fix for depression, but it can be a helpful treatment option for people who are struggling with this condition. If you are considering hypnotherapy for depression, it is important to find a qualified hypnotherapist who has experience working with depression disorders.

How to Cope

There are a number of things you can do to cope, including:

  • Take care of yourself: This includes eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly.
  • Set realistic goals: Don’t try to do too much too soon. Break down your goals into smaller, more manageable steps.
  • Spend time with loved ones: Social support can be very helpful in coping with depression.
  • Avoid alcohol and drugs: Alcohol and drugs can worsen depression symptoms.
  • Learn relaxation techniques: Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation, can help to reduce stress and anxiety.
  • Seek professional help: If you are struggling to cope with depression, it is important to seek professional help.

Conclusion

Depression is a serious mental illness, but it is treatable. If you are struggling with depression, please reach out for help. There are many resources available to you, including myself, Neil Cox. I’m based in Cornwall but also deliver therapy worldwide using Google Meet. Book your appointment using the link below…

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Breaking Free from Addiction

Are you or a loved one struggling with addiction? It can be a difficult and overwhelming challenge to face, but it’s important to remember that there is hope. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is a powerful tool that can help in breaking free from addiction and pave the way for a brighter, healthier future.

Understanding Addiction

Addiction is a complex issue that can be caused by a variety of factors. It’s not just a matter of willpower or a lack of self-control. There are many potential underlying causes of addiction, including:

  • Trauma or past experiences
  • Genetics
  • Environmental factors
  • Mental health conditions

Addiction can take many forms, from substance abuse to compulsive behaviours like gambling or shopping. Regardless of the specific manifestation of addiction, the root cause is often a need to escape from difficult emotions or experiences.

How Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Can Help

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is a form of therapy that focuses on solutions rather than problems. Rather than dwelling on the past or analysing the root causes of addiction, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy looks to the future and helps individuals develop a clear vision of what they want to achieve.

Through hypnosis, individuals can tap into the power of their subconscious minds to overcome negative thought patterns and behaviours. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help individuals:

  • Build self-esteem and confidence
  • Develop healthy coping mechanisms
  • Overcome negative thought patterns and behaviours
  • Build motivation and drive to achieve their goals

The Process of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is a collaborative process that involves both the therapist and the individual seeking treatment. The process typically involves the following steps:

  1. Setting Goals: The therapist works with the individual to identify specific, achievable goals for treatment.
  2. Hypnosis: The therapist guides the individual into a relaxed, trance-like state where they are more receptive to positive suggestions.
  3. Positive Reinforcement: During the hypnosis session, the therapist provides positive reinforcement and suggestions to help the individual achieve their goals.
  4. Building New Behaviours: Through repeated hypnosis sessions, the individual can begin to build new, positive behaviours and thought patterns that support their goals.

The Benefits of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy for Addiction

There are many potential benefits of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy for addiction, including:

  • Improved self-esteem and confidence
  • Greater ability to cope with stress and difficult emotions
  • Reduction in negative thought patterns and behaviours
  • Increased motivation to achieve goals
  • Improved relationships with loved ones

Getting Started with Solution Focused Hypnotherapy

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy may be an effective form of treatment. To get started, it’s important to find a qualified and experienced hypnotherapist who specialises in addiction treatment.

During your first session, the therapist will work with you to identify specific goals and create a personalised treatment plan. From there, you can begin working towards a brighter, addiction-free future.

In Conclusion

Addiction can be a difficult challenge to overcome, but with the right tools and support, it’s possible to break free and build a brighter future. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is one powerful tool that can help individuals overcome addiction and achieve their goals. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, consider exploring Solution Focused Hypnotherapy as a potential form of treatment. Alternatively for further alternative help please refer to the NHS advice on drug addiction.

Addressing Sexual problems

Sex. It happens around 100 million times each day, most of us have it, most of us want it, most of us enjoy it – yet still nobody wants to talk about it. But have you used hypnotherapy for addressing sexual problems?

Sex, the last taboo?

