Online Synchronous Support Groups
Some support communities online may be asynchronous, meaning they are similar to a forum or a social media site where you may be responding to something someone has said hours or days ago. The following groups are all synchronous and via video chat, though, of course, you have the option of turning video off.
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance : The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance offers peer-run online support groups. Though the groups are hosted online, you can search by your local area.
- Sesh: Sesh is an online support group service offering support groups run by licensed therapists on depression, self-esteem and relationship issues, among other topics.
Limitations And Future Directions
This study is subject to some limitations. First, the sample size was small, most of the participants were women, and bias may have affected the between-group duration of the current episode and comorbidity. Hence, larger and balanced samples are needed to verify the programs effectiveness. Second, sampling biases should also be considered: our study was primarily conducted in Japans metropolitan areas of Chiba and Tokyo, and the range of application was limited to patients with TRD who remained at least moderately ill. Thus, program feasibility should be examined with participants from other regions and cultural areas and with various depressive episode histories. Third, the results of this study cannot determine the mechanism of CFT. Variables that affect treatment should be measured during the treatment period using larger samples, particularly because reduction in fears of compassion for others and from others were observed in both CFT and UC groups. Steps should be taken to examine the role of relevant variables to further refine treatment, especially using longitudinal surveys. Fourth, there were no indicators to evaluate group dynamics, which is considered to be an important factor in group psychotherapy. Qualitative data from observation and objective measurements are also needed to optimize the effectiveness of the intervention.
Online Forums For Depression
You can visit online forums where you can read about other people’s experiences or write about your own and respond to other postings. Visit the Sane website.
Togetherall is an online service for people who have common, distressing mental health problems.
Through social networking, a community of people are supported by trained “wall guides” so they can manage their own mental health.
Online forums aren’t for everyone. Depression UK has a penfriend scheme for members.
This is especially useful for people who don’t have internet access or prefer letters and postcards to email.
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Coping Emotionally With Treatment
Hearing that your depression is treatment-resistant may bring with it its own set of feelings and symptoms. You may be blaming yourself, feeling like if only you could cope better, or do the right thing, you wouldn’t be feeling this waybut you ARE doing the right thing. You’re taking care of yourself the best way you know how as you look for a treatment that does work for you.
It’s the depression that’s resistant, not you.
Some symptoms you might be experiencing following this diagnosis are irritability, feeling dissociated, distractible, and/or numb. These are all symptoms of other mental health conditions, but this does not necessarily mean you have yet another diagnosis.
You may be feeling hopeless right now and wondering whats left to treat you, but the good news is that you havent found the right treatment for you yet. Feeling hopeless is not a failure on your partit is intrinsic to the disorder of depression. This is an exciting time in depression research, with many types of treatments beyond the SSRIs you have probably tried.
A helpful way to cope with the diagnosis is to externalize it. You are not depressed, you have depression.
What Are The Different Kinds Of Depression
Depressive Disorders are a category of mood disorders that involve extended periods of feeling extremely low and disrupt a persons ability to enjoy life. Some of the most common Depressive Disorders include:
Major Depressive Disorder a mental health condition characterized by an inescapable and ongoing low mood often accompanied by low self-esteem and loss of interest or pleasure in activities that a person used to find enjoyable. To meet the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder , symptoms must be present nearly every day for at least 2 weeks. MDD is also often referred to as Major Depression.
Persistent Depressive Disorder refers to a longer lasting form of depression. While Major Depressive Disorder is diagnosed if an individual experiences symptoms for at least 2 weeks, Persistent Depressive Disorder is used when symptoms of depression are present on most days for at least two years, but do not reach the severity of a major depressive episode.
Post-Partum Depression depression that starts after child birth and lasts at least two weeks, up to a year.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder a severe form of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome that is diagnosed when a woman experiences severe symptoms of depression, tension, and irritability in the week prior to menstruation. While it isnt uncommon for most women to experience emotional and physical changes prior to menstruation, women who meet criteria for PMDD experience changes that impact their lives in more profound ways.
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Changes In Secondary Outcomes
Similar to BDI-II, the prepost change for the GRID-HAMD was larger in the CFT group than in the UC group post treatment, with a large between-group effect size of d = 1.03.
Regarding the CEAS scores, the post-treatment change on the compassion for self subscale was larger in the CFT group than in the UC group, with a large effect size of d = 1.08. There was a medium effect size of d = 0.61 on the compassion for others subscale.
With respect to the FCS, the post-treatment changes in the subscales miserable with compassion for self and demerit of self-compassion were larger in the CFT group than in the UC group, with large effect sizes of d = 1.04 and 1.42, respectively. Conversely, the post-treatment change on the avoidance of compassion from others subscale was larger in the UC group than in the CFT group, with a large effect size of d = 1.06. On the fears of compassion for others and concern about compassion from others subscales, there were medium effect sizes of d = 0.34 and 0.38.
