How did you go? I have been reading some interesting research on the rise - and rise - of depression over the past few decades. As a therapist this interests me; at the same time as it worries me. As the father of two teenage daughters I am obviously concerned about how they are going to cope in the world. And when I read these figures I guess I worry that they are in the generation that is most represented by these disturbing figures.

However, I am not convinced (and the research is not there to convince me) that depression is entirely inherited or that ti is a "chemical imbalance i the brain". I accept that depression is partly due to inheritance. There is good research on identical twin to suggest that in about 20-30 % of cases their is an inherited factor. However, that does not explain the remaining 70-80% of cases.

That brings me to the research I have been following for a little while now. It also fits in with the work I do in my Life Coaching. SImply put, there is a definite (research proven) link between depression, optimism and pessimism. It would appear that those who filter their experiences through a pessimistic frame are far more likely to develop depression than those who are generally optimistic. That probably won't surprise anyone.

What is even more exciting is that the field of Positive Psychology has been conducting ongoing research, for decades, which suggests that helplessness is (the resultant mindset of a pessimist) learned state and that optimism can , therefore, also be learned. This is exciting for me, because it validates what I do and it is also also exciting for my clients because it gives them encouragement that, "all is not lost".

Using the tools of NLP I am able to teach you how to enhance your optimism and deal with the helplessness that comes from seeing the world through a pessimistic filter.

if you are prone to episodes of depression (or anxiety, panic and phobias) it is definitely worth talking to me about how we can change these states to more useful ones. Like all things they are not so easy if you don't have the tools, but with the right tools they can be easier than you may have every though possible.

Cheers
Greg Horgan

For more information you might like to visit my Life Coaching web site. www.greghorgan.com.au

Tags: anxiety, life coaching, NLP