Counselling/ADs; any other help?

[whynowblowwind]

It seems that whenever someone's mental health is unstable they get told either to go for counselling or to see their GP, and some form of ADs seem the established route then.

Neither work for me, so what can I do? Am I just doomed to be madder than a box of frogs for the rest of my days or is there actually something I can do that might work?

There are the basic lifestyle things: exercise, enough sleep, healthy eating, minimise stress. Some people find meditation helpful. Learning how to ride horses and volunteering at my local children's home was very beneficial to me. However I only managed to do most of those things after ad's and counselling pulled me out of the black depression hole to some extent. How many different ad's have you tried? Some people (like me) have to try several different kinds before finding one that works. How many counsellors have you seen? What kind of counselling was it? They use different methods, some may suit you better than others.

I agree try other ad s also it's the type of counciling - have u looked at mood gym? It based on a cbt approach xx

Self help methods ultimately as suggested so will share what helped me as ultimately limited NHS care and I could not afford private treatment forever, so had to use the private treatment to learn to care for me so will list what helped:
Taking medication, yes, helps when low etc. if have a mental health diagnosis then medication can be appropriate and trying which works best
Regular sleep and wake up times
Balanced diet
Fresh air/ exercise
Being kind to yourself, compassion to self
Having a routine and structure, a purpose to the day ( so for me work, part time), helps me - for me having too much time on my hands sends my thoughts worse, but just me and it was about being able to push myself to work gradually at times
Rewarding self not punishing
Accepting myself and not judging myself

So for me ultimately much is about what helps me and learning to do it for me. Having a few supportive people around, but hard to do sometimes.

Accepting and not judging is important but I always judge myself - how do u stop ?
With rewarding not punishing what do u mean x

I learnt to be less critical of myself - a tool I read about and paid a fortune for in therapy to learn I guess. Takes time and not get it immediately or all the time. The tip I was told was to begin to observe/notice the critical thought I have or bad thoughts or low moods etc but to not comment on them, to not judge myself for them. So say " I know I did not do the washing up, or I recognise I am angry" but not to internalise it, blame myself for not coping etc. am sure others can explain better.

Or to notice I ave bad thoughts, but they are just that - thoughts and that is ok. And with time they will go.

Distraction has been a big tool for recovery for me. Allowing myself time to do things for me.

By reward, initially it was each Fri I get to the end of the week at work I am going to buy a treat - a nice choc bar, or a magazine, or flowers. And if I took sick leave or hol to cope I just started again. Ad tried not to criticise myself.

Rewarding I mean, noticing what I improve on, noticing and saying well done to myself for small victories ( like doing that ironing rather than spending 4 hours in bed all day, or walking to the corner shop). Punishing behaviour for me is usually negative thoughts and being critical or not allowing myself to enjoy the good times. Or sabotaging by not doing the helpful things.

For me ultimately I had to do it myself - which is basically what The NHS told me, that I had all the tools I had to learn them. Cannot say I get it right all the time, but the good days are more common. When I give up and hide in bed it can take weeks to get back into a positive routine. It is balancing doing and rest I struggle with.

Sorry may be totally useless and just my story.

I needed antidepressants to help me start my journey of recovery and had basic NHS counselling etc. and found a good private one but in the end realised I was relying on her and she stopped seeing me as it was be depending on her to do the caring for me I had to do for myself.