Helping others to cure depression?

When you read self-help books, you are often told to help others in order to cure depression. Now my question is if you are doing things you are not good at in the hopes of helping others, others would not be very pleased with you. That will only bring more depression. So are these self help books correct in what they are saying? they often give examples of people who pleased others by doing things they were good at. But is this possible for everyone?
If the goal is only to help then why do CEOs and presidents achieve the positions they do? obviously they are talented. Shouldn't they have spent their talent and energy in helping others in real need rather than trying to succeed in their career by surrounding themselves with other successful people?
I have hard time believing self help books or even psychological research because they are full of opinions and not backed by real science. Is there any scientific book that shows how to cure depression and anxiety and that does not contradict with other scientific books?

Stress and trauma reduce the immune system and stunt the growth of a few parts of the limbic system including the amygdala (controls emotional and impulse control and the fight-flight-freeze response), hippocampus (allows for explicit and autobiographical memories), hypothalamus (releases endocrine hormones which affects body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep, and circadian cycles) and some of the areas included in the empathic pathways of the brain such as the inferior frontal gyrus. This is of course the cause of many types of depression and personality disorders.

Thankfully, most of the damage caused by such trauma can be reversed. It has been scientifically proven that reading develops and strengthens both your cortex (your knowledge and logic) and your cingulate cortex (which allows logic to control emotion by connecting your cortex to the limbic system) through neuroplasticity.

Now, helping others can help or not depending on your particular situation, skills and interests. It is just one of the many possible activities you can do to release endorphins in your brain, which - if you don't know already - are the main chemicals involved in feelings of well-being and happiness.

In conclusion, here are some guidelines I recommend for recovery, which work independently of the root cause of the issue (abuse, genetics, chemical imbalances, neglect, etc..);

1) Get rid of the sources of stress and trauma in your environment.
2) Read, read, read - as much as you can.
3) find activities that release endorphins in your brain (Exercise, social contact, dance, write, paint, smile, laugh, listen to music, help others, etc..)
4) find someone you can trust and that can empathize with you, a teacher, psychologist, friend, whatever. just make sure you carefully select them and that they won't disappear from your life or hurt you.
5) if all else fails due to the nature of your illness, try again but with the help of medication.

Hope this helps,
Gee.

Helping others to cure depression?

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