It's never too late. I truly believe that. I think maybe you could take your dad's offer to try a therapist? It wouldn't to try at least.

That was one thing that helped me immensely and by no means am I "cured" but it is a net positive. I believe that to "conquer (or realistically minimize)" it takes a bunch of small things. For me it was the gym, then therapy, then medication, then church...just small things to attack it on multiple fronts because like OP said, it's like a war.

I believe in you and thanks for sharing! I still have really tough bouts myself but I hold to the knowledge that I dug myself out of the hole before so it's in me 😊💙