If you are currently experiencing thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help immediately. Here are some resources that can provide support:
What is Depression? Understanding the Basics.
Depression is a serious mental health condition that steals happiness, hope, and sometimes even the will to live. It twists your thoughts, making the world seem bleak and hopeless with escape impossible. Sadly, it drives over 700,000 people to suicide each year. In Scotland, the situation is particularly concerning, with Glasgow having some of the highest rates of both suicide and mental health issues in the UK.
If you've ever found yourself in that dark place, asking ‘what's the point?’ don’t worry, you are not alone. There is hope, depression is treatable, and suicide is preventable. By exploring the causes of depression and the power of our minds, I hope to bring relief and positivity when it seems like there is none.
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Sadness - a Normal Emotion, Depression - a Serious Illness
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In a state of depression, a person's mind can wage war against them, distorting thoughts, desires, and even their sense of self. This internal battle sets depression apart from normal sadness. While sadness is a natural human emotion we all experience, often triggered by specific events or losses, depression is a far more persistent and pervasive beast.
People often jokingly say to me, ‘Oh, you're a hypnotherapist, don't make me bark like a dog' or something equally as ridiculous. The belief that hypnotherapists can make you do things against your will is a common misconception. But what if the real battle is with those ingrained patterns in your own mind? Could your own mind be making you do things you don't truly want?
It is these self-sabotaging behaviours, lasting weeks, months, or even years, that make depression somewhat unique in the emotional states. Unlike sadness, which typically fades with time, depression lingers, casting a dark shadow over every aspect of life. It's not just feeling down – it's a relentless weight that crushes motivation, disrupts sleep, impairs concentration, and robs joy from even the simplest pleasures.
Depression is a vastly complex condition with biological and psychological components. The word ‘sadness,’ barely begins to scratch the surface. Depression is often accompanied by feelings of anxiety, anger, pain, and aggression, all powerful emotions designed to focus our attention and protect us from harm. They are our innate survival mechanisms. Some people also say this about depression - it disconnects us from the world and pushes us into 'deep rest', a state where we are unable or incapable to care about anything or anyone, including ourselves. But if a person reaches the point of contemplating suicide, it seems these fundamental survival instincts have tragically malfunctioned.
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The dramatic rise of people with depression in recent decades raises an important question: is this due to better diagnosis, greater awareness and knowledge, or are factors like technology, social media, and modern life stress playing a major role? While human genetics don't change rapidly, our environment and lifestyles may impact our mental health more than we realise. Interestingly, rates of depression can vary significantly in different parts of the world regardless of circumstances.
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Throughout this series, we will examine the signs, symptoms, myths, and potential solutions for depression, aiming to understand how the interplay of events, biology, and psychology allow this condition to evolve.
Ready to see how I can help? Schedule a free consultation (online or by phone) to discuss your challenges and explore solutions. No obligation.
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