Creating Optimism: A Proven, Seven-Step Program for Overcoming Depression

Because depression runs in my family (as well as myself), I've read just about every self-help book on the topic. "Creating Optimism: A Proven, Seven-Step Program for Overcoming Depression" helped me to see this insidious illness in a totally new light and gave me real hope that I--and other family members--can indeed overcome it. The seven steps make sense to me: 1. Identify and defeat the inner saboteur (I discovered aspects of my childhood "programming" that years of therapy hadn't uncovered)2. Reconnect to your body (Because the co-author, Alicia Fortinberry, is a trained Feldenkrais practitioner, she has a very practical approach to freeing the body from the trauma of the past) 3. Create healing relationships (This is the meat of the book, and offers a step-by-step program that is already working for me) 4. Elevate your self-esteem (What a surprise for me to discover that it's OK to get your self-esteem from others,we all do, and to learn exactly how to do that) 5. Uncover your competence (I found out how to identify what I am best at and enjoy most, and then how to enlist others in the process of making me shine at it)6. Access the power of shared purpose (This includes the three criteria for a successful life purpose and you'll never guess them) and 7. Deepen your relationship to the Divine (I always knew insinctively that part of the solution to depression had to be spiritual, but I didn't understand how to find the right way for me to use my own spiritualty to heal until I read this book.)As you can tell from this brief run-down, the book is packed with unique information and really practical, "doable" (one of the authors' favorite words) actions you can take. They make sense to me. I suggest you check them out.

As a doctor I would like to recommend this book to everyone. Research has shown 80% of all the patients physicians see are clinically depressed. This book will help them overcome their illness and by doing so it will do much to lower the rapidly rising healthcare costs in this country.Fortinberry and Murray understand healing. Their knowledge of the whole person is more than profound. The chapter on how depression affects the body and how it somatizes (ie mimics physical illness) is so clear that I have copied it and am giving it as a hand-out to my patients.As a scientist I appreciate the wealth of research that has gone into the writing of theis volume. As a holder of deep spiritual values I applaud their inclusion of a chapter on spirituality as a healing mechanism. This is a clear, articulate book and I welcome it.

I think of myself as an expert on depression and its treatment, since I'm a nurse who works in mental health and am married to a man who suffers from terrible bouts of depression. Yet I was very surprised by how much I learned from "Creating Optimism: A Proven, Seven-Step program for Overcoming Depression." First, I discovered why antidepressants and even conventional therapy don't work for many sufferers. That was certainly true for my husband. After reading the book, both of us understand so much more about what caused his illness-and what we now believe he needs to do to overcome it. By stating what we really need from each other, as the book taught us to do, we've already improved our relationship a lot. I'd never had the guts to tell him that I couldn't always do what he asked-and when I finally did, he said he was actually relieved I was being honest. But he did tell me some simple things I could do for him that would help, and they've made a difference. I also asked him to do some things for me-such as praise me for who I am, not just what I do for him-that have helped me feel better."Creating Optimism" also helped me better understand many of my patients, and I've recommended it to colleagues. We need to keep in mind that it's the relationship our patients have with us and others that's the real cure. The most moving part of the book to me was how Bob and Alicia share about how their relationship was the most important part of Alicia's healing. I was blown away by the pages at the end, where Bob describes what it was like for him to live with and love a severely depressed person-including his frustration at times and his need for strong boundaries- and how he learned to become part of the solution without losing himself. I really recommend "Creating Optimism" to anyone who suffers from depression and anxiety, works professionally with people who do, or cares about someone who does.

"Creating Optimism" is based on the very successful Uplift Program at the University of South Florida where I attended it. The book is a brilliant recreation of that experience.Before I took the Uplift (two years ago) I had lived with a lifetime (40 years) of depression. The techniques I learned at the Uplift allowed me to break free--and stay free--of it. I believe the book will perform the same miracle for anyone with a serious mood disorder.The authors maintain that the main secret to healing from depression lies in changing the basis of relationships and in learning how to get functional needs met. In this way the appropriate boundaries that were not allowed for in childhood can be created and a person can feel safe enough to grow and change.These new, supportive relationships act as a buffer against the turmoil, uncertainty and isolation of the modern world. The authors believe that all relationships must meet the fundamental human needs for physical safety, emotional security, attention and importance and the how-to of this forms the central theme of the book."Creating Optimism" describes how our modern society breeds depression by forcing us to live in ways which we as a species were not designed to live. Dr. Bob Murray is a prominant evolutionary psychologist (though by no means a genetic determinist as some of his fellow EPs are)and his insights on this topic are very valuable. He gives little, yet fascinating, insights such as the fact that the higher you live or work in a building the more depressed you become and that just having a pot plant in your office can reduce your stress level.Alicia Fortinberry, who is a Feldenkrais (body work) practitioner as well as a psychotherapist shows how your body image and even your posture can influence your mood.The book outlines how to raise your level of self-esteem, discover your sense of purpose and also get in touch with your innate spirituality. Creating Optimism is well written and free of jargon and the authors back up their points with nresearch. As well as practical exercises and tips to speed the recovery process the book contains three beautifully written meditations. These alone made the book worthwhile for me!