Depression Help Thailand
Depression Help in Thailand
Professional counselling services for those looking for depression help in Thailand. Depression is a mood disorder. It’s more than just feeling unhappy or a bit low for a couple of days. Depression negatively affects thoughts, feelings and behaviours and can have a major impact on mental, emotional and physical well-being. There’s usually no single cause for depression but more often can be a combination of various factors, sometimes historic, and triggered and/or exacerbated by more recent upsetting or stressful life events, e.g., bereavement, divorce, illness, redundancy and job or money worries. Sometimes feeling low after an accident, illness or viral infection can bring on depression. At other times people may experience themselves “going downhill” or “on a downward spiral” following one or multiple events that have a challenging or negative effect on them and their ability to cope. For example, relationship breakup, loss of a family member, changes in work and finances and increased alcohol or drug use, triggering a depressive episode. Research shows us that depression is more common in those who are older, in a minority or face challenging social and economic circumstances.
STRESS
Most people take time to come to terms with stressful events like bereavement, relationship breakdown or work increase/decrease. Increased risk of depression can come from attempting to deal with problems without sharing your feelings with family and friends.
LIFE EVENTS
There will always be something going on in our lives, but sometimes we are hit harder than others, e.g., relationship breakdown, loss, isolation, overlooked for promotion, change in economic circumstances.
LONELINESS
Feelings lonely, can come from either you or your family and friends moving away or losing contact with them, or leaving a job can increase your risk of depression.
ALCOHOL OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE
We live in a culture where the messages we receive allow us to believe that drink and substances can help us get through rough times. However, using drink and substances to cope affects brain chemistry and can result in a downward spiral of depression.
ILLNESS
Longstanding or life-threatening illnesses, and injuries may also be a contributory factor and increase the risk of depression an e.g., heart disease, cancer, under or over active thyroid issues. Head injuries can trigger mood swings, and can often be an under-recognized cause of depression. Occasionally the pituitary gland at the base of the brain responsible for producing thyroid-stimulating hormones can be damaged. This can cause a number of symptoms, e.g., extreme tiredness, fatigue, and a lowering of sex drive (loss of libido), and lead to depression.
GIVING BIRTH
Some women are particularly vulnerable to depression after pregnancy. Hormonal and physical changes, and increased responsibility, can lead to postnatal depression.
PERSONALITY
Certain personality traits, developed from life experiences may contribute to low self-esteem or being overly self-critical, can make you more vulnerable to depression.
FAMILY HISTORY
Inherited genes, from a parent or sister or brother who has experienced depression in the past, can make you more vulnerable to developing depression, but not always.
GRIEF & LOSS
A loss of a loved one can be difficult. However, where there are further consequences, more complicated or unresolved issues around the loss, bouts of depression can be triggered.
LACK OF MEANING & PURPOSE
Following major changes or challenge or lack of them, may cause a person to question the meaningfulness and purpose of their life triggering depression.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION?
- Lack/loss of in motivation, energy, interest in previously pleasurable activities, interests, hobbies, sports, socialising, sex
- Feeling hopeless, helpless and lacking meaning and purpose in life
- Feeling anxious, worried and finding it difficult to make decisions. (Please visit our Anxiety treatment page to for specific help relating to anxiety)
- Repeated low mood, sadness or crying.
COUNSELLING & THERAPY FOR MILD AND MODERATE DEPRESSION TREATMENT IN THAILAND
We will only offer counselling and therapy services for mild and moderate depression which can be accessed in person in Chiang Mai or online for anyone looking for help with depression in Bangkok or other areas of Thailand.
WE ADVISE THAT ANYONE SUFFERING WITH SYMPTOMS OF SEVERE DEPRESSION SHOULD CONTACT A QUALIFIED AND PRACTICING MEDICAL DOCTOR OR PSYCHIATRIST. These can be found in private clinics or local hospitals. They can conduct full psychological assessments, and followed up with prescribed medication if necessary. The two most well-known private hospitals in Chiang Mai for foreign visitors and residents are Chiang Mai Ram and Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai branch. Similar establishments in Bangkok include Bumrungrad International Hospital.
ANYONE WITH THOUGHTS OR ANY INTENTION TO HARM THEMSELVES OR COMMIT SUICIDE SHOULD EITHER CONTACT ONE OF THE SOURCES ABOVE OR LOCAL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. THE MOST WELL-KNOWN ONE IN CHIANG MAI IS Suanprung Hospital. and Manarom Hospital in Bangkok
WHAT KIND OF THERAPY CAN BE USED TO HELP WITH MILD AND MODERATE DEPRESSION?
Our Therapists in are not licensed medical professionals like those found in the hospitals mentioned above for treating severe depression, clinical depression or major depressive disorder as it is sometimes referred to as.
