Hypnosis Therapy for Depression

Depression can be a serious illness, and because modern medicine doesn't fully understand depression and what causes it, many patients attempt alternative therapies on their quest for a cure. One potentially promising complementary treatment may be hypnosis, which practitioners claim can alleviate both mental and physical symptoms of depression. Hypnotherapy, which (contrary to popular belief) does not usually involve the patient being controlled by a hypnotherapist or surrendering his free will, can help some depression patients feel like they have more control over their lives.

How Hypnosis Works

• Hypnosis therapy works by putting your mind into a trance-like state, in which it is open to suggestions made by the hypnotherapist. Hypnotherapy can help a patient gain more control over her behaviors and emotions, which can help someone suffering from depression adopt healthier mindsets and coping mechanisms. Hypnotherapy has also been proven effective by the National Institutes of Health for treating chronic pain, which can be either a symptom of, or contributing factor to, depression. Hypnosis therapy may also be useful for treating other underlying causes of depression, and it has been shown in preliminary studies to reduce or eliminate fears, stress and anxiety, which are conditions that often coexist with depression.

The Treatment

• There are many kinds of hypnotherapy, and all hypnotherapists have different styles. One example is visual hypnosis, in which the hypnotherapist puts the patient under and leads him through visual imagery of the ideal the patient is trying to achieve---for example, winning a game or race, for a professional athlete. Another method involves the therapist suggesting ways to achieve specific goals, like reducing pain. A final method is self-hypnosis, in which the therapist teaches the patient hypnosis techniques he can use on himself. When you are meeting with potential hypnotherapists, you should ask questions about what kind of methods they use and also discuss your goals, especially specific symptoms or aspects of your depression you would like to change.

Warnings

• Depending on your suitability for hypnosis, it may be an effective therapy to add to your regular treatment, which may include more conventional behavioral therapy as well as medications. However, it's important to remember that depression can be quite serious, in some cases resulting in self-injury or suicide. Discuss all alternative therapies, including hypnosis, with your primary care physician or psychologist, and do not discontinue medications or other treatments without your doctor's clearance.

Other Considerations

• In addition to asking questions about methodology, you should also ask about your hypnotherapist's training, licensing and fees. Insurance companies might not cover hypnosis because it is often seen as an alternative therapy, but compared to other kinds of alternative depression therapy, it may be a less expensive and more effective method. It also carries a relatively low risk of the side effects---including headache, dizziness and nausea---associated with many other treatments. Remember, as with all depression therapies, the efficacy of hypnotherapy will be different for different people.