I think Sanctioned Suicide counts as self-help. And we are depicted as the scum of the internet by many.
My college self-help group dies more and more. People are leaving and we don't find new members. I take the thing more and more into my own hands. The chemistry master student is the organizer (We once dated) and I try to help her now. I think we need to do more advertisement.
We have a competitor at the university. A group therapy with a professional. We once had some exchanges and they hate us. Lol. They call our group dangerous because there is no offical concept/noone (professional) who leads the group.
I know from my therapist who also does group therapy her rules. Discussions about suicide and other triggering topics are prohibited. I once experienced such groups in a clinic and they were maximum boring and dishonest. And I think dating between members is considered as bad there. (But I am not sure on that). I could not open up at all. I think I am not interested in such a group. (However, I might infiltrate them but that's a different story).
I think self-help can help. For many it is a cash grab though and one has to be really careful about the incentive structures.
I think our self-help group has done way more good than bad. Are there potential drawbacks? Probably. I think many leave the group because they consider it weak to discuss mental health all the time. It is conceived as self-centred, insular and instead one has to push through and never look back. This is the impression I get. Many who left prioritize their careers. But for me this is no option. If I aimed for that I would become acute suicidal again. I don't think I am weak on myself. I got the feedback by almost all people in the group that my problems sound like their problems on human growth hormones/steroides. I think barely anyone would have undergone this torture 5 semesters long. And I don't plan to go back. Lol.
I think here comes the problem though. I think the chemistry master student copies my lifestyle. It is really something I would not advice anyone with less issues. I would have pushed through if it would not literally lead to suicide. I almost killed myself last year because of all the problems that college caused. I am no role model. Certainly not.
And here I have to think about the words that self-help can be dangerous. The chemistry master student told me how thankful she is for me and she never has felt so good in her entire life. But I think this is not dodging college entirely. She has made major progress she can be open in group settings. She never talked about her inner feelings with anyone before. And she told me with my help she could do it. In our group there is no censorship suicide talk is allowed. And we asked for feedback noone ever said he or her feels burdened. I still think it is not an ideal place to talk about it. But the problem is not triggering. Most of them don't have as severe issues and don't really get it in my experience.
I think the therapists who gave me up also did some really dangerous shit. I was in a MDD and did not take antipsychotics. My therapist did not realize I had MDD and said I would not need antipsychotics. She reinforced my paranoia. She was a terrible therapist and ironically she worked for the same institution as our university competitor.
I see advantages and disadvantages of self-help. But it really depends on the rules. When I compare the group therapy from my clinic stay with our college group the latter is far far superior. I think a professional would not be a bad thing. But the censorship is. I want raw unfiltered people. Something honest. This is to what I can relate to. And it is probably one reason why I like SaSu this much.
I think the best compromise is to combine both. Don't rely entirely on self-help and stay open minded to professional therapy. For me a good mix is the best. I think my therapist might drop me soon. And I think if she does that this would certainly undermine my well-being. Wheras on SaSu or my self-help group noone ever wanted to throw me out.
My college self-help group dies more and more. People are leaving and we don't find new members. I take the thing more and more into my own hands. The chemistry master student is the organizer (We once dated) and I try to help her now. I think we need to do more advertisement.
We have a competitor at the university. A group therapy with a professional. We once had some exchanges and they hate us. Lol. They call our group dangerous because there is no offical concept/noone (professional) who leads the group.
I know from my therapist who also does group therapy her rules. Discussions about suicide and other triggering topics are prohibited. I once experienced such groups in a clinic and they were maximum boring and dishonest. And I think dating between members is considered as bad there. (But I am not sure on that). I could not open up at all. I think I am not interested in such a group. (However, I might infiltrate them but that's a different story).
I think self-help can help. For many it is a cash grab though and one has to be really careful about the incentive structures.
I think our self-help group has done way more good than bad. Are there potential drawbacks? Probably. I think many leave the group because they consider it weak to discuss mental health all the time. It is conceived as self-centred, insular and instead one has to push through and never look back. This is the impression I get. Many who left prioritize their careers. But for me this is no option. If I aimed for that I would become acute suicidal again. I don't think I am weak on myself. I got the feedback by almost all people in the group that my problems sound like their problems on human growth hormones/steroides. I think barely anyone would have undergone this torture 5 semesters long. And I don't plan to go back. Lol.
I think here comes the problem though. I think the chemistry master student copies my lifestyle. It is really something I would not advice anyone with less issues. I would have pushed through if it would not literally lead to suicide. I almost killed myself last year because of all the problems that college caused. I am no role model. Certainly not.
And here I have to think about the words that self-help can be dangerous. The chemistry master student told me how thankful she is for me and she never has felt so good in her entire life. But I think this is not dodging college entirely. She has made major progress she can be open in group settings. She never talked about her inner feelings with anyone before. And she told me with my help she could do it. In our group there is no censorship suicide talk is allowed. And we asked for feedback noone ever said he or her feels burdened. I still think it is not an ideal place to talk about it. But the problem is not triggering. Most of them don't have as severe issues and don't really get it in my experience.
I think the therapists who gave me up also did some really dangerous shit. I was in a MDD and did not take antipsychotics. My therapist did not realize I had MDD and said I would not need antipsychotics. She reinforced my paranoia. She was a terrible therapist and ironically she worked for the same institution as our university competitor.
I see advantages and disadvantages of self-help. But it really depends on the rules. When I compare the group therapy from my clinic stay with our college group the latter is far far superior. I think a professional would not be a bad thing. But the censorship is. I want raw unfiltered people. Something honest. This is to what I can relate to. And it is probably one reason why I like SaSu this much.
I think the best compromise is to combine both. Don't rely entirely on self-help and stay open minded to professional therapy. For me a good mix is the best. I think my therapist might drop me soon. And I think if she does that this would certainly undermine my well-being. Wheras on SaSu or my self-help group noone ever wanted to throw me out.