Most people say that sexual problems have affected their relationship in some way. After all, sex serves several other functions aside from reproduction, including bonding and stress release. With increasing demands being placed upon people’s time and energy it isn’t uncommon for one partner to be raring to go whilst the other would prefer to hit the snooze button. And if the problem isn’t how often, the next most common issue is how well it’s done.

Whatever the sexual problems might be though, the first port of call should always be a visit to the doctor so that physical causes can be eliminated. Once it is clear that the problem is not physical, this is where hypnotherapy may be able to help. 

So what can hypnotherapy actually do? 

Whilst many individuals will naturally assume that a physical matter lies at the root of their problem, in actual fact many sexual dysfunctions are psychological. With factors such as stress, anxiety, depression and past sexual abuse all coming into play. 

Typical sexual problems include:

  • Difficulty responding sexually
  • Erectile dysfunction (ED)
  • Anorgasmia
  • Low sexual desire (libido)
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Vaginismus

Loss of libido

A reduced sex drive is a common problem that affects both men and women at some point in their lives. There’s no ‘normal’ level of libido, but if you find a lack of desire distressing or it’s affecting your relationships, then it’s probably a very good idea to get help. Stress, anxiety and even exhaustion can have a significant impact on your sex drive.

As much as you focus on the problem, it can so easily be simply a case of helping you with tiredness, or reducing stress and anxiety. Self-limiting beliefs often crop up – For instance “I don’t give pleasure to my partner” – thoughts such as these can lead to feelings of anxiety and unreasonable performance expectations and can subsequently cause sexual issues to develop. 

As you can imagine, depression impacts on all areas of your life. But this includes your sex life too. Where prescribed medication is involved, it’s important to speak to your GP to see if the tablets you’re taking may be causing some unwanted side effects with your sex drive.

Intimacy

As an example, I help people change perceptions about sexual intercourse or intimacy so that it can be seen as a positive experience and the treatment will also negate the effects of over-anxiety. This can lead to stress, which can make a significant impact on the quality of life and wellbeing. Anxiety and stress can manifest itself differently for everyone but there are often physical and psychological side effects which can be alleviated through hypnotherapy.

Many of these sexual issues can result from earlier emotional experiences. They can often become repressed and buried into the subconscious part of the mind. As you can imagine, we can also build a negative image about them and turn them into a bigger problem than they need be. So, the key principles of hypnotherapy involve inducing a relaxed state of mind in the client. This state of mind then allows for positive messages to be delivered to the subconscious during this state in a bid to replace any negative or self-limiting thought patterns. 

As a qualified hypnotherapist here in Cornwall, I could be the first stepping stone towards driving out any sexual issues from underneath the covers. You can also be assured that the issue will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and with due regard to your wishes. Chatting through it during an initial consultation will take into consideration all of the above, and will start to put that wonderful process of putting your mind at ease once again.

Book your appointment

Valentine Competition (CLOSED)

Coupled with the facts that hypnotherapy isn’t currently available on the NHS and Valentines Day is coming up, I’d like to offer some sessions for someone who is looking for love. Yes, it’s time for a competition!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fHWVobcg-k

Maybe you consider yourself to be unlucky in love, or disastrous at dating. Could it be that romantic music or candle light turns you into an awkward teenager again?

The prize

I will work with you over a number of sessions to help you relax and allow yourself to be yourself, naturally and easily. When you’re calmer and more confident you can be the one who people enjoy being around. And when two people are relaxed, they can really tell if they’re right for one another.  

All I ask is the person is reliable, committed and treats the therapy as if they were paying the usual cost. I will choose the person I feel would benefit the most (and fit within my availability). Remember this is likely to be worth over £300 in value but could be the ticket to your future significant other. (results not guaranteed)

Entries

All entries to be emailed to me

neil@coxhypnotherapy.com

Explain why you feel you could benefit the most from winning this prize of a free course of hypnotherapy.

Include your name, age, preferred contact method ie SMS, Email, Phone.

The nitty gritty

Over 18s only and entries to be emailed to me no later than midnight 14th February 2019.

One entry per person, entries received after the closing of the competition will be invalid and will not be entered into the competition.

