The festive season has been and gone and this is the time of the year when many people 
get ‘the blues’.
The weather is still bleak, the Christmas lights are gone, debts are mounting and recession worries continue.
Is this you at this time?
Well depression is not that uncommon around now.
There has been a sharp increase in the number of young people suffering from mental health issues since the recession, according to the Royal College of GPs.
It estimates that tens of thousands of 15 to 34-year-olds are suffering from depression, stress and anxiety and says doctors are not being given the right training to deal with the problem.
The Royal College of GPs says that some of the issues are on the increase because young people are struggling to cope with lack of money, jobs and opportunities.
And Norman Lamb, the minister in charge of mental health care in England, said: “It’s a bit hit-and-miss as to whether you get a GP who really understands the issues. I am absolutely determined. I am on a mission to give mental health equality with physical health.”
But help is available and therapy sessions with a qualified hypnotherapist can address this growing concern.
A professional hypnotherapist, who is a member of the National Council for Hypnotherapy and who has experience of working with people to overcome depression, can help the sufferer to understand the impact of the past, to focus on the present in order to work towards the desired future.
In the main NCH members would treat mild and moderate depression with hypnotherapy. Some have specialist training and will work with severe, clinical and bi-polar depression if it is within their sphere of competence.
According to the NCH, depression is a common psychological disorder and almost anyone can be affected at some point during their life.
Recent research suggests that from 5-10 per cent of the population suffers from depression to some extent at any one time.
There is a vast difference between feeling down one day and having a depression disorder. If feelings don’t go away quickly, or they start affecting an individual’s everyday life, it may be time to seek professional help.
Counselling and psychotherapy are extremely effective ways of treating depression if cases are mild to moderate.
In more severe situations, many sufferers may find that a combination of treatments is most effective; the medication gives the sufferer fast relief from the symptoms and the counselling/psychotherapy teaches the individual how to deal with the problems.
Other types of therapy, including hypnotherapy and hypnosis, can also be effective in treating depression, and are gaining wider recognition.
Hypnoanalysis (psychotherapy using hypnosis) seeks to uncover the root cause of the negative feelings and emotion, thus removing the symptoms.
Visit the NCH website to find a therapist near you who can help.
