Understanding Depression

A must read for anyone who lives with or works with someone with depression. I have read dozens of books on the subject and this is by far the best for gaining insight into the problems. I wished that every teacher and employer (and supervisor) were required to know this information.

Have you ever suffered from depression? Or do you have a friend who is depressed? Surely you want to know how to help. Now you have the chance to read a book that is a solid resource for those who suffer from depression personally, and for those who want to understand and help them. People have always been thinking that depression is simply a transient feeling of moodiness. In her book Understanding Depression, Patricia Ainsworth examines depression from a different perspective. According to Ainsworth, depression is more than a mental illness. It is a total body illness, affecting both the cognitive ability of the human brain and the functioning of the body. Furthermore, when people are depressed, they suffer from alterations in behaviour, appetite, and sexuality (10). Many of those people cannot help themselves. The only relief is death. In order to prevent this cruel end, Ainsworth explains the nature and symptoms of depression in the different groups, children and elderly. By looking at the symptoms of depression, the question that arises is what are the causes for this illness. Exploring different theories for the causes of depression, Ainsworth begins from the ancient Greek philosophies and reaches to the ideas of the 20th century. Through this process, people get acquainted with different theories about depression, such as Freud's way of seeing mental illnesses as the cause of depression or the theory of the behaviorists who believe that depression is a result of a failure of the humans to deal with, adapt to, and react to the environment (51). By giving numerous examples and explanations like these, Ainsworth successfully proves that depression involves alterations in the brain and has to be treated aggressively. If not, the illness worsens, thus aggravating the person's mounting sense of being overwhelmed. The result could be suicide, mainly because of the inability of this human being to handle depression alone. One of the most important steps of treating depression, according to Ainsworth, is how the depressed people are perceived by the others. Often, people think of depression as something that comes and goes. On the contrary of the common misconception, Ainsworth claims that once it appears, depression brings not only alterations in behavior, but also changes in the chemical structures of the human cells which cannot disappear without external medication and professional psychological treatment. In this way Understanding Depression teaches us how to treat depression, either through the an approach as a physician and psychologist, or simply as a friend who wants to help the person beside him or her. Despite the misconception that depression is simply a transient feeling, there are other misconceptions which Ainsworth calls the "myths of depression"(105). The most popular myth is that depression is a sign of a weakness of character. Unfortunately, myths like this can only contribute the risk associated with the potentially lethal illn

The book starts out with a quote: "I treated depression throughout my career and never really understood what it was I was treating until I suffered from depression myself."... by a psychiatrist.I've battled severe depression for years and from experience, I've learned that talking about it to others can backfire because many see it as a mere weakness. Words like, "snap out of it" can be extremely painful. Isolation becomes inevitable which just makes the sufferer worse. Well, Patricia Ainsworth does understand this disease and reading her book was comforting...something we desperately need. Additionally, she informs the reader on updated information from the causes of depression, to what's happening in the brain. Treatment is also discussed and all of the writing is reader-friendly. Included is a Glossary, Index, and two Appendices which lists further resources (web sites/books) and a section on medication which are extremely helpful. I recommend this book to anyone who is depressed with unanswered questions and ESPECIALLY for those who have a loved one with this painful disease. I thank you, Patricia.