Getting Your Life Back: The Complete Guide to Recovery from Depression - Hardcover

Wright, Jesse; Basco, Monica Ramirez

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0743200497 ISBN 13: 9780743200493

Publisher: Free Press, 2001

Synopsis

A comprehensive program for overcoming depression uses numerous case studies to show readers how to overcome this common disease.

About this title

About the Author

Jesse H. Wright, M.D., PH.D., is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Louisville and Medical Director of the Norton Psychiatric Center. He developed the first multimedia program for computer-assisted therapy of depression and is the founding President of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Reviews

Reading this self-help book is a little like getting a lecture on depression from a friend who cares, but has never endured the illness herself. The authors list five "keys" to understanding and alleviating depression: thinking; taking action; addressing one's biology, relationships and spirit. Each section of the book is devoted to an explanation of how each key plays into depression and written exercises for understanding its role in one's illness. Although the idea of a methodical, step-by-step approach to eliminating depression is appealing, not much here is new or inspiring, and the authors' tone is alternately condescending and chirpy. For example, they advise readers to "try not to get down on yourself"; to "try to lighten up a bit and look for a vein of humor in your situation"; that "the only real way to know whether you can solve a problem is to give it a try"; and that "having questions about your antidepressant therapy is a good sign." Additionally, some of the writing is careless. In a section called, "How not to vent your emotions," the authors suggest, "Don't argue with a cop or your mother-in-law." What about your spouse? The most valuable passages are the stories of specific patients and how they struggled with the illness.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts and our interpretations of events greatly influence our moods. Therapists teach clients to listen to their negative internal dialogs and to use less depressive "self-talk." Clients may also be given "homework" in the form of relaxation exercises for anxiety or gradual acclimatization to frightening situations. The emphasis is on changing thoughts and actions, not on understanding their origins. Getting Your Life Back and Self-Coaching are both based on this approach. The latter, by clinical psychologist Luciani, advises readers to identify themselves as specific personality types (e.g., "Worrywarts," "Hedgehogs," "Perfectionists") and then gives specific instructions on how to change these thought patterns. The title by Wright and Basco, a psychiatrist/educator and a clinical psychologist/researcher, respectively, examines various psychological areas (e.g., thinking, action, biology, relationships, and spirituality) and invites readers to work on these areas in any order with valuable, morale-boosting checklists and examples. Getting Your Life Back is the better of the two because it discusses antidepressants and because the authors' instructions and exercises are much more thorough.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Free Press
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0743200497
• ISBN 13: 9780743200493
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 400