Depression for dummies

Title:

Depression for dummies

Author:

Smith, Laura L.

ISBN:

9780764539008

Publication Information:

Hoboken, NJ : Wiley, c2003.

Available:*

Material Type	Library	Call Number	Suggested Age	Status
Book	Searching... Huntington Junior College	616.8527 S	Adult	Searching... Unknown

"What do you have to be depressed about?" Bet you've heard that one before. Or how about, "You're depressed? Just get over it!" Easier said than done, right? Or here's a favorite, "They have a pill for that now, you know."

Unfortunately, such naïve armchair psychology rarely works for someone suffering from the very real plight of depression. All it does is seek to trivialize depression and characterize depressed people as "whiners" who have nothing better to do than to "complain about their lives." But the truth is, depression is a very real problem. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that, on any given day, 121 million people worldwide suffer from depression. And depression rates continue to increase - for example, kids exhibit depression at nearly ten times the rate of previous generations. Theories abound as to why depression rates are increasing, but regardless of the cause, this scourge continues to rob its victims of happiness, joy, and the capacity to give and receive love.

So why Depression For Dummies , when there's already a glut of self-help books on the market peddling so-called cures and remedies for depression? Because this book satisfies the need for a straight-talking, no-nonsense resource on depression. The only agenda of Depression For Dummies is to present you with the facts on depression and explain the options for dealing with it. Rest assured, this is no infomercial in a yellow and black cover.

Here's just a sampling of what you'll find in Depression For Dummies:

Demystifying the types of depression Discovering what goes on in the body of a depressed person Detecting and diagnosing depression Seeking help through therapy and medication Modifying depressed behavior and solving life's headaches Dealing with depression resulting from grief and relationship issues Cutting through the hype of alternative treatments for depression Moving beyond depression: Avoiding relapses and pursuing a happy life Top Ten lists on getting rid of a your bad mood and helping your kids and other family members out of depression

So, whatever your level of depression - whether you suffer from occasional bouts or you find yourself seriously debilitated by depression - Depression For Dummies can give you the insight and tools you need to once again find enjoyment and happiness in life. All it takes is one step.

Author Notes

Laura L. Smith, PhD and Charles H. Elliott, PhD are both international speakers who have clinical practices specializing in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

