Really I should write hypnotherapy as an effective complementary treatment for depression.
It’s way too much to claim that hypnotherapy for depression is a stand alone cure.
A better way to describe what hypnotherapy for depression can do is how it can help with certain aspects of depression in the process of turning yourself around.
Typically depressive traits that hypnotherapy for depression can help with are:
- feelings of hopelessness
- excessive guilt
- irritability
- sleep disturbances
- difficulty concentrating
- a persistent low mood
- feelings of worthlessness
- low self-esteem
- Increased frustration
- anger
- impatience - even over small matters.
- remembering details
- making decisions
- insomnia - waking too early, or sleeping too much
- increased/decreased appetite
- unexplained pain
- restlessness
- worry.
We can pick these off one-by-one and start to rebuild you with a greater resilience.
What Is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is simply a state of relaxation where I can ‘talk’ to your subconscious and change the message so you tell yourself kinder things about yourself - and you can believe them.
It’s not mind control.
It only works with your permission.
Understanding depression beyond the symptoms
Depression is a complex, pervasive health condition extending far beyond temporary sadness, affecting your thinking, physical health, and behaviour.
It often appears as deep emotional numbness, persistent irritability, disjointed thinking, and physical pain, rather than just feeling "down".
It is not a sign of weakness but a treatable, often chronic illness requiring professional support.
Like I said above. Where I can help is by picking off individual symptoms and showing you that change is possible.
Common myths about hypnotherapy
Common myths about hypnotherapy, often fuelled by popular culture, wrongly suggest it involves mind control, sleep, or weak-mindedness. In reality, hypnosis is a natural, voluntary state of focused attention and deep relaxation where you remain in control, conscious. You cannot be forced to act against your will.
Here are the most common myths about hypnotherapy debunked.
Myth 1: I control your mind.
Rubbish. You cannot be forced to do anything against your will, morals, or survival instinct. I’m simply a guide, not a master.
Myth 2: You are unconscious or asleep.
Rubbish. Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and heightened focus, not sleep. You are fully awake, conscious, and aware of your surroundings, and you can open your eyes or stop the session at any time.
Myth 3: Only weak-minded or gullible people are hypnotised.
Rubbish. Hypnosis needs a willingness to cooperate, often making it more effective for intelligent, imaginative individuals. Really it shows you’re open minded
Myth 4: You might get stuck in a trance.
Rubbish. This is biologically impossible. No one has ever been "stuck" in hypnosis. You can "wake up" immediately if you choose to, and if left alone, you will either wake up or drift into a natural sleep.
Myth 5: You will reveal your darkest secrets.
Rubbish. It’s not like a drug. You are in control of your mind and what you say. You won’t blurt out secrets, lie, or act in ways you don't want to.
How hypnotherapy works for depression
Depression is a big and wide-ranging force. As I’ve out lined above I can work at helping you to ‘pick off’ particular symptoms one at a time so you can start to get bit of your old self back.
Accessing the subconscious mind
Hypnotherapy is a form of relaxation where I ‘talk’ to your subconscious mind and breaking your negative thought patterns.
These thoughts may keep coming and popping in your head but you develop the skills to send them on their way. Not to be bothered by them.
Sometimes this is called reframing your core beliefs and emotional triggers. Letting these things simply pass you by reduces the emotional weight you place on yourself and the mental fatigue you suffer.
What hypnosis feels like (and what it doesn’t)
Hypnosis is a natural, safe state of intense focus and deep relaxation where your mind is highly suggestible yet you are fully in control.
It’s often described as feeling like a calm, meditative, or drowsy state, often similar to the moments before falling asleep.
Other people describe the process as a feeling of calmness, sometimes accompanied by a heavy or, conversely, a weightless sensation in the body.
You also have what’s described as ‘focused awareness’. You are aware of your surroundings, but feel less bothered by external sounds, as if they are "turned down”. And in this moment there’s often a time distortion where minutes can feel like hours, or hours like minutes.
Mostly there’s a "normal" feeling. You feel no different than usual, just very calm, even though they are in a state of hypnosis.
On the other hand hypnosis doesn’t feel like sleep. You are conscious and aware of what is happening: it is not unconsciousness.
And to be clear, unlike in films, it is NOT mind control. You can’t be forced to do something against your will. You are still in charge.
You’ll also remember you hypnotherapy session. I can’y wipe your memory like The Men In Black films, the neuralyzer scenes. Most people remember their session. There’s no blacking out, you do not lose consciousness or "go under" like anaesthesia.
Although it’s not always ‘relaxing’, hypnosis is about focus.
Hypnosis versus hypnotherapy - just to be clear.
When I say, ‘hypnosis’ I’m referring to a state of relaxation. On the other hand ‘hypnotherapy’ means using hypnosis as a therapy: to solve a particular problems you have with your thoughts.
Potential benefits of hypnotherapy for depression
As I’ve talked about above what I’m looking at working on with you is individual aspects of our depression. Loosening it’s hold over you.
For example, promoting relaxation and reducing stress to calm the nervous system, lower stress hormones, and help dial down the symptoms of anxiety that often occur in conjunction with depression.
Another area where hypnotherapy for depression can help is by improving sleep quality. The deep relaxation techniques I teach in hypnotherapy can help when you’re struggling with insomnia or disturbed sleep patterns, leading to more restorative rest.
And through positive affirmations and ego-strengthening suggestions we can boost self-esteem and confidence. Self-worth and confidence are often diminished by depression.
What we’re looking at is using hypnotherapy to help you
- regain motivation
- breaking mental clutter
- negative self-talk
- regulate emotions
- build resilience.
Is this the first step towards healing?
Depression is big, deep and wide. It’s way too bigger claim to say hypnotherapy is the complete answer. But working with depression sufferers I’ve found it’s an opportunity to start to build ‘little wins’ here and there that build your marginal gains and gain a level of control.
James Thomas. Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist.
If you’d like to know more please email me at jamesthomas@thegentlemind.co.uk or call 07787563099.
