Excellent article Jessica and I agree on all points except that in my circumstances I have to rely on self help and self-improvement . I have no one in my life to help or support me, I have to look after my own health as I live alone. I accept that this is not a good way to live but circumstances have led me down this path.

In fact I plead for the growth in small communities precisely because you can't make it on your own. At the moment I have the NHS to pick up the pieces if I get ill, whether that is physically or mentally. I can also approach the social services should my living conditions become dire. So in many ways I am cushioned far more than maybe is the case in the US. But what happens when that is taken away.

However, this does not get me through the times when I have to face the challenge of life, day by day, on my own. This is where I will take all the positive self help memes I can find. All the reassurance and self help advice. It's all up to me whether I succeed or slide down into the depths of depression and depravity. It's not an easy life I can assure you.

When you have no one in your life to help you stay afloat, you look for any kind of life raft.