ABSTRACT
According to the available data, only a minority of depressed individuals seek treatment. Why will people endure such discomfort without even attempting to obtain relief? As will be seen in greater detail later, it is the sense of personal helplessness so characteristic of the depressed individual that prevents him or her from actively seeking help. Essentially, the belief is one of “Why bother? No one can help me.” Depressed individuals typically experience themselves as trapped in a combination of painful personal and situational circumstances that apparently cannot be resolved through any direct action on their part. Obviously, each person's circumstances are unique, but the underlying belief is generally one that precludes actively taking steps to resolve the situation.