Most local counsellors or therapists in Chiang Mai or Bangkok can offer alternative or complementary forms of therapy to help clients who are experiencing mild or moderate depression with one or more of the symptoms mentioned above.:
COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (CBT): CBT is one of the most well-known approaches worldwide for people suffering from anxiety and mild to moderate depression. By engaging in the process of CBT, clients can identify problems, change thinking patterns, and face their fears. With increased confidence, they can learn and implement new coping strategies for unexpected challenges and difficult situations. Mild and moderate depression can include many negative feelings, emotions and behaviours, including isolation, loneliness, low mood, extreme sadness, constant worry, lack of purpose and meaning in life, and disconnection from others and self. Other forms or talk therapy can be found by visiting our Counselling and therapy services page.
HYPNOTHERAPY: Often combined with NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), hypnotherapy as a therapy tool uses both direct and indirect approaches to allow clients to engage in deeper processes using a different part of the brain in a relaxed trance-like state similar to that one would experience with CBT, Emotionally-focused therapy or person-centred therapy. As Einstein once said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking we used when we created them.” Our hypnotherapy services in Chiang Mai follows this theory. By using the subconscious mind, hypnosis combined with CBT is far more effective than CBT on its own when it comes to working on deep rooted problems with extreme negative core beliefs. Many of our negative thoughts, experiences and learned behaviors originate and are stored deep within our subconscious minds and influence our conscious thoughts, behaviors, actions and reactions. Hypnosis allows clients to identify emotions, explore relevant (and some seemingly irrelevant) negative thoughts, and then reframe them by observing and experiencing them through a different lens. Hypnotherapy has been proven to be a very effective therapy and many of our clients have experienced very positive results for both depression and anxiety.
HUMANISTIC/PERSON-CENTERED COUNSELLING: Spending time exploring the origins and causes of depression can be helpful. From this, knowledge of triggers, negative associations, obstacles, challenges and goals can be identified. Then the inner resources can be explored, energized and developed, and further sources of support identified.
In addition to talking therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or counselling, the following are a few complementary therapies and suggestions that can have a positive impact on low mood and mild to moderate depression. The most popular common forms of alternative therapy we have found for depression treatment in Thailand include:
HOLISTIC TREATMENT AND MINDFULNESS: There are various kinds of holistic treatment including yoga therapy, meditation, Qi Gong and various singing bowel practices including Tibetan and Crystal. Many of our local clients attend various workshops and classes at Chiang Mai Holistic Wellness Centre and we would highly recommend their services to anyone.
MEDICATION: Medication has been proven to help with the physical and psychological symptoms of depression. However, our experience tells us that unless it is combined with a talking therapy or one of the alternative therapies discussed above, the root cause will not be addressed. Medication can be useful where appropriate. Such recommendations need to be made by a qualified medical doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist licensed by the Ministry of Public Health. Such medical professionals will only prescribe any medication after a full psychological assessment has been completed and they have advised their patients on both the benefits and possible side effects. Decisions then be made as to whether to try alternative therapies first, vice versa or a combination of both.
WE CANNOT GIVE ANY MEDICAL ADVICE OR RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO ANY ASPECT OF MEDICATION. WE RECOMMEND YOU CONTACT ONE OF THE CONTACTS ABOVE, OR A LICENSED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY WHO IS AWARE OF YOUR FULL MEDICAL HISTORY.
HOW CAN CHIANG MAI & BANGKOK THERAPY SERVICES HELP REDUCE DEPRESSION?
Often when seeking a therapist in Chiang Mai or counsellor in Bangkok for help with depression the enquirer will have some idea of the possible causes. In Chiang Mai, our therapy acknowledges the surface problem and supports the client to explore deeper beneath the surface. This may include: current and past relationships, living environment, work, uncertainty and many more. If identified, we can incorporate therapeutic interventions to addresses anxiety whilst working towards solutions to overcome depression, due to the correlation between the two.
Sometimes, those suffering from mild or moderate depression may avoid talking about their problems, suppressing their feelings and can lead to negative emotions affecting their mental and emotional well-being. Perhaps they tried talking about their feelings or problems with a partner, family member, or friend and felt unheard or dismissed. This may then have caused them to suppress things even further over weeks, months or even years.
Working with a therapist for depression help in Thailand whether that be in Bangkok, Chiang Mai or online allows clients to open up and feel heard by someone impartial. They will be nonjudgmental and very experienced in helping people through difficult and challenging experiences. The old saying “a problem shared is a problem halved” becomes even more effective when the person you are sharing your problem with is a qualified, skilled and professional therapist experienced in helping people with mild and moderate depression.
General therapy approaches mentioned earlier include:
More information about these approaches can be found on the relevant pages.
FINDING THERAPISTS IN CHIANG MAI, THAILAND AND ONLINE TO HELP YOU MANAGE AND OVERCOME DEPRESSION
Brett Thornton (AKA) Yim Thai is an experienced therapist living and working in Chiang Mai. He has helped many clients over the years both locally in Chiang Mai and online. The service offers face-to-face, therapy services in central Chiang Mai and online platforms for those who prefer. Online therapy using Zoom US, Google Hangouts, Jitsu, WhatsApp, Skype is becoming more and more popular. More information can be found on our online counselling page with both and female and male native English speaking therapists who work remotely to give all our clients professional confidential support when they need it most. Telephone counselling also available.
Contact us today for a FREE confidential 15-minute no-obligation telephone or video call
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