The Depression Cure: The 6-Step Program To Beat Depression Without Drugs (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
I've seen some people here complain about the lack of instructions from Stephen Illardi. That he gives the "problem" but not the "solution".Couldn't be further from the truth. Each chapter, sometimes every other paragraph, Dr Illardi goes into several ways to combat depression. From basic "just take more omega 3" stuff, to abstract problems that you'd likely need a personal coach or a therapist for (like not having a good social circle). As the book wraps up there's a whole chapter dedicated to ways you can accomplish the full "TLC" program, as well as a quickly put together week-by-week regime.Despite the hokey title of the book, Illardi really did the research here, I'd say it's well worth the read if you're feeling like something isn't quite right in your life. VERY quick read. I picked up this book because I saw Stephen Ilardi's TED talk (he actually has two). His assertion is that depression is a lifestyle disease, meaning that it is strongly tied to lifestyle choices like type II diabetes, heart disease, and so on. As evidence, he sites the high rates of depression in the US, the rising rates in what I would call "Americanizing" societies, and the markedly low rates of depression (as defined by the DSM-V) in societies living lifestyles similar to hunter-gatherers. His research has focused on therapeutic lifestyle changes, what he calls TLC, that have been effective in combating depression. He was able to find quite a few. To keep things simple, he created a program that focuses on the top 6 changes depressed individuals can make to combat the disease. They're pretty simple and, very likely, you do some of these already. The steps are (1) high dose supplementation of EPA and D3, (2) breaking the habit of rumination, (3) 90 minutes of aerobic exercise a week, (4) sufficient light exposure, (5) healthy socializing, and (6) healthy sleep. When I looked at this list, I thought, "That's pretty straightforward, why bother getting the book?" I think there are two reasons to actually read the book. First, he goes into detail about each of these topics and those details matter. For example, you might already get 90 minutes or more of aerobic exercise weekly but it may not be intense enough to reach 60-90% of your maximum heart rate. Or, you might make a point to socialize frequently, but you surround yourself with what he calls "toxic relationships," relationships that actually make depression worse (these are far more ubiquitous than you might realize). Not only are the descriptions thorough but a significant amount of the book is devoted to how to translate these changes into lasting habits. So the book is a good reference. Second, it's written in a style that is helpful for a depressed individual. That is to say, it is written in a way that promotes a healthy mindset. So if you're depressed, I think sitting down and spending time reading this book could actually be a helpful exercise by itself. I also want to point out that this book is not only for those who are depressed. The six steps outlined have been shown to be helpful in combating anxiety, bipolar disorder, addiction, and erratic and/or impulsive behavior.
What do You think about The Depression Cure: The 6-Step Program To Beat Depression Without Drugs (2009)?
One of the best books I've read about depression. I'm so glad I picked up this book.
—iluvpepper1
I didn't read the whole thing, but what I read was very good.
—exo
M literature group's pick for October!
—LucindaJade