The post-treatment change on SCSSF was larger in the CFT group than in the UC group, with a large effect size of d = 0.91.
Other Ways To Get Help
Support groups can be a valuable addition to a persons care, but they do not replace treatment. For this, doctors typically recommend talk therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
Talk therapy can help someone work through their feelings and learn to manage them in a healthy way. It can also teach someone coping skills, or help uncover the potential root causes for the condition.
There are many types of talk therapy, so if a person does not enjoy one type, or one therapist, this does not necessarily mean it will not help. It is important to find a therapist a person can build a positive relationship with.
Medication may help reduce the symptoms of depression. Sometimes, people take these so they can begin talk therapy more easily. Other times, people may find it helpful to continue taking them long term.
Medications for depression can cause side effects, and they typically take 24 weeks to take effect. In young people under 25, there is also a risk that symptoms such as suicidal thoughts may increase temporarily. It is important to monitor young people taking these medications closely in the first few weeks.
Depression is highly treatable, even if someone has severe symptoms. People can speak with a doctor about the options to find a plan that is right for them.
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Depression May Have Causes We Dont Yet Understandwhich May Be Why Antidepressants Dont Work For Everyone
I saw many patients with treatment-resistant depression who told me that friends and family members believed they preferred being depressed, or werent trying hard enough to improve, because their antidepressants werent working. This isnt about a lack of motivation.
Jaskaran Singh, M.D., Senior Director of Neuroscience, Janssen PharmaceuticalsShare
While the biology of depression is still largely a mystery, the most popular theory is that its caused by low brain levels of such neurotransmitters as serotonin and norepinephrine, which are associated with feelings of happiness and well-being. But recent research suggests that these neurotransmitters may not be the lone culpritso antidepressants, which work to increase serotonin or norepinephrine levels, may not be a one-size-fits-all treatment.
One of the more modern theories is that depression creates inflammation in the brain, or that inflammation in the brain creates depression, Dr. Papp says. Traditional antidepressants only affect neurotransmitters, so this may be why some patients dont respond to them.
Whether or not this turns out to be true, what we do know is there’s still no guaranteed fix for the problemwhich can be frustrating for both patients and their loved ones.
Synchronous Online Support Groups
These groups have the most similarities to face-to-face meetings. Usually hosted on a video chat platform, they provide an in-person feel from behind your computer screen.
Unlike local meetings, these online groups allow you to connect with people from around the world instead of the confines of your city. These groups typically happen weekly or bi-weekly and can last 1 to 2 hours.
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How To Manage Treatment
There are also a number of things you can do yourself, to help manage your TRD and increase the chances of your treatment being a success. Many of these align with coping strategies people use to help to deal with depression:
For details of how Priory can provide you with assistance regarding mental health and wellbeing, please call 0800 840 3219 or make an enquiry. For professionals looking to make a referral, please click here.
Basic Facts About Depression
- Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting 6.7% of American adults each year.
- Depression causes people to lose pleasure from daily life, can complicate other medical conditions, and can even be serious enough to lead to suicide.
- Depression can occur to anyone, at any age, and to people of any race or ethnic group. Depression is never a “normal” part of life, no matter what your age, gender or health situation.
- While the majority of individuals with depression have a full remission of the disorder with effective treatment, only about a third of those suffering from severe depression seek treatment from a mental health professional. Too many people resist treatment because they believe depression isn’t serious, that they can treat it themselves or that it is a personal weakness rather than a serious medical illness.
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What Is The Purpose Of A Support Group For Depression
Researchers have found many benefits to joining a support group when you live with depression, including:
- knowing youre not alone can make you feel less socially isolated when youre experiencing a depressive episode
- feeling safe when talking with strangers who get it, versus family or friends who may not be able to relate and may make you feel judged
- feeling heard and supported
- helping others who are in a similar situation
There Are Established Methods For Managing Treatment
While the words treatment-resistant might seem synonymous with no hope, the reality is that tools do currently exist to help people with TRD. A 2012 study published in the journal Patient Preference and Adherence identified five main treatment strategiesoptimization, switching, combination, augmentation and somatic therapiesthat psychiatrists can use to create a personalized plan for patients.
Optimization, for instance, means that some people with TRD may benefit simply from giving their antidepressant more time to work or by taking a larger dose, Dr. Papp says.
For others, switching to a different class of antidepressantor adding one to the current treatment for a combined approachmay lead to remission. And augmentation may involve using medications that were developed for other uses, but that have since been approved for the treatment of TRD.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation can be an effective nondrug treatment for TRD
There are also somatic therapies, including transcranial magnetic stimulationwhich targets nerve cells in the region of the brain involved in mood control and depressionand electroconvulsive therapy , which induces changes in brain chemistry to help reverse symptoms of TRD.
