CBT T just gave me homework that is teetering on the brink of a "failed technique".

When I feel badly about something, say, I'm feeling lonely in a despairing kind of way, he has 2 techniques:

1. Talk to myself as I would a friend, saying things like "You are lonely right now in this moment but most of the time you aren't". For me, this self-talk is not comforting. In fact, I think I've been a long term client because of my need to hear such things from another human being. From myself, it sounds silly.

2. Ask myself "What are you going to do about it?" This gem is paticulary problematic because part of me wants to answer "kill myself!" because the task seems too great.

it's like asking a dehydrated person in the desert "what are you going to do?"
ok, step 1 figure out where to dig for water, step 2 try to find a way to dig through the hard crust of earth, step 4 find a utensil to dig with, step 5…f* i'm so tired and thirsty I think I'll lie down to die. That is where my mind goes.

Maybe it is learned helplessness but sometimes it is fatigue from trying all the time.
His techniques don't address the deep feelings of despair and the urge to give up.