Online self-guided help

[MummaT]

When looking into helping a family member, I 've come across mentioning self-guided therapy as a possible treatment. How do I find the links or get them involved? They are refusing all help so far.

[white knight]

Hi MummaT, welcome here.

Self therapy of the type you mentioned is off side to the advice given here. Unless someone else posts some locations I dont think you'll get and answer.

We would recommend a GP visit and professional medical treatment, If any self medication or self therapies worked well then medical professionals wouldnt be in work.

Try searching through Google.

Tony WK

[Pixie15]

Hi MummaT,

I would also like to welcome you to the bb forums.

If someone is not prepared to consider seeking help there is not a lot you can do for them. I agree with white knight that the first choice for seeking help would be your doctor. Apart from that there are a lot of resources on this site for things that your can do for yourself and those you care for. You will find them if you check out the resources in the drop down menu. 

Also there is one book which I have found has a lot of helpful information. It is titled "feeling good: the new mood therapy" by David D. Burns M.D. Just thought I would mention it.

cheers,

Grateful.

[Amy_G]

Hi MummaT

It is possible to do CBT therapy online, if you think that would help this person. Although it never helped me, it's apparently been proven to be about as effective as doing CBT with a therapist, and it was actually recommended to me by my doctor, as a way to try and help myself before my therapy sessions started or at the same time as therapy. 

A few different ones I've tried in the past are: MoodGYM, e-couch, and This Way Up. For more resources you could try looking at mindhealthconnect, they have a lot of links with information etc.

Of course going to see a GP is ideal, but these could be alternative if that isn't an option right now for this person. 

Hope this can help,

Amy G

[white knight]

Hi,

Quoting Grateful Today "If someone is not prepared to consider seeking help there is not a lot you can do for them."

That's spot on. It comes up here regularly.  If this friend or anyone purely wanted only cyber medicine they wouldnt get far with recovery. This cyber therapy is purely the "crumbs of the cake".

Therapy could be reading the threads on this forum, other ways to educate ones self to learn more about their problems. There is nothing wrong with that. But it is limited.

I wrote and article called "is there room for stubbornness". You can use search to find it. Denial and stubbornness with mental illness is common. Those that choose to be like that, I dont waste much time worrying about. It's their choice.

Tony WK

[Amy_G]

Hi

I agree that there isn't much you can do for someone who won't accept help, and that seeking help face to face with a GP/therapist/psychiatrist etc. would be a preferable option than online therapy alone, especially when it comes to the possibility of medication and other health concerns that might be related to mental illness. 

I would disagree that online therapy can't be useful, while perhaps being limited. MummaT didn't mention why their family member were refusing help, but doing CBT online could be a good alternative if someone has social anxiety or is embarrassed or ashamed to admit that they may have a problem, for example, because it's anonymous and they can stop at anytime.

Or, looking at the information as it's given in these online programs might convince them that they do have a problem and need further help. Of course, this is only if they're willing to do online CBT, but it takes a lot less effort and is a lot less potentially embarrassing than going to a doctor. 

And, as I mentioned, there have been multiple studies which show that online CBT can help to some extent.

Also, I didn't realise this before, but beyondblue actually lists online treatment as a source of support, if you go to: the facts > treatment options > other sources of support, OR, the facts > anxiety > helpful contacts and websites > online support and treatments.

I think that denial is common in mental illness because that's the nature of mental illness, especially depression - it makes you doubt yourself, it can make you think that you are simply weaker than other people, lazier than other people etc., and I certainly don't think that that is a choice. Personally, through the ages of 13 to 19, I was in denial that I ever had depression, mostly because I didn't have the right information as to what depression really was and how it affects people. In cases like that, I think online CBT can be an effective source of help, especially if this leads to a person seeking face to face professional help if they are able. 

But otherwise yes, I do agree that it can be futile to really try and help someone who is stubborn and continually refuses all help. 

I didn't mean for this to get so long sorry!

Amy G

[white knight]

Hi AmyG

Dont feel sorry, I was glued to my computer screen reading your very educational post.

And thats a spinoff with this forum, we are always learning.

Thankyou AmyG

[Pixie15]

Hi AmyG,

There are probably a lot a situations where it may be helpful for someone to access a online therapy. Someone living in a small town or rural location may have no other option. I am not sure I would recommend it for someone who is experiencing a lot of shame attached to their situation. I think an important part of healing is both being accepted for who you are warts and all and being challenged in your negative thinking patterns and these can be so entrenched that you might consider them just a part of your personality, who you are not who you have learnt to be. 

But everyone is different.

cheers,

Grateful.

[MummaT]

Thank you, online help and books are what I am looking for. If it helps it will be worth it.

[MummaT]

Thank you for your help. I'm aware that the best help is through professionals, but they have refused. We've tried all available professionals and no-one has been able to get through to them.