In England, the National Health Service has seen good results from using self-help books on how to overcome depression. The prescribed book, together with a few counseling sessions on how to get the most from the advice, guides the patient to improve their own behavior. The two hundred test patients were provided with a self-help guide dealing with different aspects of depression, such as being assertive or overcoming sleep problems. However, authorities admit they could never afford to treat every sufferer in a similar way.
Although I've rarely been affected this way by life's challenges and sorrows, I've seen loved-ones plunge to the lowest gullies. After twenty seven years, my first husband was diagnosed with bipolar condition. As if his early years weren't enough to bow the toughest soul, he plunged even lower. Much as I tried, I could never help him. When he left me for a brighter future in the form of another woman, I moved away. He now lives alone and we don't contact each other. I've had to recognize that some people are better left alone. A person can only do their best for another. If they get to the point of losing their individuality and vitality, they must pull away, no matter how good their intentions may be.