The Depression Book: Depression as an Opportunity for Spiritual Growth

If you call it the blues, you’ve never been depressed. I dont think the author has any clue about the ILLNESS of depression. Not only did I find this book useless, but it has a lot of bad advice. You can’t think you’re way out of depression. To say that is abusive to people with depression. She also implies that one doesn’t need medication. While medication is not a silver bullet that is not her call. As far as I could tell, she has no credentials to suggest such advice. I do not recommend this book for anyone with clinical depression. She basically blames you for your illness and that is not helpful. I threw this book in the trash.

This is one of those books that, after you read it, you're glad you ordered it - and glad you read it (instead of putting in that "I'll get to it later" pile)... "The Depression Book" offers a "new" way for those who suffer from depression to deal with it - I placed the word "new" in quotes because, apparently, the approach offered is one that has been practiced in certain spiritual groups (namely Zen Buddhism) for a very long time. This approach may seem a bit radical at first, but it makes a lot of sense. The idea is that the depression we feel is based on something else - something underneath the feelings of depression. It's also based on the idea that we tend to beat ourselves up for being depressed - we are not nearly as compassionate to ourselves as we would be to our loved ones... And this "beating up" process leads us to stay in a place of depression far longer than we have to. One of the ideas that I found especially helpful is that it's okay to be depressed. We have been told, and have come to believe, that depression is somehow "wrong", and we judge ourselves harshly for allowing ourselves to have that experience - yet many times we learn the most about ourselves during times of pain - and depression can be one of those times. As in Cheri's other books, it all boils down to compassion - the best thing we can do for ourselves is to love ourselves as we love other's - to be just as compassionate to ourselves, as we would be to a friend or family member that was depressed. There are many great ideas on how we can look at depression differently, as well as what we can do when we are in the midst of it. Overall, this is an excellent book for anyone who suffers from depression (whether it's frequent or not), as well as those who have loved ones who tend to have this experience. It's easy to read, and filled with a wealth of wisdom - and you can't beat the price!

I see various reviews that don't like that it is hand written with doodles and other pictures, I found it especially appealing as I am an artist. I believe that if you are looking for a 'fix' the book won't 'fix' you any more than any other type of mental cognitive approach. If you find yourself in that boat, I strongly recommend seeing a psychiatrist and seeing if an anti-depressant will help. Read in conjunction with medical supervision and an anti-depressant might create enough space to really get in touch with yourself and allow the healing to begin. This book is exceptional for people who are tired of depression and willing to take a serious look at themselves and his/her own mind. Once I stopped cognitively fighting depression, that is having depression parties and celebrating the feelings as an excuse to watch movies and just be with the feelings, they passed. I've been depression free for many many years, now I just feel pain and let it come up and just be with it in a companssionate environment. That said: what works for one, doesn't work for all and Truth is a Pathless land. -chris

This book changed the way I think about depression. I had been trying to stop being depressed by trying to force myself to do what was expected of me. This book helped me to understand that I was depressed for a reason, and that by learning about myself through my depression I allowed that reason to come to the surface. Cheri does use examples that relate better with less severe depression (such as renting a movie and making a cake) but the meat of what she is saying is applicable for severe depression as well as the blues. Allow yourself to be what you are (without beating yourself up for it) and observe yourself as you're being. While obviously this book (and no book) can be a substitue for professional treatment for depression, the information can be helpful for anyone who suffers from this disease, you just may have to come up with your own examples of what you need to do for yourself when you're depressed.

I was very frustrated by my depression. Hated that I went through it and could not find any helpful sources to manage it when it struck. This book gave me an arsenal of very practical things I could do and helped me to see that fighting against it was the least helpful. That was hard to get my mind around at first but once I grasped it - incredible!

I came across this book in a New Age store, and when I went back to get another copy for a friend, they were already out of it. As a resource for dealing with depression, this book is unique and invaluable. Instead of feeling like there is something wrong with you or you should just "snap out of it," this book encourages the reader to acccept the feelings of depression and helplessness and then move beyond it. This book is creative and fun; reading it will make you start to feel better, or at least not feel bad about feeling depressed.