The Link Between Depression and Anxiety

Depression affects around one in 10 people. It presents itself differently in individuals and has a variety of symptoms and causes problems with health, relationships, and overall well-being. The low mood that characterizes depression is not the same as just having a bad day. People suffering from depression often have to cope with a wide range of emotions and physical effects that impact day-to-day life. At our clinic, we use a variety of therapeutic techniques that combine psychodynamic psychotherapy with hypnotherapy.

What causes depression

Depression does not have a known cause, and it can manifest gradually in some individuals while appearing suddenly in others. Genetic inheritance and traumatic experiences, such as neglect, abuse, or significant life events like the loss of a loved one, can contribute to depression. It is believed that depression results from complex interactions between genetics, life experiences, and body chemistry. It's important to note that depression can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or life circumstances, so offering sympathy and support is crucial.

Additionally, individuals with depression may experience gastrointestinal symptoms, such as frequent stomach problems including nausea, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.

Immunity

Stress can also make a person’s immune system work less optimally, meaning they're more likely to get sick. When someone with a weakened immune system does get sick, it may take longer for them to get better.

Some infections, like the common cold, are generally not serious. However, a weak immune system puts a person at risk for developing complications from an infection or contracting an infection that is harder to treat.

The relationship between immune function and depression is still being researched. Some studies have hypothesized that chronic stress may cause an inflammatory response that can change how mood-regulating chemicals in the brain work.

Sleep Problems

When doctors and mental health professionals are considering a diagnosis of depression, sleep disorders are among the “core” symptoms they look for.

People who are depressed often have trouble sleeping. Problems may range from struggling to fall or stay asleep, being unable to get restful sleep, or sleeping too much.

The relationship between depression and sleep goes both ways, as having trouble sleeping for any reason (such as a medical condition like sleep apnea) increases a person’s risk for depression.

Some research has suggested that disturbances in circadian rhythm (which can interrupt sleep) may contribute to depression. Understanding and even learning how to alter the sleep-wake cycle is one avenue researchers are exploring as they search for new ways to treat depression.

Psychomotor Symptoms

The term “psychomotor” refers to symptoms that make a person feel as though they are thinking and/or moving at a different pace than usual.

For example, some people with depression perceive their thoughts as sluggish and feel like their movements seem heavy. Others experience symptoms at the opposite end of the spectrum. They may say that they "can’t sit still," or feel fidgety, restless, and agitated. Mentally, they may experience anxious or even intrusive thoughts.

To some extent, psychomotor symptoms become more common as someone gets older. However, while depression in the elderly is also common, it is not a normal part of ageing them. For this reason, doctors and mental health professionals need also to consider the possibility that psychomotor changes may be a sign of depression rather than just a part of ageing.

Depression and Therapy

Depression is debilitating and can affect not only how you feel about yourself but also your relationships and career. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for depression works to help you understand triggers and replace them with healthy coping strategies. We use a variety of therapeutic techniques  CBT, NLP with the integration of hypnotherapy and psychotherapy render it a successful way to identify and understand depression and behavioural traits that might be causing and maintaining the client's depression. Cognitive Hypnotherapy gets to the root cause of the depression problem changes the perception patterns and empowers the client to feel calm and manage negative emotions.