Depression

In any six month period, 9.4 million Americans suffer from this disease (depression). One in four women and one in 10 men can expect to develop it during their lifetime.

Nearly everyone suffering from depression has pervasive feelings of sadness. In addition, depressed people may feel helpless, hopeless, and irritable. You should seek professional help if you or someone you know has had four or more of the following symptoms continually for more than two weeks:

• Noticeable change of appetite, with either significant weight loss not attributable to dieting or weight gain.
• Noticeable change in sleeping patterns, such as fitful sleep, inability to sleep, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much.
• Loss of interest and pleasure in activities formerly enjoyed.
• Loss of energy, fatigue.
• Feelings of worthlessness.
• Persistent feelings of hopelessness.
• Feelings of inappropriate guilt.
• Inability to concentrate or think, indecisiveness.
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide, wishing to die, or attempting suicide.
• Melancholia (defined as overwhelming feelings of sadness and grief), accompanied by waking at least two hours earlier than normal in the morning, feeling more depressed in the morning, and moving significantly more slowly.
• Disturbed thinking, a symptom developed by some severely depressed persons. For example, severely depressed people sometimes have beliefs not based in reality about physical disease, sinfulness, or poverty.
• Physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches.

Let's Talk Facts About Depression © Copyright 1988, 1989 American Psychiatric Association

As you read the above symptoms for depression, notice that the symptoms are overwhelmingly emotional. Hypnosis is very effective for depression because it deals with the underlying causes that bring on these emotions and works to put your emotions back into balance. Most people can completely reverse the symptoms in only three to five sessions. Hypnosis puts you back in control of your life.