Why self help sucks...

Self help sucks when it is the main treatment modality for depression and anxiety.

It is really hard to keep it up when you are on the inside of a depressive episode.

It is difficult to tell if you are getting better if you are isolated.

I realize that sometimes medications stop working. Maybe the same is true for self-help. I was doing okay but when I got a big dollop of stress in my life my depression went from moderately severe to RED FLAG SEVERE. It has been Red Flag Severe for several weeks.

I am disappointed because I thought self-help would eventually cure my depression but now self-help is barely managing it.

I don't have a good support system. In fact, I have no support. Without that doing self-help to heal from depression is difficult and exhausting. But everyone says hang in there and keep fighting so I guess that is what I am going to do for now....thank you to all who offered me comforting words. Hugs.

I agree. Self help can only help to an extent and even professional help and medication can only help a certain amount. When you're deep in your mental illness (for me anyway) CBT and self help just doesn't work. A whole multi therapeutic approach, Meds, CBT,therapist, social support etc is needed.

I can't take psych medications. I can't afford quality therapy. All I can do is bite the bullet and weather the storm. I think I might have treatment resistant depression. I have come out of depressive episodes before and I just need to trust I will pop out of this wormhole. Thanks for your kindness.

If self help helped other than mild depression, everyone would choose self help and depression would not even be an illness cuz everyone would just help themselves and doctors would not have to get involved.

Don't put yourself down for what you cannot do right now. Think more in lines about how strong you are, because you are, I was, I was where you are, just riding it out is taking strength. And sometimes the only thing you can do.

Thank you. Your understanding alone is great medicine. Thank you from my heart, so very much.

I here with you, I have treatment resistant depression and other mental illnesses so don't feel alone. It's a horrible illness :-(

DechanDawa,

What have you been doing? What does this self help consist of?

I have a list on the about me section of my profile page. It is pretty long and includes everything I have tried...but not all at once. It includes herbs, good nutrition, exercise (although not always steady with it), aromatherapy, hydrotherapy (a lot of hot baths), CBT workbook, DBT workbook, Snap! (a behavioral program member vital explains on his profile page), spirituality, journaling, meditation and good sleep hygiene. Lacking is social support. I have none. I don't have any friends at present. I have been calling and emailing family members and friends who are long distance but all they tell me is go to the emergency room, or, just get out, get a job, get moving.