| Depression is the reaction to having lost something that | | | | However, with analysis, either through a non-relaxation |
| was considered important. The roots lie in the past. For | | | | method such as imagery techniques for depression, or |
| example, you can lose someone you love deeply and | | | | through relaxation techniques for anxiety, the sufferer |
| that can produce depression. On the other hand, if you | | | | can be taught to handle the situation in a more |
| lost ten cents and that was all the money you had in | | | | beneficial way. |
| the world, that can equally produce depression. | | | | Here are two examples. |
| Anxiety, on the other hand, is a fear of the future, | | | | With depression, a knowledge of the stages a |
| whether known or unknown. For example, awakening | | | | depressive will experience as the depression takes |
| in the morning and feeling fear in the pit of your | | | | hold, helps a sufferer to understand what is happening |
| stomach and yet having no idea why. Or, it could be a | | | | to him or her. This can help to get through the time it |
| feeling of fear prior to making a speech to a small | | | | takes for the depression to 'blow itself out' as in the |
| group of family members at a dinner party. Either way, | | | | vast majority of cases, 'time heals'. |
| that is anxiety. | | | | Of course, there are other forms of depression that |
| The Symptoms: | | | | do not pass in time. A 'manic depressive' will vouch for |
| Depression manifests itself as a lack interest in life | | | | that and the only obvious recourse is to take |
| itself, pessimism and a belief that the future holds | | | | prescribed drugs and enter in to a long term of |
| nothing of value. Note, in true depression, fear of the | | | | therapy. But, if you are suffering from depression as |
| future is not present, but on some occasions a | | | | you read this, please remember that these are |
| depressed person will become anxious and become | | | | exceptional cases as the majority of depressed |
| afraid of the unknown future. | | | | people get well with the passing of time. |
| The body slows down and certain chemicals are | | | | Prescribed drugs for either depression or anxiety, must |
| released. Similar chemicals (endorphins) are released | | | | only be taken on a temporary basis as a sufferer can |
| when a patient relaxes deeply, for example whilst | | | | become dependant on them. |
| under hypnosis. As a world-wide teacher of | | | | The treatment for anxiety are twofold. If the cause is |
| Hypnotherapy, I always stress in my hypnotherapy | | | | known, for example feeling afraid of flying, then |
| training that 'depression is a contra-indication' to the use | | | | techniques can be taught that will enable you to relax |
| of hypnosis. | | | | (remember what I said about being unable to feel |
| Should you use hypnosis with a depressed patient, you | | | | anxiety when relaxed?) in the situation that causes |
| may deepen the state of depression even further | | | | you the anxiety. |
| because of the increased release of endorphins. | | | | If the cause is unknown, recourse to some form of |
| Of course, using hypnosis with a client who is suffering | | | | psychological treatment may be necessary. This would |
| from anxiety is to be applauded as an induced relaxed | | | | inevitably be in the form of analysing the problem and |
| state removes the anxiety and allows a non-critical | | | | then learning how to deal with the anxiety. |
| analysis of the reason for the illness. | | | | You Are Not Alone: |
| The Treatment: | | | | In both cases, sufferers are not alone as almost |
| People suffering from anxiety should always be taught | | | | everyone will at some time in their lives suffer with |
| a relaxation technique to allow the body to get back to | | | | either depression or anxiety, or even both. |
| normal as anxiety cannot be felt when the mind and | | | | The depth of the depression or degree of anxiety |
| body are relaxed. | | | | depends on individual circumstances and a sufferer's |
| In both cases, it is absolutely essential that the reasons | | | | personality. |
| for depression or anxiety is understood. With | | | | Unfortunately, those of us who are sensitive and |
| depression the sufferer almost always knows what | | | | caring suffer the most but there is always help on |
| causes it. With anxiety, if it is considered a problem, the | | | | hand. |
| cause is often unknown. | | | | |