Have you been feeling out of sorts lately? Perhaps a bit sad, restless or easily annoyed by things that you normally wouldn’t bat an eyelid at. There’s nothing that’s changed that you can put your finger on, but you just don’t feel like your usual self. The beginning stages of dysthymia, a form of low-grade depression can be very subtle and are often dismissed as just being under the weather or stressed about work.
Levels of clinical depression continue to rise in the UK with recent studies showing that millenials are twice as likely to experience depression during pregnancy than their mothers and the World Health Organisation stating that depression and other related disorders will be the second most common disease worldwide by 2020. Everyone feels down at some time so it’s easy to dismiss. Perhaps you start having trouble sleeping or notice your energy has dropped. Maybe the feelings go away, or come and go, and that’s a normal part of life. However, if these feelings continue they are a red flag for dysthymia.
Even though dysthymia is a milder form of depression it should still be taken seriously, if not treated it can significantly interfere with your work, health and social life. The persistent low mood and feelings of worthlessness can lead to significant problems in close relationships with sufferers feeling unworthy of love and being less resilient when relationship problems arise.
Because depression affects people’s thinking, their logic and emotions are also affected. Having a safe place to express their emotions and assess the validity of their thoughts can be crucial to overcoming a depressive episode.
Talking therapies have been proven to help treat anxieties, stress and depression and the National Council for Hypnotherapy has around 1,800 qualified therapists across the UK who can provide effective treatment. Clinical hypnotherapy particularly can be of benefit when working with mental health conditions and helping to assess the issues and identifying their root – whether it is a situation, a physical issue, a past experience or a relationship.
If you’re not feeling quite like your usual self and would like some help click here to access the NCH directory, with over 1,800 therapists all around the UK there’s sure to be someone close to you.