Hi I'm New

[BeckyNS]

Hi - I'm new here. I'm trying to manage my depression and anxiety on my own right now. Why does therapy have to be so expensive? My primary doctor does have me on an antidepressant but I could really use a support group. This is my first stop. Hoping to research other avenues.

[BonnieSue]

This is a decent group so I'm glad you decided to stop here for a try! Welcome! We have people of all ages and all types of problems. So many people you're sure to find ones similar to you and ones who understand you. Ones who work and ones who don't. Moms and dads and people without children. I have a large list of non-drug ways people here are helping themselves successfully, mostly for anxiety but a little for depression. The 2 often occur together. If you want to look that list over, I can print it here. Just let me know.

Some background on myself: I've been treated for major depression and GAD, some OCD and PTSD for 29 years with meds and therapy for 29 years. Most of that time I was highly functional but when I was initially sick I was very sick, plus I had a very bad patch at the halfway mark when my psychiatrist abandoned his patients due to extreme personal problems (a nasty divorce and child custody battle) and I wasn't getting my necessary prescriptions. I had to admit myself to the hospital to get the needed prescriptions. So I've been through h*ll a few times and recovered. I didn't know what was wrong with my doc at the time, I just knew I had to get help.

Along with other friends and family I've helped, that adds up to plenty of experience which I'd rather I didn't have but, since I have it, I try to put it to good use. Is there anything I can help you with? Just ask and I'll try to help.

[Hidden in reply to BonnieSue]

Bonniesue,

If it isn't too much trouble,I would like you to share your list of ways to deal with anxiety. Hoping there will some I hadn't thought about. Many thanks.

[BonnieSue in reply to Hidden]

Oh, guaranteed you haven't checked ALL of these! ;o)

Some natural remedies and non-drug sources of information are books, videos, and workbooks suggested by other people on this site:

1---"I've found David D. Burns' "Feeling Good" and "When Panic Attacks" to be very helpful."

2---"I am working through the anxiety workbook by Dr David Carbonell and it has helped immensely!!! " His website is anxietycoach.com

3---psychcentral.com/lib/9-ways...talks about ”9 ways to reduce anxiety now”

4---The book “Freedom From Fear” by Neil T. Anderson. Addresses the spiritual aspect of the battle of anxiety with a holistic approach and the peacefulness God gifts to us.

5---Dr. Jonice Webb authored "Running on Empty: Overcome your Childhood Emotional Neglect"

6---Mindfulness has helped many people and is now recommended by doctors in the UK. Here’s just 1 link that explains it’s usefulness: heartwoodrefuge.org/benefit.... Another option of many is called MINDSHIFT. You can download it to your phone from Google Playstore.

7---TRE (Trauma releasing exercises) is something you can learn in a class but you don't have to talk about your problems and once you have learned the technique you can use it at home.

8---UK site for stress, anxiety and depression information: panic attacks: nhs.uk/conditions/stress-an...

9---anxietytipsoftheday.weebly.com

10---"A good book that I came across recently is The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook, 6th Edition by Edmund J. Bourne, PhD. You might find this book to be of some help to you, although communicating your thoughts and feelings in a group setting is enormously helpful as well. "

11---“The book DARE, which is about anxiety. It’s a very good book about accepting anxiety and letting go of the fear. The author is Barry Mcdonagh and he also has a YouTube channel and a Facebook support group.”

12---For anxiety: Claire Weekes audio books on iTunes. “Self Help for Your Nerves” is one title that is good. You can see her on YouTube. “The Dr. Claire Weekes book is easy to understand and will help you on your way to recovery through acceptance.” Someone else says: “I like the paradigm of acceptance by Dr. Claire Weekes in Hope and Help for your Nerves. It is the preeminent book of self help for people experiencing anxiety disorders and the depression that accompanies it.”

13---I would also add Don't Panic by Dr. Reid Wilson.

14---Another really good CD and book is the Linden method.

1---How to be good with yourself: self-compassion.org/the-thr...10---Try the meditation app called Headspace. It's done in 10 min. slots once a day.

16---Videos on YouTube by THAT ANXIETY GUY helps with anxiety re: depersonalization/ de-realization states. The Anxiety Guy podcast is currently #1 in the health category on iTunes, and will begin taking you from fear to freedom starting today. Visit anxietyexit.com to subscribe and begin downloading the latest episodes.

17—For UK residents: Have you ever been in touch with the organization called MIND? They offer one to one sessions with a Project Worker free. They also run courses that you can attend free of charge. One of the courses is about anxiety. Their website is mind.org.uk

18---"Go on the Psychology Today site and look for a therapist that specializes in anxiety." Psychology Today has listings with psychiatrists and psychologists and therapists with their pictures and the therapists’ specialties and philosophies, sliding scale fees if they have them, education and insurance accepted and other details they choose to post for you.

19---Instead of mercilessly judging and criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self-compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings – after all, who ever said you were supposed to be perfect? self-compassion.org/the-thr...

20---“Have you ever listened to Louise Hay on YouTube? Some of the talks help motivate you and hopefully you will feel a positive energy.”

21---“I called one of these online therapist sites. The therapist was really good. It was prestoexperts dot com. Her name was Lori Burke. Definitely a professional and she got me through this awful depression/anxiety morning.” (There is a charge for this service)

22---For meditation look at:

Tara Brach and Chopra Center

23---theworrygames.com/anxiety-f...

24---Anxiety No More by Paul Bywater. A phone app.

25---At Last a Life book by Paul David.

26---The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook

Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance

By: Matthew McKay PhD, Jeffrey Wood PsyD, Jeffrey Brantley MD

A Clear and Effective Approach to Learning DBT Skills

First developed for treating borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has proven effective as treatment for a range of other mental health problems, especially for those characterized by overwhelming emotions. Research shows that DBT can improve your ability to handle distress without losing control and acting destructively. In order to make use of these techniques, you need to build skills in four key areas-distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Source: NewHarbingerPublications

Caution for non-Buddhists: Zen Buddhism inspired aspects of DBT, along with behavioral science and dialectical philosophy. Source: GoodTherapy.com.

[Hidden in reply to BonnieSue]

Whoa...when you said you had a list of resources people have used in this anxiety/depression community site, you really had a list! Thank you very, very much.

I'm not quite certain how to print your list from my computer to a shared printer....I'll figure out some way...for now will jot down a few on paper.

Really hope others in this community have read your response to me. It is an encyclopedia of potential self help.

Again thank you. And leave your reply posted for a few days if you can.

[BonnieSue in reply to Hidden]

Oh, it'll stay here forever. Anyone who sees it can use it.

[Hidden in reply to BonnieSue]

Thanks very much.

[gogogirl]

I live in an area where the nearest in person support group is over 30 miles away, so needless to say I have not gone- especially since it's at night, and I do not drive in the dark- so I am glad I found this site.