I will attempt to notify the winner within 21 days after the closing date. He/she will be contacted on the phone number, by SMS text, or email address provided when entering the competition. If I am unable to notify the winner, or if the winner fails to respond within a reasonable time period, this may result in forfeiture of the prize and I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. All entrants will be treated in confidence, however future publicity will be discussed if appropriate. I am based in Bude, North Cornwall so all entrants must be able to make their own travel arrangements.

I look forward to hearing from you, no need to be shy or embarrassed. GOOD LUCK! Valentine Competition (NOW CLOSED)

How to Overcome Curious Habits

Introduction

As humans, we all have habits, some of which are positive and some that are not so good for us. A habit is a repetitive behaviour that we engage in without even thinking about it. These habits can have a significant impact on our lives, and some can be challenging to break. For example, habits like procrastination, overeating, or biting nails can be a source of stress, anxiety, and shame.

woman eating food habits

In this article, we will explore how solution-focused hypnotherapy can help us overcome curious habits. Solution-focused hypnotherapy is a non-invasive and drug-free approach to behavior change that can help identify the underlying causes of a habit and create new neural pathways in the brain to replace old ones associated with the habit.

Understanding Habits

To change a habit, it is important to understand why it’s there in the first place. Habits are formed through repetition, and they can be influenced by our environment, emotions, and thoughts. For example, if you tend to overeat when you feel stressed, then stress could be the trigger for your overeating habit.

Solution-focused hypnotherapy can help you identify the triggers and underlying causes of your habits. A therapist can guide you through a series of questions to help you understand why you engage in the behaviour and how it makes you feel. This understanding can help create a plan to change the habit.

Changing Habits

Once you understand the underlying causes of your habit, it’s time to change the behaviour. This can be challenging, as habits are deeply ingrained in our brains and can be difficult to break. However, solution-focused hypnotherapy can help create new neural pathways in the brain to replace the old ones associated with the habit.

During a hypnotherapy session, a therapist will guide you into a state of relaxation and suggest positive affirmations related to the new behaviour you want to adopt. These affirmations can help reinforce the new behaviour and create new neural pathways in the brain.

The Benefits of Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy for Habits

Solution-focused hypnotherapy can be a powerful tool in breaking curious habits. It is a non-invasive and drug-free approach to behavior change that can help you understand why you engage in the behaviour and create new neural pathways in the brain.

Solution-focused hypnotherapy can also help reduce stress and anxiety associated with habit change. When we try to change a habit, it can be a stressful and anxiety-provoking experience. However, hypnotherapy can help reduce these negative emotions and create a more positive and relaxed state of mind.

Conclusion

In conclusion, curious habits can be challenging to break, but with the help of solution-focused hypnotherapy, it is possible to understand and change them. By identifying the underlying causes and creating new neural pathways in the brain, it’s possible to create lasting change.

If you are struggling with a habit that you want to break, consider seeking the help of a qualified solution-focused hypnotherapist. They can guide you through the process of understanding your habit, creating a plan for change, and reinforcing positive affirmations. With their help, you can overcome your curious habits and live a more fulfilling life.

Wipe away worrying Effectively

Worrying is a common human experience that can be difficult to manage. It can be triggered by many different things, from everyday stressors to more significant life events. Whatever the cause, worrying can be exhausting and overwhelming, affecting our ability to concentrate, sleep, and even our physical health.

Solution focused hypnotherapy is one approach that can help people overcome their worries. It focuses on the present and future rather than the past, helping clients identify their strengths and resources to achieve their goals. During a hypnotherapy session, the therapist will guide the client into a state of deep relaxation and suggest positive, empowering thoughts and images. This can help the client break free from negative thought patterns and see their problems in a new, more positive light.

One way solution focused hypnotherapy can help stop worrying is by teaching clients how to shift their focus away from negative thoughts and towards more positive ones. By encouraging clients to identify and focus on their strengths, solution focused hypnotherapy can help them build confidence and resilience. This can help them feel better equipped to handle the challenges they face and reduce the frequency and intensity of worrying.

In addition, solution focused hypnotherapy can also help clients develop practical strategies for dealing with worrying. By encouraging clients to set achievable goals and identify small, manageable steps towards achieving them, solution focused hypnotherapy can help them feel more in control of their lives. This can be particularly helpful for people who feel overwhelmed by their worries and don’t know where to start.

