My CBT therapy for depression isn't working. What should I do?

Male age 38. I've been depressed with dysthymia for several years and have been going to a therapist for cognitive behavioral therapy for 2.5 months, once a week and I don't think it's doing anything. Should I try for a little longer? I'm considering stopping. It just doesn't seem worth it. I've tried taking Saint John's Wort several times in the past several years and that hasn't done anything. I've tried SamE, and 5 htp, and Holy Basil which have seemed to be a little effective. Thanks for reading.

If you have had depression for several years, it is likely to take more time to recover. I found that in early recovery (up to six months or so), I didn't really feel different, but other people could tell a difference. You start being less numb and more alive, and people see that change in you, but you are less numb, so you feel the pain that is still there, maybe even more than you did before, but you are making progress. Talk to people who know you and ask them what they observe about you. Talk to your therapist too about your concerns. Ask if there is more that you can try in therapy that might help you. Everyone is different, and the same thing doesn't always work for everyone, or at the same speed. Keep trying though. You will get better.

Like you i have probably had dysthymia for many years and like you did about 3 months CBT . Seems to me very simplistic and obvious butsurely the elephant in the room is that if someone is so demotivated in their life that they cant do housework,washing up, cooking and a million and 1 other things how the hell are they going to do thought diaries, daily schedules, futures planners and other tasks thrown at you by a breezy therapist.And add to that a wodge of reading material.. Ain't gonna happen. So on we go, looking for the magic beans that will make everything wonderful until we ultimately realise there are no magic beans and it's time to shuffle off this mortal coil anyway.

The demotivation may be the thing that is keeping you stuck. You can stay there, or you can pick one thing on that list of things that you are demotivated to do, decide to do it consistently for a while, and see what happens. Maybe you can't just get up and do all of it, but you can do one thing, and then do it again tomorrow. Try it out.

Cbt isn't for everyone. If your therapist is a good one s/he could sit down with you to figure that. Your T is the best because she sees you every time you go. I did discuss cbt with some people and decided dbt was a better option for me.

Germany has approved a derivative of lavender for depression. It looks very promising. You have to order it from amazon - Germany. I can search the name if you are interested. I am interested but holding off because of potential contraindications.

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