This is an excerpt from a book I recently completed called Get We Get Better: 48 Treatment Options for Chronic Depression. Following the mental health journey of depression survivor Ruth, it offers numerous practical, evidence-based strategies for improving your physical, behavioral, vocational, relational, cognitive and emotional health. For updates and availability info, subscribe for free to the right. I post two or three articles per month, mostly on the topic of depression.

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Treatment option 23: Exploring self-help resources

A rather obvious treatment option, but one that is highly deserving of inclusion in this book, is exploring high quality self-help resources. There is no shortage of excellent self-improvement books, podcasts, channels and the like that seek to encourage, inspire and educate. I love research-backed how-tos as well as memoirs of people who have learned from their challenges. Book by book, my life has been unalterably changed.

Read everything that interests you, and some stuff that doesn’t. Keep in mind, though, that self-help materials are not a replacement for professional treatment for depression, and the other treatments listed in this book aren’t, either. If you have depression, please seek the help of a mental health professional, and use other resources in a supplemental and informational fashion.

Finally, note that many self-help resources contain inaccuracies and can cause harm. Use caution.

If desired, add “explore self-help resources” to your depression treatment plan. Then decide on next steps and write them on your to-do lists.

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The solution is almost always fewer things. Get The Naked House: Five Principles for a More Peaceful Home at your preferred book retailer today.

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Babies come. But babies don't go. Get Fights You’ll Have After Having a Baby: A Self-Help Story on Amazon now.

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