“…The challenge is to determine how to best use the psychotherapies that appear to reduce depressive symptoms, when to use pharmacotherapy alone or in combination with psychotherapy, and how to innovate or adapt psychosocial intervention to reduce human suffering, as well as the economic cost of depressive disorders.”

——-Psychiatry, Vol. 57, May 1994, p.128.

Let me say that our Depressed Anonymous groups, now located in many different cultures around the word, have a proven track record as an innovative and successful psychosocial approach in alleviating the misery of human depression. Because we are utilizing the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and its spiritual principles as the essential core of recovery, we are finding   that our psychosocial intervention, Depressed Anonymous, does reduce human suffering.

It is a maxim that  “it takes one to know one.”  This works well for most if not all addictive behaviors and thinking. My depression symptoms are very like others who are experiencing depression.  In discussing our symptoms and how they  have isolated us, we now in our own way, are using solution focused tools that  can release us  from the prison of our depression.

So my point is this: if the clinician wants to start you on medication  to alleviate the symptoms of your depression, ask him/her if they might refer you as well to a depression support group, based on the principles of Depressed Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous. It is in this group fellowship where the person depressed  can find those persons who will walk with you through the valley of darkness into the light. I know–been there– done that!

For more information please look at the literature at our Bookstore and find the books which were written by persons depressed (they have been where you are) and can help free you.  You can also find a step by step process of getting your own group up and running.

Source: Depressed Anonymous, 3rd edition. Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.

“How often at our Depressed Anonymous meetings do we hear this being said about those said about these persons who keep coming back to meetings, week after week. This frequently heard comment comes from older members of the group. We all can see that something positive is being demonstrated in the newcomers face. The old frozen mask of depression is withering by the wayside. Now, there is a brand new look of softness in the face and the person is beginning to smile more.  In fact, the people who keep coming back to meetings are getting themselves out of their crippling isolation and beginning to feel differently as they participate in the group meetings.

One  of the valuable realities of Depressed Anonymous  is that you get feedback from the other members of the group. For most of us, we appreciate the words of support as we continue to work on ourselves. Our working the 12 Step program and getting involved with other members of the group is beginning to show ion our faces.

We are a little surprised to see that others are concerned enough to notice and to care. So often all we have heard from family and friends is to “snap out of it” or “Hey, forget  about the pat–get over it–and get on with your life. ” But having not been depressed themselves they haven’t a clue that one just doesn’t “ snap out of ” depression. I hope that one of the ways that we can continue our efforts to help others escape the prison of depression is to let the newcomer know that their work on themselves is noticeable. The fact of the matter is this –if we stay isolated and alone no one will be able to say how they  see us. I know that we really don’t want to see anyone when we are depressed and that the secret of getting better is to make that effort at sharing our experiences with others who are still suffering  from depression. Go to a meeting today–it works!

The Antidepressant Tablet.

An excerpt from Depressed Anonymous / Step Twelve

Remarkable things happen to us when we are willing to admit defeat and talk about our powerlessness over our depression and how our lives had  become unmanageable. The first step is the beginning of the flight of steps that takes us up and into of our new way of living.  At our fellowship of Depressed  Anonymous we talk hope, we act hopeful, and we think hope. We learn that our thinking depressed and negative thoughts might have gotten us in the shape that we are in today.  What you think is what you become.  For us who find sadness our second  nature, we at times continue to revert to the comfort of old familiar negative thinking and are in actuality returning to self-destructive activity.  Hope is overcome by sadness.

When  we become convinced that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity, we found ourselves turning many times during a twenty-four hour period to that power. It is a rock in a rocky sea that we all hold onto when we find it easier just to give up and sadden ourselves, instead of facing the storm and living through the fear.  What Bill W., said about the alcoholic applies equally to the saddict:  “He/she can settle for mediocrity and self-satisfaction  even though this  may indeed prove to be  a precarious perch.  Or he/she can choose to go on growing in greatness of spirit and action.

SOURCE: Copyright(C) Depressed Anonymous, 3rd edition (2011) Depressed Anonymous Publications.  Louisville. Ky. Page 107.