I am struggling with codependency and depression. I cannot afford therapy. What can I do to get help?

That sounds like a difficult situation. We here on 7 Cups are of course, here to listen. But if you feel you need more, please take the time to explore the resources provided on the site. Additionally, there may be further outreach in your community in places you might not expect. I know at my local college, they provided free counseling services to the community, I went there for a few years myself and found it helpful. These were students who were getting their Masters and PHDs, so they had some prior training. Do you have a similar set up in your community? There may also be support groups in your area. My mom utilized one and it was a big help to her.

If you are not averse to religion or spirituality, seek help at local place of worship. Almost always you will find someone willing to listen to you at the very least. Oftentimes, visiting a church and talking/praying to God relieves your burden. It may be a stopgap, but it may give you time to see things more clearly, and you might find the answer to your questions. While most do not have actual therapy services, some have groups that cater to certain issues like codependence or addiction. Even if the help is religious in nature, it is still valuable and worth the effort.

If you are in the USA, you can look for your county's community mental health center. They offer low sliding-scale fees (even free) based on your income, and they may be able to help you get on Medicaid or some other insurance. The treatment for depression is usually cognitive behavioral therapy (changing the way you think) and sometimes medication such as SSRIs. Codependency issues may be treated similarly, and may get better as your depression gets better. Your primary care provider (look for free clinics or community health centers if you don't have on) should be able to prescribe you some medication. Chatting with someone may also help you.

Personally what has helped me a lot is understanding the psychology and science behind these things - how depression is caused biologically, how it changes your brain and how these changes affect you, what chemicals/hormones come into play and how you can alter them with things like your diet, self care, positive habits etc. A very resourceful thing for me has been a YouTube channel called The School of Life. I would also really suggest self help books that explain how depression and codependency works and how we can work around those things. A therapist can only help you help yourself but there are a ton of other resources that can also do that, maybe not to the same extent but it is a start and I know many people who have improved greatly without any form of therapy - just by finding ways to help themselves.

Codependency and depression are both very valid reasons to seek professional advice. Unfortunately this advice sometimes comes at a great cost- and what are those of us with little expendable income meant to do? My best advice would be to speak to your healthcare provider. In many countries, counselling services may be offered free of charge. If that isn't an option, try speaking with trained listeners that may be able to offer interim support and a listening ear to help ease the weight of mental illness or discomfort.

Try going to codependents anonymous meetings in your area. They are free and will help you see that you are not alone in your struggles. I tried it when I needed it most and it helped me get past my struggles faster because of seeing others in similar struggles. It is easier when you know you are not alone. There are also groups for depression. You only have to go to as many as you feel you need. The structure is a non-judgmental environment where you can speak honestly about your current struggle and hear from others who have succeeded in getting past their own struggles.

there are some insurance companies out there that can help fund with mental/behavioural services which might come in handy depending on the situation. There are also a bunch of helpful helplines out there that you can find on the online web. If any of those options dont work the best you can do is to try your best to coop with it yourself either by doing yoga going for a jog ect. Knowing when you feel down or having anxiety may also help, knowing when you feel this way can help alot so that you know when to coop with them of course its not going to happen in one day it can take some practice. Lastly if you have a pcp or a doctor that you see they can also be a great help on how to handle this types of situations.

Hi; I'm FrostWire and welcome to 7 Cups where you questions matter. So, your struggling with codependent depression? An you also say you cannot afford therapy and your wanting to know how to really get help? To be honest as the chill outside of my comfort zone; there's a problem we need to address first isn't it? You said you can't afford therapy, and here at 7 cups.com we don't charge you any money to help with your questions.. So is that time that you've used sufficient enough payment to us is the best question, well; I think we can both agree huh? I believe that with time an effort you can manipulate your situation into codependency and out of depression. Our hand book here has key subjects that can help you form a decent follow up as you approach your goal. Depression can be something easy for someone else to say: snap out of it friend, but here we know an better understand the reason for forms of depression. If you still need help with your questions on codependency and depression. I'd be glad to help and even support you during your recovery efforts. We must always; no one said it was going to be easy, but know said it would be so hard either..So when we look at ourselves can we see Different than what some others actually see? Thanks for bringing your question to 7 Cups.com, I'm FrostWire; your friendly supporting listener and I hope that we have served a purpose greater than we know.. rite here at 7 cups.com...

The therapists here at 7 cups are a free service, for one thing. Although some people believe that therapists are helpful, I've not had a very good experience with therapy. I have been able to help myself way more than any therapist can claim to have done for me. If you can't afford one, I can almost guarantee that you can do better without one. There are youtube videos that are like mini therapist sessions. I personally watched a course on self-help. It was on Occupational Therapy learning type course, way cheaper than a therapist and way more informative and helpful.

You should probably reach out for help to your family of friends in that case. Therapy could be probably very useful but as long as you are not able to afford it you should probably at least try to get help from your closest circle. And also, if you feel that you are able to do it, you can try to earn some money to afford the therapy. Of course if you are fine with such activity. And please, do not be harsh on yourself. Try these things and let me know if they are working out for you! :)

I would recommend you to join 7 Cups. If you can't afford therapy, you can talk to trained listeners to vent about your problems. They can't give you advice, but they can help you, find advice in yourself. Even if life seems hard I am here for you. I hope you feel better soon, because that does sound rough. Talking to listeners always makes me feel a lot better, you don't have to join if you wouldn't like to, I would just recommend it. Thank you for opening up to me about this problem, I'm sure we can find somebody to help.