Foreword	p. xvii
Introduction	p. 1
A Note to Our Depressed Readers	p. 2
Conventions Used in This Book	p. 2
About This Book	p. 2
Foolish Assumptions	p. 3
How This Book Is Organized	p. 4
Icons Used in This Book	p. 6
Where to Go from Here	p. 6
Part I Discovering Depression and Preparing a Plan	p. 7
Chapter 1 Demystifying and Defeating Depression	p. 9
Just Singing the Blues or Depressed?	p. 9
The Varying Faces of Depression	p. 10
Adding Up the Costs of Depression	p. 14
Feeling Good Again	p. 17
Feeling Better than Good	p. 20
Celebrating Sadness	p. 20
Chapter 2 Detecting Depression	p. 21
Recognizing the Ravages of Depression	p. 22
The Six Plagues of Depression	p. 27
Connecting Drugs, Diseases, and Depression	p. 36
Good Grief? Is Depression Ever Normal?	p. 38
Digging Out the Causes of Depression	p. 39
Monitoring Mood	p. 41
Chapter 3 Breaking Barriers to Change	p. 45
Rummaging Through the Reasons for Avoidance	p. 46
Saving Yourself from Self-Limitations	p. 59
Chapter 4 Finding Help for Depression	p. 67
Stumbling onto a Solution	p. 67
Exploring the Self-Help Option	p. 68
Pursuing the Psychotherapy Option	p. 70
Talking to a Professional about Antidepressant Medication	p. 76
Part II Untwisting Your Thinking: Thought Therapy	p. 81
Chapter 5 Discovering Depression-Driven Thinking	p. 83
Thinking about Cognitive Therapy	p. 83
Tracking Thoughts, Feelings, and the Related Events in Your Life	p. 85
Digging Up Distortions in Thinking	p. 89
Chapter 6 Breaking Up the Dark Clouds of Depressive Thinking	p. 105
Thought Court Is Now in Session	p. 106
Opening a Thought-Repair Toolkit	p. 118
Chapter 7 Discovering the Cracked Lenses Behind Depression	p. 127
Looking Closely at the Mechanics of Life-Lenses	p. 128
Searching for Your Mind's Life-Lenses	p. 132
Breaking Problematic Life-Lenses	p. 135
Writing New Prescriptions for Clear Lenses	p. 140
Chapter 8 Mending Your Memory	p. 149
Making Sense of Memory	p. 150
Depressing Disruptions	p. 151
Worrying About Forgetting	p. 153
Boosting Broken Memory	p. 154
Part III Taking Action Against Depression: Behavior Therapy	p. 159
Chapter 9 Getting Out of Bed	p. 161
Taking Action	p. 161
Putting One Foot in Front of the Other: Activity Logs	p. 163
Conquering Can'ts	p. 166
Charting Your Course through Negative Predictions	p. 168
Giving Yourself Credit	p. 170
Chapter 10 Working Out to Lift Depression	p. 173
Introducing Endorphins into Your Life	p. 174
Conquering Couch Potato-itis	p. 175
Easing into Exercise	p. 177
Weighing Your Exercise Options	p. 178
Chapter 11 Rediscovering Healthy Pleasures	p. 181
Taking Fun Seriously	p. 181
Making a List and Checking It Twice	p. 182
Fighting the Pleasure Busters	p. 184
Chapter 12 Solving Life's Headaches	p. 191
Drawing Up the Problem-Solving Game Plan--S.O.C.C.E.R.	p. 192
Assessing Your Problem Situation (S)	p. 193
Foraging for Options (O)	p. 195
Contemplating Consequences (C)	p. 199
Choosing Your Poison (C)	p. 200
Handling Your Emotions (E)	p. 203
Running and Reviewing (R)	p. 205
Part IV Rebuilding Connections: Relationship Therapy	p. 207
Chapter 13 Working Through Loss, Grief, and Mourning	p. 209
Losing What You Care About	p. 210
Working Through Grief	p. 215
Chapter 14 Relationship Enhancement	p. 221
The Depression-Rejection Connection	p. 222
Pursuing Positives	p. 224
Defeating Defensiveness	p. 228
Getting Your Message Across	p. 232
Part V Fighting the Physical Foe: Biological Therapies	p. 237
Chapter 15 Prescribing Pleasure	p. 239
Hammering Depression: Choosing the Right Tool for You	p. 240
Exploring the Medication Option	p. 241
Working with Your Doctor to Find the Correct Medication	p. 245
Brushing Up on Biology	p. 246
Deciphering Drugs for Depression	p. 248
Looking Beyond Antidepressants	p. 255
Chapter 16 Hype, Help, or Hope? Alternative Treatments for Depression	p. 259
Keeping Your Doc in the Loop	p. 260
Swallowing Supplements and Herbs	p. 260
Vibrancy from Vitamins and Minerals	p. 263
Happy Foods	p. 264
Lighting Up the Darkness	p. 265
Treating Severe Depression	p. 266
Searching Further	p. 269
Part VI Looking Beyond Depression	p. 271
Chapter 17 Reducing the Risk of Relapse	p. 273
Risking Relapse with Depression	p. 274
Preparing a Prevention Plan	p. 277
Reining in Relapse When It Occurs	p. 285
Chapter 18 Confronting Depression with Mindfulness	p. 287
Drawing the Line Between You and Your Mind	p. 288
Losing Your Mind	p. 288
Living Mindfully	p. 295
Chapter 19 Pursuing Happiness Through Positive Psychology	p. 305
Hunting Down Happiness	p. 306
Getting on the Right Path to Real Happiness	p. 308
Part VII The Part of Tens	p. 321
Chapter 20 Ten Ways Out of a Bad Mood	p. 323
Chomping on Chocolate	p. 323
Doing Something Nice	p. 324
Getting a Lift from Exercise	p. 324
Singing Yourself into a Better Mood	p. 324
Calling a Long-Lost Friend	p. 325
Dancing to a Different Beat	p. 325
Soaking the Blues Away	p. 325
Petting Your Way to a Better Mood	p. 325
Taking a Hike	p. 326
Mellowing Through Mindfulness	p. 326
Chapter 21 Ten Ways to Help Kids With Depression	p. 329
Finding Fun	p. 329
Doling Out Discipline	p. 330
Giving Feedback	p. 330
Climbing Every Mountain	p. 330
Revving Up Responsibilities	p. 331
Talking and Listening	p. 331
Recognizing Depression	p. 331
Looking Under Rocks	p. 332
Getting Help	p. 333
Loving No Matter What	p. 333
Chapter 22 Ten Ways to Help a Friend or Lover with Depression	p. 335
Recognizing Depression	p. 335
Referring for Help	p. 336
Listening Without Solving	p. 336
Taking Care of Yourself	p. 337
Holding Criticism at Bay	p. 337
Depersonalizing Depression	p. 338
Finding Patience	p. 338
Remembering to Care	p. 339
Providing Encouragement and Remaining Hopeful	p. 339
Exhorting Exercise	p. 339
Appendix Resources for You	p. 341
Self-Help Books	p. 341
Resources to Help Children	p. 342
Helpful Web Sites	p. 343
Index	p. 345

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