[sonotony]

Would any of you guys ever join a 12 step program for depression? I guess my issues with the idea is I feel that the steps imply that the disorder is my fault and that I can be healed without therapy or medication.

Do you agree with me or do you think I'm looking at this the wrong way?

For those of you not familiar with the 12 steps, here are the 12 steps for people with affective disorders:

We admitted we were powerless over our affective disorder-- that our lives had become unmanageable.

Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of the God of our understanding.

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.

Made a list of all persons we have harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with the God of our understanding, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out.

Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to persons with affective disorder and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Well, what do you think?

[Rohag]

Hello, Sonotony!

No, I would not consider joining such a program for depression. Some of these "steps" may have value in themselves, but I simply do not view depression that way.

[Hellion]

No I don't think I'd find that helpful at all....I mean one issue is I always feel like I'm doing something wrong so I don't need more encouragment to quickly acknowledge I'm wrong or that is all I'd do period.

[phillygem]

No I wouldn't join, there are people who did nothing wrong and were abused and treated like they meant nothing, so that wouldn't work.

[doggiedo]

Interesting idea.

[carebirdy]

I think a free support group led b individuals with depression is a great idea, but I don't think the 12-Step model works for depression. I think lots of the ideas behind the steps are nice, but it is not helpful to compound shame. I personally have never actively sought out depression. Most of my life I have fled from depression, though it often catches me. I don't believe a higher power can remove my chemical imbalance or life experiences that have added to my depression.