Review: A comprehensive, thorough and compassion guide to breaking the grip of depression!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 15, 2013
My sister suicided in 1992, due to severe depression, and my brother now suffers from severe depression. As a result, I have always been acutely aware of it and its effects and the severity and disastrous consequences of depression, if not identified and treated properly. There are always warning signs that should never be ignored or dismissed as trivial. Many of us have first-hand experience with depression, due to either suffering from it ourselves or watching a loved one suffer. It can come in different forms and can be due to various factors, such as a biochemical imbalance, interpersonal relationships, learned helplessness and aggression turned inwards.The story at the beginning about the journey of a personal friend of the authors - Robert - is profoundly poignant and really explains in detail the severity with which depression can hit us and the disturbing range of physical and emotional symptoms and conditions, some of which can cause serious health issues.Chapters include: understanding depression (including info on anti-depressants), why do we get depressed, the physical causes of depression, the emotional causes of depression, 10 natural ways to break the grip of depression, anxiety, panic attacks and depression, the 4 pillars of healthy living (the third pillar being a health-promoting diet), the importance of breathing and posture, exercise for health and wellbeing, fats: the good, the bad and the ugly, 9 mental tricks to put into practice, 10 steps to freedom and here is motivation for you: an inspirational speech from a movie.There is even a test you can take, comprising 48 questions that you can answer in order to determine your personal levels of optimism!There is a HUGE amount of highly detailed information here on the different types of depression and what you can do to cure it or at least alleviate the syptoms, including types of exercise and diet, the importance of fiber, plant-based diets, supplements such as probiotics, and many pages of detailed information on the constituents of a healthy diet, including therapeutic foods (ginger, soy, carrots etc), nutritional information on basic food types such as vegetable oils: the good and the bad facts, the fat content of many different types of legumes, meats, fish and vegetables and eliminating refined sugar and the intake of food additives. The rest are too numerous to list here!It is accompanied by statistics, diagrams and charts to illustrate and emphasise the point being made, including many diagrams demonstrating certain exercise/stretching techniques. This book is a depression "bible" and is the most detailed and comprehensive guide I have read from this author. Depression is a very common affliction of humanity, and chances are you or someone you know, be it a friend or a family member, suffers from it, although the degree of severity varies greatly. As it says in the quote at the end of the story in the first chapter: "You Can Break the Grip, You Don't Have to Accept It, Believe It, You Can Do It." This is absolutely true. Despite the tragedies I have seen in my own family, I truly believe that nobody is beyond help. You are not alone!! If you are in need of expert advice on depression for yourself or a loved one, I highly recommended this comprehensive, professionally-presented, thorough and compassionate guide!