Self therapy may occur for many reasons; we might use self therapy because we are used to facing problems alone or we may use self therapy because there is no other support available. External help in any situation can greatly speed up the recovery process; however, the opposite can also occur if your cries for help fall on deaf ears.
If you are contemplating self therapy because you cannot find people that understand your situation, then first make sure you have tried every therapeutic avenue. Some people give up when faced with an unsympathetic doctor. In this situation, it really is OK to get a second opinion or to change your doctor. Perhaps you have a psychiatric nurse that is unhelpful; again, you can do something about this. Remember, these people work for you and you deserve the best treatment available.
This author’s particular circumstances led to self therapy simply because there was no one around you truly understood or tried to help. Rather than go under, again, I decided to create my own therapy and recovery program. This was hard and long but the results were fantastic. Using self therapy can make you stronger and more determined than you ever thought possible.
An important point here is that self therapy does not mean isolation. My own self therapy included finding my own support groups and joining them without referrals from anyone. When not in the support groups I read books on every subject, from self hypnosis to books on Wicca. I then made notes on those areas that spoke the loudest and made the most sense.
Self therapy involves sifting through what does not work and finding those therapeutic sources that do help. It is like panning for gold, sifting through the rocks and finding the truly valuable.
The other issue with self therapy is motivation and dedication. In a way, self therapy is like being self employed; you have to formulate your own timetables, you must be self motivated and clear in goal. With self therapy, it is also vital that you make contact with positive people. Unfortunately, even those with the best intentions can remind you of your hard times; at worst will be the ones who love to say ‘it’ll never work’. Self therapy involves a touch of selfishness, which is necessary for your recovery. You may have to remove yourself from old acquaintances if they are negative; remember, your true friends will always be supportive. You may enjoy reading this article on the real meaning of selfishness.
Self therapy may be a last resort or it may be the preferred route to recover. In either case, self therapy can make you stronger, have more belief in yourself and the recovery will be upon a more solid foundation.
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