Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to Asking Jude. Therapy is just one step in your treatment, not the whole journey. One of the greatest benefits of therapy is that your therapist can give you the confidence and strength you need to pursue certain lifestyle treatments. However, the crucial part is finding someone who fits your needs, and I am sorry you have had to change therapists in the past. If therapy is not working, the first person to talk to should be your therapist. They may change their approach and try a new method that could work for you, or maybe even recommend another therapist. Discussing this with them is a great predictor of whether therapy will work is whether you and whether you and your therapist are a good fit. A therapist who accepts your values understands your emotions, and who makes you feel accepted and heard is key to therapy. If your current therapist is not offering you this, you may want to try someone else again. This can be frustrating, so remind yourself that you deserve the best treatment possible.

Next, you may feel like you have no one to talk to that can understand your situation. I encourage you to open up to a loved one; it can be someone in your family or a close friend. Pick someone you can trust and feel like will be helpful through your journey. Talking to someone about your feelings can make you feel more confident and lift the heavy burden off your shoulders. Maybe the person you talk to can give advice or have a solution to your problem. Talking to someone is also crucial because it helps you socialize instead of isolating yourself, in turn causing you to have more negative thoughts. Talking to others who are supportive, positive, and trustworthy can alter the way you feel and think.

Furthermore, aside from therapy, lifestyle changes have shown to be huge contributors in feeling better. I suggest you take some time and write about the underlying cause/pain that contributes to your depression. Reading what you have written and thinking about a solution or discussing it with medical professionals/ close members can help you feel relieved. Think about and identify the root cause(s) of your pain and seek help, find a solution, or change your path. This is another way that talking about how you feel with someone can help promote positive thoughts and induce positive feelings. I understand it is not always possible to think positively about every situation, but analyzing the positives and negatives and maintaining an inner balance by breaking up tasks that must be done is useful. Getting enough sleep and food can make your body feel energetic and bring in positivity. Changing your lifestyle and the people you hang out with can also make a huge difference. Try exercising, getting fresh air, and making new friends are examples of this. Set goals and try to reach them one at a time.

I have provided you with some online resources below:

- Asking Jude YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/Asking%20Jude

- hotline: https://www.crisistextline.org/depression?gclid=CjwKCAiA9qHhBRB2EiwA7poaeF9CIfkFBrafKQjUB3yKjo20fMguWHAmM06VKT_ra5FQeSPCOlNlTBoCLdMQAvD_BwE

- https://www.betterhelp.com/helpme/?utm_source=AdWords&utm_medium=Search_PPC_c&utm_term=need+therapist_e&utm_content=58314603011&network=g&placement=&target=&matchtype=e&utm_campaign=384672130&ad_type=text&adposition=&gclid=CjwKCAjw9MuCBhBUEiwAbDZ-7iIzr-2-_PGlW73UvUwmDBvRQDgBb3i6n-gJm9IwPNEA_121LEC2ABoCES8QAvD_BwE&not_found=1&gor=helpme

-https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/coping-with-depression.htm

Hope this helps,

Srija

Hey, Em! It's going to change for the better because the Peer Counselors, here, at Asking Jude, are going to help you!

Hi, Em! It's nice to hear from you again (despite the circumstances). One of our team members will be answering your ask shortly.