A Window on Sadness and Depression
By: Elaina Curran, HPD, DSFH, CNHCreg, AfSFHreg
At some point in life we will all be affected by sadness. The spectrum can run from having a case of the blues and occasionally feeling down, to uncontrolled tears and overwhelming emotional pain. Some things are simply too difficult to deal with in the moment, such as bereavement, divorce, the onset of illness, loss of friendship or employment. Like fear, which is part of our brain’s built-in safety mechanism to help protect us from potential harm, sadness can also help protect us by taking us “off-line” in order to regroup when events overwhelm. The desire to stay in bed, hide away or withdraw from social interaction might be necessary for a time until we are strong enough to deal with circumstances….when we are ready.
We all have different sensitivity levels and abilities to cope which will depend on individual temperament, personal history and brain chemistry. While we can still function when we are sad, depression is a serious mood disorder that affects every aspect of life to the point of becoming a disability. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016 stated that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. There can be several triggers that cause depression and one of those is traumatic loss (loss of love, trust, security, purpose and so on). Sustained and severe stress can also lead to depression. It could be big things like a long drawn out court battle, a contentious divorce or months of unemployment. Even small stressors can add up over time.
Statistics state that 1 in 5 people will become depressed at some point in their life and 2% to 5% of the population are affected at any given time. 5% of children 12 and under will suffer from depression as well as 15% to 20% of teens. Only 15% of all people suffering from depression will seek treatment, which is understandable as feelings of emotional numbness, pessimism and hopelessness are characteristic of this disorder. There is also often stigma and shame attached to depression so many suffer in silence.
WHAT CAN HELP?
Talk Therapy/Hypnotherapy: Talk therapy can help break the lock on this pattern in the brain. Dr. Michael Yapko, psychologist and author, stated that “…therapies that have the highest treatment success rates in treating depression all focus on teaching people specific skills that encourage them to take timely and effective action.” Talk therapy can include psychotherapy, counselling and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) which help you to build healthier thought patterns.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help relieve sadness and depression by building a more positive frame of mind. This is achieved through a combination of talk-therapy and hypnosis which works directly with the subconscious where our thought patterns reside. Studies have shown that sleep deprived people and those suffering from insomnia were 40% more likely to develop clinical depression. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can also help with difficulty sleeping by lowering anxiety and encouraging relaxation.
Exercise: Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly (defined as at least three times per week for at least 30 minutes each time) show a level of improvement that matches that of antidepressants but with less than half the rate of relapse.
Mindful Meditation: It is difficult to think rationally and have perspective when negative emotional experience colours our thoughts. It may be a question of simply stepping back from our thoughts without attaching ourselves emotionally to them. This is what is achieved through Mindful Meditation. When you detach yourself from the words and beliefs, they lose their power.
If you feel you might be suffering from depression, or if your thoughts include self-harm, please seek the advice of a medical professional as quickly as possible. Your physician should always be your first port of call, especially as depression can also be a consequence or side effect of certain physical conditions, diseases or medications.
To those suffering from depression as well as their family and friends who are trying to provide love and support…there is help…and there is always hope.
Published in BS35Local - February 2017 issue