Not being able to receive professional help due to affordability is a very common issue. I struggled with anorexia, anxiety, OCD, and depression but could not afford therapy either. A friend suggested 7 cups of tea for me and it greatly helped me work through my problems. So many people on 7cups are willing to be supportive and listen and I know it can help you through this too. The best part is that it's completely free of cost. It just needs your time and willpower to reach out and ask for help, someone to hear you out. 7cups is perfect for this.

Hi there. I’m sorry to hear that you’re struggling with some codependency and depression issues. I understand completely that therapy can be very expensive, or not in the budget, for many people. I’m only answering because I had the same problem at one point in my life. Honestly, try to do some research. MANY licensed therapists, or even counselors, often have interns that need ‘practice’ before they’re licensed, too- and sometimes they offer those intern services (sessions and counseling) for free, or at incredibly reduced rates. Maybe check into behavioral health facilities in your area, also. Usually, I found, that there are more options than one might think to access forms of therapy that cost very little, or in some cases free- it just might take a little digging and work to find them, unfortunately. I hope you check into, and find, some of those options around you, and they work out in your favor so you can have access to whatever help you may need. Best of luck to you! 💕

You can try talking about it to your family, or any one with whom you are comfortable. There is always someone to support you and just talking to them will help you a lot. If you are feeling the same way even after talking, you can join free support groups where in you can talk to people who have, or are going through similar experiences. Doing this will give you a better insight of your issues and it will help you handle them better. Also try repeating affirmations to yourself as they help in a great way too! And always remember, you are not alone! there are people who love you and care for you, so hold on! it may seem tough at times, but trust me, it all so worth it.

You can always come to 7 cups! Its the best service, affordable, and you get people all over the world to reply to you!! Whatever your problems are, they are heard here and always dealt by people, who knows you might find someone who really gets you and gives you advice, i was in high school when i was bullied a lot because of my weight, but this app really helps me to connect to people and feel better about myself!! I think every one should try it once in life, because we all have issues waiting to be dealt with

There are a variety of resources at your fingertips online for support groups, hot lines, and even here at 7 cups. It makes a big difference being able to talk to someone about any issues that you may be having which can be found online. You may also want to write how you are feeling as it may help cope and understand you may be going through. It is important to reach out, talk about how you feel, develop methods that will help you get better and cope, and understand that this is a process. Here at 7 cups we are here to help you.

Try a community mental health center. Community mental health centers provide free or low-cost therapy options and services covered by Medicaid insurance. To find a center, go online, and use Google to search or look at your state government website for the Department of Human Services. There is a lot of inexpensive therapy that is available to the community, especially during this pandemic. Check also online for free chat groups such as 7cups available 24/7. There's always help available. We must not lose hope. Every day is a new beginning. Keep positive thoughts as much as you can. Tomorrow will be a better day.

Talk to people and join some kind of a hobby anything which you like it would help start talking to people here this is a great app . Best way is to take up a hobby don't let your mind be idle . Make friends go out. You can talk to me more about it here when ever you feel like I am here for you .Start any kind of exercise just do it for a week and you will see the difference .Remember there are people to help and life is to live ,laugh ,and spread love.All the best.

Let me start by sharing a little bit about how 7 Cups works. Right now you are chatting with me. I’m a trained active listener. I listen compassionately, but do not give advice." Genuinely good listener to talk to. Makes you feel very comfortable and is a wonderful human being. Need more people like you here. Their spectacular and make me feel heard I would 100% talk to them again!!! "If you are feeling like you need expert guidance, then I’d recommend talking with a therapist here (http://www.7cups.com/online-therapy/). Also, if I feel like you’d be better served by a therapist, then I might make a referral later on in our conversation."

There are online support groups that will help you with you codependency and depression. It is completely free of charge. You can also talk to friends, family and listeners on 7 cups. There are also great books that are available as ebook that will help you control you depression and codependency. There are also counselors at school who can help you free of cost. Try to spend time with people who are positive and motivating, they can help you get out of depression. There are also therapist who work on a sliding scale and you can pay how much ever you are able to.

I am sorry to hear you are struggling with these things. In the instances where we can't afford help, we actually have a lot more help available than we might think. Sometimes just opening up to someone we care about will help us to overcome our hard times, or at least make it more bearable. These people can be our families, our friends, or religious leaders. If you do not feel you can communicate with those people, then there is a wonderful community here that would be willing to help you through your hard times and be a listening ear.

