Hypnosis therapy can be a very effective method for reducing depression because it trains the mind to concentrate on positive and motivating thoughts rather than negative and pessimistic thoughts. Studies have shown that hypnosis therapy is more effective for depression than traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating the symptoms and triggers of depression. Hypnosis therapy has also been shown to have better long-term results in treating depression than other methods as well.
Through the use of visualization and suggestion during hypnosis, people suffering with depression are able to see how their thoughts and behavior alter their mood and life and make positive changes to reach a new, ideal version of themselves. Hypnosis therapy teaches the mind how to cope with depressing thoughts and replace those thoughts with positive ones. Suggestions during hypnosis leave imprints on the subconscious mind that carry over when the person is wide-awake. When alert and awake, the mind will link back to the positive affirmations and suggestions that were made during hypnosis and refute the negative and depressing thoughts automatically.
Hypnosis therapy also helping people suffering from depression deal with the root causes of depression and work through past issues like trauma, abandonment, failure and more. These issues often cause depression, and dealing with them thorough during hypnosis can help uncover and resolve past issues. Once these issues are properly dealt with, they may be stored away in the brain and not effect a person’s day-to-day life as strongly. The negative memories and events are essentially re-processed and dealt with in a calm and rational way. This allows the mind to have freedom over these issues, and a knowledge that the mind and thoughts can move on from harboring negative thoughts about the root issues.
During a hypnosis therapy session for depression, a trained hypnotherapist will guide the patient through a series of mental exercises to become completely relaxed and work through the issues surrounding the depression and anxiety. Once the patient is deeply relaxed and in a state of meditative consciousness, the hypnotherapist will begin to work with the patient on uncovering past events and issues that relate to the depression, and also give the patient new skills and tools to deal with the depression.
It is important to note that for hypnosis therapy to be effective for depression, the patient must be willing to be hypnotized, be comfortable with the hypnosis, and also believe that the hypnosis will work. Before a hypnotherapist can assist a patient in dealing with depression, the patient must be willing and hopeful that the hypnosis will be effective.
Hypnosis therapy sessions for depression normally begin with the patient entering into a deep relaxation and connecting with their subconscious by means of a hypnotic induction given by the hypnotherapist. When the patient reaches this deep level of consciousness, the hypnotherapist will be able to connect with past events and incidents that have brought on a period of depression in the patient. Memories of past events and negative situations will surface, and the hypnotherapist will be able to help the patient deal with the thoughts and feelings in a positive and reformative way. The hypnotherapist will assist the patient through guided hypnosis and suggestions to form new, healthier thoughts and behaviors and develop the mental skills to deal with negative thoughts in the future.
Once awake, patients that have undergone hypnosis therapy for depression will often have better self-confidence and the mental skills they need to ward off depressive and negative thoughts. The change often happens after 5-10 hypnosis therapy sessions with a hypnotherapist. Once these sessions are complete, patients should continue with self-hypnosis to keep building confidence, self-esteem and a positive outlook of themselves and the world.
