The Half-Empty Heart: A Supportive Guide to Breaking Free from Chronic Discontent

I have struggled with undiagnosed depression all my life. About 8 years ago I went into major depression. The meds helped immensely but for the last few years or so their effects were diminishing. This book is really pointing me in a direction to go, giving me a way to help myself. If you are not quite ready for the loony bin, but keep saying,"there's got to be more to life than this" try this book.

I think this is so far the best descriptive aspect of chronic discontent. Particularly it is coming from a person who have been there.I feel that the Dr Downs has done a really great job not only in describing one of the aspects of life which is common yet not acknowledged often, it shows the way how to fight it( i have some doubts on the methods he describes simply because i think chronic discontent is almost a part of the personality,hence ingrained i.e hardwired,hence only partly can be addressed through psychological methods). I think that it is too simplistic to differentiate chronic discontent from dysthymia. But truthfully all these matters little. I sincerely think he has done a really brilliant job and to my knowledge this is the first systematic account of a concept which is still unclear amongst scientific society.

For most of my relationship with my significant other, I have struggled with his lack of ability to include me in his life. There were many times that he would be very open and honest with me while in the next instance he would withdraw and cage himself in some other place. After finding the review of "Half Empty Heart" in a magazine, I felt as if the author had been following my boyfriend around, taking notes on his daily life.I purchased the book for both of us and although it is early in the study of the book, it is the first time I have felt hope for someone I love so much. We are reading it together and talking daily about a chapter. We haven't started the daily exercises yet, but when we do I am hoping that there will be major break through in his happiness.I am very appreciative for the insight this has given me. I am more understanding of where my boyfriend is coming from and hopefully where he now has the ability to go.

If you've ever felt like your blues just won't go away, this is the book for you. It's not about serious clinical depression -- instead it's a book for the millions of people who have low-grade sadness, a feeling of blah, a series of disappointments that chip away at that inner happiness we all have somewhere in us. It is useful and truly insightful -- read it and work on really feeling great again!

I agree with the author -- persistent low level depression (dysthymia/ dysphoria) is the most common psychological problem in the USA today -- the common cold of discontent in our civilization. His description is significant: "Emotional dishonesty ranges from simply hiding our true feelings from others to actively falsifying our feelings in ways that may be more acceptable and less confrontational.... We hide our true feelings from other people when those feelings aren't convenient or might be uncomfortable." This is a complex problem needing multi-faceted solutions. It is time for the realistic psychology of true human emotions to replace the superficial "don't worry, be happy" positive psychology movement. Many of us need to get in touch with "The Positive Power of Negative Thinking" (and feeling). To learn to be more real and speak up more honestly, I like Dr. Held's book "Stop Smiling, Start Kvetching." In this new book, "The Half-Empty Heart" Alan Downs has added his thoughtful and helpful contribution to the realistic psychology movement. Excellent and important book.