We have all been guilty of comfort eating at one point or another but when we are chowing down on that tub of ice cream we don’t give much thought to why we are actually doing it or if it is really helping. Well, you may be pleased to know that scientists have recently discovered that ‘comfort’ food does actually have a physical/molecular effect which helps to lift our mood, possibly explaining why it is that some individuals gain weight when they are feeling low or vulnerable.

The team of researchers were led by Dr Lukas Ouden from the University of Leuven in Belgium, and their study involved using MRI scans to gage the emotional impact and response to fat which was injected into the stomach.

The participants were 12 individuals of a healthy weight, all of whom were shown a series of sad or neutral images and were exposed to sad and neutral music before the study began for the purpose of lowering their mood.

After this the researchers went on to insert saline or fatty acid into the stomachs of each volunteer, without letting them know which solution was which. Injecting the solutions in this way meant that there was no chance the participants happiness could be affected by the sensory stimulation of eating food, nor would they associate eating a certain food with a happy time and experience comfort from the memory.

The results showed that the individuals who consumed the fatty acids had lower levels of sadness (around 50%) than those who consumed the saline, leading the researchers to conclude that fat helps us to feel less sad emotions even if we remain unaware of the fact we are eating it.

Researchers hope that the findings will be used in the future to help those affected by eating disorders, obesity and depression.

If you are feeling unhappy and have found yourself to be eating for comfort then dealing with what is making you unhappy could be at the centre of solving your problems. Hypnotherapy for depression can help individuals to eliminate the root cause of their unhappiness, and can also retrain the brain to react differently to negative stimuli. This simply means that if an argument with raised voices used to make you reach for the ice cream tub, a hypnotherapy practitioner will help you to replace this action with another which is more positive.  If you would like to find out more, please visit our hypnotherapy for depression fact-sheet.

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A new book written by psychologist Dr Frances Goodhart and health journalist Lucy Atkins has revealed that though more people than ever are now surviving cancer, an increasing number of survivors are struggling with life after the disease.

Research has revealed that between 25 and 40 per cent of cancer survivors may experience some form of depression after recovering from the disease.

For some, depression may appear just after treatment but for others it may occur months or even years after.

The authors of the book (The Cancer Survivor’s Companion, published by Piatkus) believe that mood may plummet as a result of going through such a difficult physical and emotional experience and it understandably takes time to recover from that. However, they also say that expectations of life after cancer can play a huge role.

Nowadays many individuals who survive cancer tell themselves that they will live life to the fullest, making plans of all the things they want to do and achieve once they have been given the all clear. However, pressure to constantly make the most of life can become really overwhelming and can leave survivors feeling confused and very low.

In addition, the body may still be suffering physically after cancer and will take some time to recover. Survivors often struggle with mobility, pain, discomfort, swelling and generally their strength and fitness will have taken a hit. Feeling physically run down can become frustrating, preventing survivors from doing things they really want to do and making it difficult to muster up motivation.

Expectations for survivors to be all systems go as soon as they step out of the hospital are putting unnecessary pressure on those who really just need time to recover and let themselves feel the way they need to feel for a while.

If you are feeling depressed then simply making some simple lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet and making an effort with your appearance could help you to feel more confident.

Those who are struggling with low mood or depression may benefit from alternative and complementary therapies which are both drug and side effect free. Hypnotherapy has long since been hailed as a fantastic way to relieve depression and stress so could be really beneficial for a cancer survivor. To find out more visit our hypnotherapy fact-sheets on stress and depression for information about how it may be able to help you.

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Whilst the sweet smell of summer lingering in the air is pleasurable for many, for others a brightly shining sun equals a runny nose, itchy eyes, frequent sneezing and a season of suffering.

Many people suffer from mild hay-fever which is treatable with antihistamines, but others suffer from such severe seasonal allergies that it actually begins to effect their mood.

Being quarantined inside your own home whilst everyone else is lounging around outside in the sunshine is a mood killer for obvious reasons, but recent American research has revealed that individuals who suffer from seasonal allergies can be affected by both physical and mental side effects.

According to Dr. Paul Marshall, neuropsychologist at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, research has revealed that individuals affected by seasonal allergies stand approximately twice the risk of depression than that of an individual with no allergies. Furthermore, those who actively sought help from an allergist to help relieve symptoms were three times more likely to develop depression than those who did not.

