My Depression Story

The DailyStrength.org website was recently mentioned in the Yahoo! Depression-Anxiety Group as a decent online support group.  Someone did complain that their information  they posted on their DailyStrength.org personal home page was publicly searchable with Google.  I just barely registered for the service, so I haven’t verified the claim of the Google search.  After I have spent some time with the service, I will post a review.

http://dailystrength.org/

I have been finding a number of self-help websites that help people deal with depression and anxiety.  Here are a few of them:

• MySelfHelp.com
  • I highly recommend this interactive self-help tool that uses cognitive behavioral therapy to assist the user in dealing with his problems.  I’ve been using it now for a month, and it has already helped me improve my sleeping patterns.  The depression section is good, but it doesn’t seem to be as well developed as the “Conquer Insomnia” section.  There is a journal, sleep diary, calendar, medicine tracker, depression log, stress table, and many other interactive tools.
• Robert F. Sarmiento’s Cyber Psychologist
  • This site has some helpful information, but seems to contain the standard helps found elsewhere.  It is a completely non-interactive website. Even so, I really found the section on Therapy Goals to be very useful.

For the past month I have been using MySelfHelp.com.  It seems to be a good resource.  I recommend it.

This is a list of the websites and articles that I wish to examine.  I haven’t evaluated them, so some may be good, others may suck. Not sure. That’s why I want to check them out.  If I don’t like one, I’ll remove it from the list.  Once I’ve looked at a site, I’ll put it on my Del.icio.ous feed.

