Depressive Talk

When clients with stress and depression come to see me for NLP therapy at my NLP, hypnotherapy and CBT therapy practice in Aldbury Hertfordshire, the first and most important step in therapy is for the client to learn to ‘be at cause’ rather then be at ‘effect’.

Being at cause basically means taking responsibility for how you feel, what you do and the results you get. If you opt to live your life at effect (which is how clients tend to be existing when they first come to see me) how you feel will be at the whim of other people and events outside of your control. Cause is greater then effect, understanding and putting this into action makes for an incredibly empowered life.

So, how does this relate to overcoming depression?
As an NLP therapist, in Aldbury, Hertfordshire, one of the questions I would put to a depressed client is – How are you depressing yourself? The aim of this question is to begin to guide the client to identify the depressed way in which they communicate to themselves (this also places the client at cause).

This is because, depressed people communicate to themselves in ways that are different to happy people. Depressed people tend to use negative self-talk, remember negative aspects of experiences and experience automatic negative thoughts that they say to themselves in specific situations. These thinking habits sustain depression. If you are depressed, you will find your self-evaluations will be critical, feeding low self-esteem. For example, when a mistake occurs, the depressed person may think “I knew it, I’m useless and cant do anything right.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Neuro-Linguistic-Programming (NLP) are cognitive therapies available in Aldbury, Hertfordshire. They are very effective at helping you to identify and overcome negative thinking habits. Cognitive techniques are based on the philosophy that the content of our thoughts have a major influence on our emotions and behaviour. Through cognitive and NLP therapy, it is possible to learn ways to eradicate or manage the types of thoughts you have, which means that the state of mind they sustain, can be resolved. CBT and NLP are solution-focused techniques that focus on the ‘here and now’. Unlike, other talking therapies, the focus is not on the cause of your distress in the past, rather you will learn to improve your state of mind right now. This is achieved by learning to communicate to yourself in new positive and adaptive ways.

Manic Depression – The Facts Everyone Needs to Know

Manic depression is better known as bipolar depression and is characterized by dramatic mood swings. This is a major affective disorder and one that will need treatment with antidepressants and therapy.

The facts about manic depression are:

• Dramatic mood swings
• Insomnia
• Hallucinations
• Psychosis
• Paranoia
• Rage
• Grandiose delusions

Bipolar disorder is a genetic disorder, which can be mild depression and mood swings or extreme symptoms. This can cause distortion of perception and social function impairment that can run in families.

This is a depression condition that can occur between the ages of 15 and 24 lasting throughout the lifetime of the patient. Older adults over the age of 65 can also be diagnosed with manic depression.

The symptoms of manic depression that other family members can take note of are:

• Sudden weight loss
• Sudden weight gain
• Fatigue
• Difficulty with concentration
• Feelings of guilt
• Worthlessness
• Hopelessness
• Insomnia
• Persistent sadness
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Thoughts of suicide

There are several types of bipolar disorders the physician can diagnose the patient with depending on the symptoms. These can be:

Cyclothymia: This is mild form of manic depression or bipolar disorder, which includes hypomania. The highs and lows are not as severe or disruptive as other types of bipolar disorders.

This type of bipolar disorder I diagnosis includes difficulties in relationships, in employment and school. There can be manic episodes, which can be severe or personally dangerous.

This type of depression is not as severe as bipolar disorder I. Bipolar II elevated mood or irritability. This type of manic depression the patient is usually able to carry on with their normal routine. The symptoms of depression can last longer than the periods of hypomania.

Bipolar rapid cycling disorder: This is a type of bipolar disorders that has what is considered rapid mood swings. This means the patient has at least four mood swings within a twelve month period. There are patients that have these shifts in mood swings much faster, occurring within hours.

There is scientific research that has determined that people with bipolar disorder appear to have physical changes in the brain chemistry. There is also evidence of differences in neurotransmitters, with an imbalance in these chemicals that plays a role in manic and other types of depression Symptoms. Other data shows this can be an inherited trait, when a parent has been diagnosed with this condition. Hormones can also play a pivotal role in bipolar depression and a stressful environment can be a factor in manic depression.

This is a condition that must be treated with antidepressant medication and combined with therapy to decrease the symptoms, including suicidal thoughts that can be a part of the symptoms and mood swings. Manic depression like other types of depression cannot be seen with x-rays or blood tests, which means keeping records of the symptoms is one of the easiest ways to help being diagnosed.