Experts are unsure as to the exact reason allergies can lead to an increased risk of depression but it is thought that the use of antihistamines to relieve symptoms can contribute to sleep disturbances and drowsiness, both of which can lead to low mood.

In addition to this, back in 2000 Dr Marshall was involved in a study that found allergic reactions could actually reduce the speed of cognitive processing, and in 2002 an additional study led by Marshall revealed that allergic reactions to ragweed pollen lead to fatigue and mood changes in some patients.

Not everyone who is affected by seasonal allergies will be affected by depression and some may just experience certain symptoms such as a reduction in energy. However, if you are suffering from severe seasonal allergies and you do feel as though it is beginning to affect your mood then it may be worth considering hypnotherapy. Hypnosis has long since been used as a method for relieving depression and certain studies have also revealed that it could help in reducing symptoms of hay-fever.

For information about hypnotherapy for depression please visit our fact-sheet, or you can view an article about hypnosis for hay-fever here.

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One technique which McKenna discusses is that of using the power of language to boost our mood, which involves giving more consideration to the words we use.

The language we use can actually have a huge affect on our experience, as using a lot of negative language can be extremely limiting, shutting the door to any positive possibilities.

Somebody who frequently says ‘everything always goes wrong for me’ or ‘I’m so unlucky’, though they may be having a bad day are saying things which aren’t true.

If someone is constantly using negative phrases such as the above then they are very unlikely to notice all of the happy moments in their lives.

If you have got into the habit of being constantly derogatory about yourself then here are some tips from Paul McKenna which will help to make room for more happiness in your language:

If you would like to read the original article for more tips please click here

According to recent surveys almost half of us would like to go under the knife for one reason or another but would this number change if everyone knew the facts? According to the recent NCEPOD survey one in 10 of the clinics approached ceased to exist before the study was completed and of those surveyed less than half the operating theatres (44%) were properly equipped, 22% did not have a resuscitation team on hand, 32% did not offer a cooling off period and only a third (35%) offered psychological counselling.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, a professional body representing NHS-trained consultants, has backed NCEPOD’s call for tighter regulation and say they currently only have about a third of the industry as members.

Over the past two years demand for treatments has risen by 17% with the current value of the industry around 2.3bn per year. With more and more people considering surgery as a viable option the safety of the public must be considered.

We are now hearing horror stories of botched surgery on a far too frequent basis. It was only last week that a report featured on the Daily Mail website told the story of Karon Kitchener, who after hearing about ‘cheek fillers’ decided to treat herself to the procedure before her wedding. What was intended to be a fairly straightforward and minor treatment turned into a living nightmare for Karen, who now has lumps around her eyes and scars covering her cheeks from attempts to rectify the problem.

Since the incident Karen has suffered depression over the loss of her looks and has since found out that the water based filler injected into her face was meant for small bony areas rather than soft tissue.

‘The doctor definitely messed up, but I feel so stupid for having it done, it’s a disgrace that those causing these disasters are getting away with it’. She said.

If you have had a negative experience from a cosmetic surgery procedure similar to that of the above then an option worth considering is that of hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy has long since been used to help those who have suffered a trauma, helping to clear the impressions and negative thought systems which were created during the event.

In addition to this hypnotherapy is also very effective when used to treat depression and anxiety, both of which could emerge as side effects of a negative procedure. Many people who aren’t pleased with the outcome of surgery do develop depression as a result of loosing their former looks and may also become very anxious about leaving the house, afraid of how others will perceive them.

If you would like to contact a hypnotherapist with regards to treatment then you can do so by using the search tool located on the homepage of this site. Simply type in your post code to find a professional in your area and then use the drop down box to specify the area of treatment which you are interested in.

Original article

The study, which has been published in Heart journal involved tracking the mental and physical health of 6,000 middle aged people over a period of five years.

The experts found that those with heart disease alone stood a 67 percent higher risk of dying from any cause than those without heart disease or depression, but those with heart disease and depression saw the risk of death from any cause tripled and the risk of death from cardiovascular disease quadrupled.

Senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, Amy Thompson has said this study further highlights previous research that depression is linked to coronary heart disease.