http://amoryn.com/index.html
http://bipolarhead.com/
http://blog.beliefnet.com/beyondblue/2006/12/my-story-so-far.html
http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/depression.html
http://christianwomentoday.com/stories_anxietyanddepression/
http://consultantlive.com/topic/Depression/
http://depression.about.com/
http://depression.about.com/od/truestories/True_Stories_of_Depression.htm
http://depression.healthdiaries.com/
http://depressionbookstore.com/
http://digg.com/health/Criteria_for_Depression_Are_Too_Broad_Researchers_Say
http://eqi.org/index.htm
http://griefnet.org/
http://health.msn.com/centers/depression/
http://health.msn.com/centers/mentalhealth/stress.aspx
http://home.avvanta.com/~charlatn/depression/Depression.html
http://living-with-depression.best-depression-blogs.com/2972/
http://mydepressionvictory.com/blog/
http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/index.dtl
http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20040206-000001.html
http://suicidal.com/siteindex/feelings.html
http://superviva.com/about.success.stories.php
http://support4hope.com/depression/index.htm
http://talentdevelop.com/depression.html
http://www.3-minute-depression-cure.com
http://www.4therapy.com/consumer/conditions/item.php?uniqueid=7014&categoryid=40
http://www.abilitymagazine.com/interview_drliberman.html
http://www.accomplishlife.com/categories/Depression/
http://www.allaboutdepression.com/index.html
http://www.allaboutlifechallenges.org/Coping-With-Depression.htm
http://www.alternativemedicines.tv/condition_451.html
http://www.alternet.org/story/15304/
http://www.asch.net/
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/110degrees/182680
http://www.beatmydepression.com/
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/
http://www.bipolarhappens.com/
http://www.breadcasters.org/
http://www.calm.com.au/pages/02depression.shtml
http://www.careplace.com/
http://www.changinglivesonline.org/
http://www.changinglivesonline.org/erinpoems.html
http://www.christian-depression.org/cdp/testimony/story.php
http://www.connexions-direct.com/index.cfm?pid=228&catalogueContentID=541
http://www.crazymeds.org/
http://www.creatingfutures.net/depression.html
http://www.cure-your-depression.com/
http://www.cure-your-depression.com/depression_story.html
http://www.cyberpsych.com/
http://www.depressedanon.com/
http://www.depression-guide.com/
http://www.depression-guide.com/index.htm
http://www.depression-primarycare.co.uk/
http://www.depression-recovery-life.com/
http://www.depression.50megs.com/
http://www.depression.oldguy.us/about.php
http://www.depression.org.nz/
http://www.depression.org.uk/
http://www.depressionalliance.org/docs/community/your_story.html
http://www.depressionalliance.org/shop/products/software/bluesbegone/
http://www.depressiondays.com/mystory.html
http://www.depressiondoctor.com/
http://www.depressionet.com.au/
http://www.depressionism.net/
http://www.depressionissues.com/
http://www.depressiontreatmentnow.com/
http://www.emofree.com/Depression/depression-anxiety-greg.htm
http://www.escapefromdepression.com/
http://www.exmormon.org/whylft118.htm
http://www.exmormon.org/whylft56.htm
http://www.experiencejournal.com/depression/index.shtml
http://www.experienceproject.com/
http://www.faithfoo.com/
http://www.fortunechildbooks.com/wisdom/boundlessjoy.htm
http://www.fromthepit.net/
http://www.garagegames.com/blogs/67993/13005
http://www.healingfromdepression.com/bloch-hell-toc.htm
http://www.healingfromdepression.com/my-story.htm
http://www.healthdiaries.com/depression.htm
http://www.healthyhomeopathy.com/pr_default.htm
http://www.hopeway.org/lifehelps/hlp4dep.asp
http://www.howtobeatdepression.com/story.htm
http://www.jaredstory.com/
http://www.journey-to-success.com/depression.html
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/5/16/81428/8007
http://www.ldsdepression.com/
http://www.lifeassess.org/depression/story.htm
http://www.lifescript.com/channels/well_being/index.asp
http://www.maledepression.com/index.php
http://www.maledepression.info/
http://www.mdsg.org/inthenews2001.html
http://www.meditationiseasy.com/tips/depression/index.php
http://www.menalive.com/default.htm
http://www.mental-health-matters.com/
http://www.mentalhealthministries.net/
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/center_index.php?id=353&cn=353/
http://mhchat.org/
http://www.mhsanctuary.com/depression/story.htm
http://www.mindyourmind.ca/
http://www.moodswing.org/index.php
http://www.mydepressioncures.com/
http://www.mydr.com.au/default.asp?article=2813
http://www.nacronline.com/dox/library/depress.shtml
http://www.nakedmedicine.com/
http://www.option.org/personal_challenges/overcoming_depression.php
http://www.psycheducation.org/mechanism/MechanismIntro.htm
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/
http://www.psychic-experiences.com/real-psychic-story.php?story=64
http://www.psychologies.co.uk/
http://www.psychologytoday.com/topics/depression.html
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html
http://www.psyke.org/
http://www.radpsynet.org/journal/vol5/Liebert-Gavey.html
http://www.ragingpistachio.co.uk/depression/
http://www.psychocomic.com/ezin2002/Ezine2002-01.htm
http://www.reiki.org/
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/conditions/mental-behavioral-health/depression/?msc=A16932
http://www.searpubl.ca/depres.html
http://www.selfsteps.com/aff.htm?id=shezz
http://www.serotoninpowerstories.com/
http://www.sexetc.org/story/emotional_health/2041
http://www.shadowvoices.com/
http://www.sleepapnea.org/info/patient/bobstory.html
http://www.somazone.com.au/content.asp?Document_ID=175
http://www.squidoo.com/i_beat_depression/
http://www.stopbadtherapy.com/index.shtml
http://www.stresscenter.com/
http://www.stressdoc.com/
http://www.studentdepression.co.uk/site/index.php?page_id=71
http://www.teamministries.us/kerrie-loneliness-depression.htm
http://www.testingdepression.com/category/feelings-and-emotions/
http://www.the-bright-side.org/site/thebrightside/
http://www.thehealingbridge.org/authors/jonah_whitely/jonah_whitely.html
http://www.thementallyillmentor.com/
http://www.thesamscenter.com/
http://www.thubtenchodron.org/PrisonDharma/vanishing_depression_and_anxiety.html
http://www.topix.net/health/depression
http://www.troubledwith.com/lifepressures/Depression.cfm
http://www.ulifeline.org/page/main/Home.html
http://www.universeofpower.com/building_your_power/depression/
http://www.upliftprogram.com/stories.html
http://www.usmagazine.com/sarah_silverman
http://www.walkers.org/
http://www.zimbio.com/Depression
http://your-health-center.com/isdepression/?id=shezz
https://www.pastors.com/RWMT/article.asp?ArtID=4767

What’s the difference between Cognitive Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy other than the word in the middle?  Obviously, there must be some action involved in order to be behavioral.  What are the differences?

I wonder, is cognitive therapy more effective for left-brained people?  Cognitive Therapy seems very analytical and logical.  Right-brained people can think analytically and logically, but this is not always their favorite way of thinking, especially when their emotions are high. 

Are there any studies on this?  I have no idea.  The few studies that I have read don’t differentiate between cognitive preferences. 

A few days ago, I discovered the website for Emotions Anonymous.  I wonder how effective such a group therapy like this is for a person dealing with depression.  Can the 12 steps help?  I suppose if the person has hurt others, the organization might very well help.  If the depression is completely internal, I am not sure.  I suppose if the depression was also expressed in anger, then it would seem effective.  Maybe I’ll attend a local meeting to see if it could help me.  I am willing to experiment and discover other forms of therapy that could help.