Ultimately, the goal of solution focused hypnotherapy is to help clients tap into their own inner resources and develop the confidence and resilience they need to overcome their worries. By learning how to focus on the positive, set achievable goals, and develop practical strategies for managing their worries, clients can learn how to live more fulfilling and satisfying lives.

4 wonderful ways to wipe away worrying

So how do you get yourself out of the being caught up in chronic worrying and use your imagination more productively? Here are four powerful tips.

1) Get distance on the worry

I’ll often talk about how we are capable of imagining absolutely anything, but whether we buy in to what we imagine is another matter altogether. Stephen King uses his imagination (as do many writers) to create terrifying scenarios, but he produces all these scary ideas without being scared witless by them himself. He can clearly separate himself from what he is imagining.

Simple as it sounds, this is often a completely new idea for many worriers. As I’m typing this, I can quite vividly imagine the ceiling caving in on top of me while not believing for one second that it’s going to happen (fingers crossed).

So rather than trying to get yourself not to think about it – possibly the most useless advice ever – just relax deeply while imagining what normally scares you.

In effect, you are asking yourself to worry without feeling worried. I have found this to be surprisingly easy and effective.

And when you can hypnotically see your worries in the distance -over there- while feeling ever so relaxed over here. I might even prescribe set doses of worrying while relaxed for the chronic worrier to take between sessions.

Emotion is the neon sign yelling  “Pay attention to this!” and when you diminish the emotion, the old worrying thoughts become much less compulsive.

2) Organise the worrying

There’s nothing like a timetable for bringing things under control.

Worry tends to be intrusive, to gate crash your head when you’re trying to enjoy yourself or concentrate on something. Prescribing worry time is a neat way of prescribing the symptom and organising this destructive use of the imagination as a prelude to getting rid of it once and for all.

(Of course, being able to worry sometimes is useful for all of us, so perhaps we won’t get rid of it completely – just keep it in its place.)

When you select a specific time of day to sit down and do nothing but worry for a specific period, you give yourself permission to defer worrying.

When they a troublesome thought occurs, say to yourself: “Okay,  there’s a worrying thought.  I’ll worry about that in my worry time, not now.”

Setting up a fixed period, no longer than 20 minutes for worrying soon shows you that worrying doesn’t have the hold over you that you thought. When you must do it for 20 minutes, it gets harder and harder to do – thus transforming itself from something that you can’t help doing to something that is a real nuisance to keep up.

3) Write down solution steps

Worrying that doesn’t lead anywhere is like a dog chasing its tail!

It’s been shown that writing about emotional issues lowers stress hormone levels, perhaps because writing requires us to use other (less emotional) parts of the brain. But to be really effective writing needs to be more than just venting.

So get yourself to begin using this practical writing technique:

List write down, exactly and clearly, just what you are fearful of, making as full a list as possible

Split mark each item on the list in such a way as to show if it is soluble, or insoluble. For example, worries about situations that cannot be immediately changed, or concerns over the unchangeable past.

Steps copy all the soluble items into a single column on one side of a page and note down beside each item in the next column some practical steps that can be taken towards fixing that problem.

Resolve copy all the insoluble items into a single column on one side of another page. Beside each item describe how you would need to feel differently about these issues in order to resolve these worries psychologically. For example, I need to accept that the plane takes off and makes a lot of noise as the engines gather speed and this will always be so.

4) Chuck your worries away effectively

Writing down bad memories, enclosing the paper in an envelope, sealing the envelope and then burning it has been found to influence the memory. In the sense that recollection of the emotional details of an event becomes weaker after this metaphorical act.

I once had a client who told me she was worried about certain things she felt she couldn’t talk to me about. I asked her whether she could write them down so we could dispose of them properly. She did so. I then asked her to take the sealed envelope and put it into her log burner and burn it.

We then talked about those things she did feel able to discuss with me. In a later session, she confided that since doing that ritual she somehow felt much less concerned about those secret worries.

Ultimately, worry should be a tool or a signal that lets us know when something might need addressing. We don’t what to lose this tool completely, but no tool should ever be allowed to enslave its owner.