“Enjoying regular exercise and eating a healthy, balanced diet can help if you are feeling low – so, good news for your mental health as well as your heart health.” She said.

If you are exhibiting symptoms of depression your first stop should be your GP who will be able to advise you on the appropriate action and treatment. Talk therapies (e.g counselling and psychotherapy) and antidepressants are both highly effective options for depression which a GP may suggest. Many people will also opt to explore the option of alternative therapies which they can use alongside their conventional treatment. Hypnoanalysis is the term used to describe psychotherapy using hypnosis and generally involves seeking out the cause of the negative emotions and feelings before removing the symptoms. To find a qualified hypnotherapist specialising in this area please use our search tool.

Further information

Original article

In a self-harm report conducted by the Royal College of Psychiatrists over half of the 1,500 members surveyed felt they or their team did not have sufficient training to assess people who had harmed themselves.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists have criticised the NHS for the lack of training on self-harm and have made a series of recommendations to improve the standard of care given to people at risk of suicide and self-harm. The key point raised was that more funding, research and training are needed as all elements are essential to a good support system for those who self-harm.

Whilst there has been a reduction in the number of suicides in recent decades, the number of people self-harming in the UK is still continuing to rise with figures currently standing at four in every 1,000 people self-harming.

Though we tend to associated self-harm with adolescence and young adulthood it can occur at any age, even in the elderly population. The motivations vary but often it is used as a coping mechanism which provides a temporary relief from trauma such as emotional or sexual abuse or as an escape from distressing feelings such as depression, failure, self loathing and anxiety.

There are numerous methods which can be used to treat self-harm, some of which employ the use of antidepressants and others which look to treat the underlying causes and the behaviour itself.

One possible treatment option worth considering is Hypnotherapy. Whatever hypnotherapy is dealing with the key aims remain the same, one of which is accessing the subconscious to find the source of the problem. In the case of self-harm this may be anxiety or perhaps the memory of a trauma and whatever the route cause of the issue hypnosis will work at eliminating this.

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A newly published study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has confirmed a link between depression and abdominal obesity. Assistant Professor of Sociology at UAB Belinda Needham has said in a sample taken from young adults over a fifteen year period, those who started out reporting high levels of depression gained weight at a faster rate than other participants in the study. However, those beginning the study overweight did not experience a change in depression.

Hypnotherapy has been found to successfully treat a number of weight issues and depression. Both seeking to uncover the cause of the issue before using a specialist skill set to eliminate this route cause.

For more information on hypnotherapy please visit the Hypnotherapy Areas section of this website and to read the original article please click here.

The antidepressant drugs in question are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which include drugs such as Prozac. Recent research published in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Opthalmology has found that taking SSRIs can raise the risk of cataracts.

The study, which was led by Mahyar Etminan, PharmD of Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute in Canada, involved examining the data of nearly 19,000 over 65s. Their health records were then compared to around 190,000 controls which led to the team of researchers finding that overall taking SSRIs raised the risk of cataracts by around 15 percent.

However, the risk is only associated with current drug use, which means that those who took the drugs in the past will not find themselves with a higher risk.

If you do feel concerned about any side affects you may be having a result of prescription antidepressants then it is essential you visit your GP to discuss the issue and it is also important that you do not discontinue use until seeking advice from a medical profession.

Hypnotherapy is gaining wider recognition for treating depression and aims to uncover the route cause of negative feelings and emotions which leads to removing the symptoms. if you are suffering with depression and would like to explore the option of complementary therapies such as Hypnotherapy, to ether be used alongside conventional medicine or on its own then.

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The study which involved almost 1,000 adults showed that the more chocolate the participants ate the lower his or her mood, with those eating the most more likely to score highly for depression.

Hypnotherapy is frequently used for those who want to cut down on their chocolate consumption and lose weight, however the new research has highlighted that it could be having the extra side effect of warding off depression.

Bridget O’Connell from the mental health charity Mind told the BBC that the way we feel and what we eat are often very closely linked. “ Many people will be familiar with craving particular foods or comfort eating when they are stressed, under pressure or depressed.”

Additional information on weight loss hypnotherapy can be found here.

If you would like to contact a qualified hypnotherapist in your local area please visit our homepage.

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