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Talk Therapy For Focus And Insight
Talking with a mental health professional can help you set goals, tackle problems, and stay focused on medical treatment for your depression. Talk therapy is an important part of treatment for many people with chronic and treatment-resistant depression . Ask your doctor to help you find a therapist whom you can work with effectively. Talk therapy includes individual psychotherapy and support groups.
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Anxiety And Depression Association Of America
Not just loaded with information on anxiety, stress, depression and co-occurring disorders, ADAA is an active platform where peer to peer support groups are provided. ADAA has more than 40,000 subscribers and they provide a safe and friendly environment to all those people who want to join the forum and open about their experiences.
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Whether you log in from your desktop or application, you can connect yourself to people who are going through similar situations as yours. With that, Find Help section offers options to connect local support groups available in different regions. In case you feel that you should switch to therapy rather than an online support group, a number of therapists could be found here.
Ask For Help: ADAA
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What Is Samhsa’s National Helpline
SAMHSAs National Helpline, , or TTY: is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.
What Is Depression
Depression is a big problem and one that can be very difficult to treat. There are many different types of depression and each requires a different treatment approach. This article will discuss the different types of depression, the different treatment methods for each type, and how to choose the right treatment for you.
Resistant Depression is a term used to describe people who do not respond well to traditional forms of treatment. Many different methods can be used to treat resistant depression, but the most common strategy is called cognitive behavioral therapy . CBT is a type of treatment that helps people change the way they think and behave. It is often used in combination with other treatments, such as medication. CBT can be effective in treating resistant depression, but it may take several sessions or weeks to achieve results.
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How Is Trd Treated
If treatment hasnt yet worked for you, do not give up! Try to stay hopeful that you will get well and even recover. Consider these options and talk to your doctor about which treatments may be right for you.
- Medicine. Medicine can ease depression symptoms. But the first medicine you take may not be the right one for you. If you still have symptoms after initial antidepressant treatment, you should not give up. It may take some time for the medicine to start working, or it might help to change the amount you take. Or you may need to try several different medicines, take more than one medicine, or add other forms of treatment, such as psychotherapy. Keep in mind that finding the right medicine, or combination of treatments for TRD, can take some time.
- Psychotherapy. A trained mental health professional helps you talk about your moods and behaviors. Therapy can offer you new ways to manage stress and avoid negative events that can set off depressive symptoms.
- Support Groups. Talking with other people who also have depression may help you feel less alone and more informed about your illness and treatments. There are many local support groups for people with depression.
- Neurostimulation. Neurostimulation is becoming an option for people who have tried a variety of antidepressants, but they didnt work, only partly worked, or stopped working.
How Much Do Depression Support Groups Cost
The cost of a depression support group will depend on the organization. For the most part, these communities are available without charge. However, if you wish to receive one-on-one support, therapy, or use additional resources provided by these organizations, there may be a fee. It’s best to inquire about costs before considering joining a support group.
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How Do Online Support Groups Compare To In
Online support groups can help reach people who may be hesitant to attend a face-to-face meeting. The widespread network of users and the 24/7 access can make online forums an effective and easy place to gather.
A 2020 study found that pairing online and offline peer support groups helped participants facilitate social relationships, promote friendship and community connectedness. The study found that online and offline support groups complemented each other in addition to ongoing mental healthcare.
As online formats, like therapy and support groups, gain prominence, additional studies are needed to indicate whether one is more effective than the other.
Treatment That Fits Your Needs
For many people, depression is not the only mental health issue they are struggling with. Many times, depression occurs along with another diagnosis, such as substance addiction, borderline personality disorder, or anxiety.
If you have coexisting conditions, you need support to understand and cope with all of the symptoms you are experiencing. At McLean, we specialize in making sure individuals have the tools they need to manage their illnesses.
Each patient works with a treatment team that creates a tailored care plan that addresses unique needs and goals.
Our approach to depression treatment includes robust assessment and attention to factors such as medical issues and home/work life. This ensures that we are working with you on solutions that will help you to identify the underlying causes of your depression and addresses all of your symptoms together. At the same time, we help you to build skills to set you on the path to recovery.
Behavioral therapies teach patients to connect their thoughts and actions to learn to think and behave differently and have been proven to be effective to help patients with mood disorders. McLean employs a variety of these skill-based therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy , dialectical behavior therapy , and acceptance and commitment therapy .
ACT promotes a willingness to accept and addressrather than avoiddifficult thoughts and emotions. This therapy can also be useful to reduce barriers to other forms of treatment.
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