Depression is can be simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days, but can take hold for much longer periods of time.

Most people go through periods of feeling down, but when you're depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days.

Some people try to trivialise depression and don’t see it as a genuine health condition. They're wrong; it is a real illness with real symptoms. Depression is not a sign of weakness or something you can "snap out of" by "pulling yourself together". Depression affects people in many different ways and can cause a wide variety of symptoms.

These symptoms range from lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness, to losing interest in things you used to love. It can take away your confidence and ability to feel in control, and make rational decisions. Instead you tend to focus on negative thoughts, forecasting the worst-case scenario, leaving you feeling hopeless and unable to see a way out.

Many people suffering from depression also have symptoms of anxiety. These symptoms can also manifest themselves in a physical way, such as feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite, lack of libido or sex drive, and various aches and pains.

The symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe. At its mildest, you may simply feel persistently low in spirit, whilst severe depression can lead to suicidal thoughts and the feeling that life is no longer worth living.

Solution focused hypnotherapy can help you break free from this negative cycle of depression, providing you with the tools and techniques you can use to feel better and boost your serotonin levels naturally. Hypnosis helps bring about therapeutic change in your subconscious level, using guided relaxation techniques allowing your mind to become calmer, enabling you to focus on moving forwards in life.