Mental health is a global concern. According to PAHO, over 1 billion people have some mental disorder. But as people are not accustomed to talking about this topic as much as they talk about physical health, and also due to the negligence of public agencies in providing care for people with mental disorders, White January was created.

Just as there is Blue November to raise awareness about prostate cancer and Pink October for breast cancer awareness, White January was created to raise awareness about the importance of mental health.

This opens the opportunity for people to also learn how clinical hypnosis aids mental health. Continue reading to understand more details!

Why White January?

January is a time marked by deep reflections about life, due to the start of a new year. When the end-of-year festivities are over, and a new year begins, it is normal for people to reflect on their lives and past decisions, as well as what they expect from the new year. 

Because of this, this month is an opportunity to encourage people to reflect more on their mental conditions, to the point of starting the year seeking help and solutions for definitive changes.

This is why white was chosen for January, as it symbolizes a new beginning, a “blank page” in people’s lives to have their stories written with a new mindset.

What are the most common mental disorders?

With this start of self-analysis and the search for a more professional diagnosis, it is common for people to find certain disorders in their lives such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Read below to understand each problem in more detail.

Anxiety

In a WHO survey, it is estimated that from 2015, there are over 24 million people with anxiety disorders. Its main symptoms are:

• palpitations and chest pain;
• a sense of impending doom;
• shortness of breath;
• shortness of breath;
• restlessness in the legs and arms;
• binge eating;
• muscle tension;
• migraines;
• dry mouth;
• tremors;
• fatigue;
• insomnia;
• diarrhea; 
• difficulty concentrating;
• irritability; 
• sweating; 
• nausea;
• fear. 

Depression

Depression is a biopsychosocial disorder, meaning it can involve neurological, genetic, emotional, and social factors. Thus, the lack of routine and strong emotional ties, lack of a sense of mastery, sedentary lifestyle, and other important factors can worsen the mood of a person with depression. According to a WHO survey, at least 50 million people worldwide suffer from depression. Its symptoms are:

• memory loss;
• difficulty concentrating and slow thinking;
• change in appetite (more or less); 
• drastic weight change (more or less); 
• reduced attention;
• persistent feelings of tiredness and fatigue; 
• compromised immunity; 
• sleep changes (the patient sleeps excessively or has insomnia episodes);
• frequent headaches. 

Suicidal Ideation

Suicidal ideation is a set of thoughts that a person formulates as a strategy to resolve their state of intense suffering. It is considered a serious symptom and is mainly associated with more severe cases of depression.

During the pandemic, these symptoms can intensify, as many negative events occur more frequently, such as losing a job and staying away from the social circle.

This symptom is a warning!

Therefore, the first step is to offer psychological and psychiatric treatment to the person. It is not easy to ask for help in these cases, so it is very important to welcome these people and present all possibilities to them. Being understanding with the person strengthens the bond and allows for greater openness to dialogue.

In addition, it is always good to inform that there are organizations that work day and night to help people going through this.

One successful example is the CVV (Centro de Valorização da Vida), where professionals are trained to provide support and help reduce these alarming rates.

How can clinical hypnosis help?

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), with small considerations from the Brazilian Society of Hypnosis (SBH), hypnosis can be defined as a state of consciousness [intentionally induced] involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness, characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion. In this state, the subject is led to experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior [goal-oriented].

From this, hypnosis is an excellent alternative for the treatment of emotional disorders, allowing the patient to have better results in their therapies, without posing any risk to their health.

It is an important tool for clinical cases that need changes in both thoughts and emotions of patients.

Thus, hypnosis can help in the treatment of anxiety and depression, as it provides the therapist with a powerful tool to help the patient more efficiently. Additionally, clinical hypnosis provides patients with self-application techniques that aid mental health beyond the office.

And if you still have doubts about how a hypnosis session works and feel hesitant to seek help or knowledge in the area, read our article How a hypnosis session works: complete step-by-step!

Originally posted 2021-01-27 18:42:35.