A cheaper option would be to read self-help books specific to your concerns. I recently began to read Feeling Great: The Revolutionary New Treatment for Depression and Anxiety by David D. Burns and its like therapy in a book. You can be your own therapist and at your own pace. It even has places for you to write down how you feel and it walks you through the process. Another thing you can do is write it down. Journaling has really helped me pay attention to my codependency trends and more aware of how I react when I am alone. This will give you an opportunity to make better decisions and adjust your perspective of how you view your codependency and depression.

if therapy is not an option for you, i suggest that you confide in someone you really trust, preferably an adult or close family member. if that is also not the best option for you, online counselling and therapy are also great options. some apps include: betterhelp, 7 cups etc. if you are going through LGBTQIA+ related problems, Pride Counselling is also a great option and if you are going through a breakup or rough patch with a partner, Regain is good too. 7 cups however, is a complete free platform with many active listeners, so i highly recommend seeking help here if you are unable to talk to someone trustworthy in real life

You can use 7 cups and focus on ways to improve mental and emotional health via healthy diet, habits, exercise, hygiene and style, and not allowing yourself to fall into the same habits that make you unhappy. This is easier said than done, but also taking time to set small attainable goals can be helpful. Saying today I will take a walk or today I will get dressed and make sure I feel good about myself (Look good, feel good) - can be easy and small ways to combat depression and even codependency by saying that you can attain your goals all on your own.

Try to reach out to people online or irl who have successfully navigated codependent relationships and/or have gone to therapy for codependency. I can’t express enough how helpful that was for me. Try your favorite social media, The Mighty, or here on 7 cups. At the start of a listener chat you can just type “codependency” or “codependency and depression” so that any available listeners with experience can reach out. You can click Browse Listeners and search for me, curiouscreature, but I might not be online at the same time as you (it’d be cool if there was a different messaging system but for now you’d have to catch me online, but again just type codependency before you start the chat, in the box for what you want to talk about, and someone will message you).

You can talk to someone on 7 Cups. You can look for supportive people, which may come in the form of support groups. Three free support groups, which also have a presence online and Zoom meetings, are Al Anon, CODA and ACA. These all offer supportive people and a framework to deal with codependency problems. Engaging in these programs will also really help to lift or lessen depression. Exercise, healthy eating, and good self care will also improve depression. Good self care could be getting enough sleep, looking after yourself and setting time for things you enjoy. Such as reading, watching TV, or listening to music. Or a hot bath! Maybe learning something new too. A new language, a musical instrument, coding. Even just reading about something new on the internet.

I can really hear you feel anxious and worried about not being able to afford therapy which I understand is a costly means of support but please know there are others resources out there that do not involve therapy. From personal experience I usually turn to books , workbooks and apps as resources for codependency and depression which are more accessible and affordable. To understand the creditability of the resources please look out for the credentials or experience of the person (lived experience, expertise) who wrote the resource. If wanting to open up about your experiences in real time connecting with a listener on our site can be the choice for you! Some of our listeners have lived experience with codependency and depression. Familiarity can bring people together and reaching out on this site can help you feel less alone with what you go through! Hope this helps!

I am sorry for what caused you to be in this situation. I also could not afford therapy when I was depressed. I worked on myself by myself. I did all of following, every single thing- Talked to listners here, mostly to take out my frustrations, not for advice. Because nobody never knew what exactly I want and my situation accurately. I still do but the frequency has fallen from 3 times a day to maybe once a month or fortnight. It feels good to be by myself. Talked to people who were like the person I see myself to be. I still keep an eye for such people. Pushed myself into physical works, literally was hard on myself for it. And 50% of the betterment was from physical workout only. It started working for me after 20 days or a month at least. I worked only towards having an everyday proper routine, not any fancy goal. It worked and helped me having clear thoughts about what I want and the ways I can achieve them. It was not easy to set back to routine, took months. I have cut off toxic people for me by taking chance of a situation from everyday routine. It felt so much lighter after it. And I kept being my best friend and turning towards myself for the best help. It worked the most. I was needy to have someone by my side throughout the day, even if it is a train of listener/s. Then I got back to myself after filling my time with tv shows, movies, studies, work, sleep, studies. Slowly I regained my tendency to be by myself. It would have taken 3 to 4 months. I dropped things that were pulling me back. Not easy. Took time. I had tried all this separately an year before. A therapist makes it easy, but still it is you who has to work on yourself.

Both codependency and depression are tough to deal with alone. I can only imagine how overwhelmed and helpless you might feel at times. Joining support groups can be very helpful, just to feel heard by others going through similar challenges but also to have an anchor, a place to turn too when needed. There are many free supports groups available online if therapy is not an option for financial reasons. Learning coping skills to deal with depression is crucial to avoid spiraling down and not bein able to get out of it. Something which I consider very helpful are DBT Skills (Dialectical Behavior Therapy ) as well as CBT Skills (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). 7cups offers free support groups as well as self-help guides.

Do your best to be aware of your codependency and the feelings connected to it. It can be very difficult at times to focus on those feelings, but a saying I tend to use is 'you have to feel it to heal it.' Try to think about *why* you are experiencing codependency and how this meets an unfulfilled need in your life. Doing this through journaling, meditating, or inner child work could be helpful. Possibly pursue long-term support with a listener to have more structured support in your journey. Pay attention to your relationships with others, the boundaries that you (and the other person) have set, and the feelings those bring up. It is okay to have a hard time and you are not alone in your struggle with codependency and depression.