self-help
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self-help
Coping with problems or illnesses through one's own efforts or in a group of like-minded people, often without professional help from outside.
Er hat seine Alkoholsucht durch den Besuch einer Selbsthilfegruppe in den Griff bekommen.
He got his alcohol addiction under control by attending a self-help group.
The word is a clear compound of 'selbst' (self) and 'Hilfe' (help). It literally means 'help that you give yourself' or 'help through oneself.'
Manchmal ist der erste Schritt zur Besserung die Entscheidung zur Selbsthilfe.
Sometimes the first step toward improvement is the decision to use self-help.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If it is about mental health problems, illnesses, or addiction, it refers to coping through one's own efforts. If it is about building, repairing, or instructions, it refers to the craft-related 'do-it-yourself' aspect.
Viele Menschen finden in Selbsthilfegruppen Unterstützung bei psychischen Problemen.
Many people find support in self-help groups for mental health problems.
In a psychological context, the combination 'die Selbsthilfegruppe' (self-help group) is extremely common. Typical verbs are 'eine Selbsthilfegruppe besuchen' (to attend a self-help group), 'leiten' (to lead), or 'gründen' (to found/start).
Sie leitet eine Selbsthilfegruppe für junge Mütter.
She leads a self-help group for young mothers.
self-defense
'Notwehr' and 'Selbsthilfe' both sound as if someone is acting without outside help. Even so, 'Notwehr' means defense against a current unlawful attack. The word is especially important in legal contexts. 'Selbsthilfe', on the other hand, is used when people solve their own problems themselves, for example with an illness, in a group, or when repairing things. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with acting on one's own. The simple difference is: 'Notwehr' fits in the case of an attack; 'Selbsthilfe' fits with self-help or practical DIY.
Nach der Diagnose fand Maria in einer Selbsthilfegruppe viel Unterstützung.
After the diagnosis, Maria found a lot of support in a self-help group.
Der Mann schlug zurück, weil er sich in Notwehr gegen den Angreifer verteidigte.
The man hit back because he was defending himself against the attacker in self-defense.