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“Depression, the 'common cold' of mental illness, is a complex problem. To help those afflicted with this debilitating illness, the father-and-daughter team of Wright...and McCray...have written a holistic work that provides sufferers with guidance on how to navigate through the slough of despair....Readers will undoubtedly glean practical self-management strategies, and they can implement those most helpful to them. This resource is packed with worksheets, charts, logs, exercises, checklists, and illustrations....This balanced and responsibly eclectic guide will benefit treatment seekers.”

—Library Journal


“The book is very well organized and understandable for many different types of readers. The intended target audience for the book is the layperson, but it might be a useful resource for any professional therapist, clinician, or researcher interested in working with clients on an individualized basis or further investigating through research the recommended six paths of treatment. The book is well organized, logical in its sequencing of book-section topics, well written in both content and tone, and presents complex diagnosis and treatment issues in a user-friendly manner. The combination of research and case examples illustrates the utility of different clinical treatment approaches and help to educate professionals on many different factors to be considered for therapeutic decision-making purposes….A very useful guide for anyone interested in better understanding depression, its many different causes, and how treatment options can help a person successfully recover from depression and live a positive, healthy life.”

—Activities, Adaptation and Aging


“A 'must-have' for finding a way through the pain of depression. Drs. Wright and McCray draw on their skill and wisdom to provide a comprehensive map. You'll learn about different types of depression, how to find the treatment approach that fits best, and how to integrate it seamlessly into daily life. This book provides just what you need to move forward with hope.”

—Mark Williams, PhD, coauthor of The Mindful Way through Depression


“An accessible guide for individuals who are struggling to understand depression....Provides important information to those directly and indirectly affected by the confusing and painful symptoms of depressive illness.”

—Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, author of An Unquiet Mind and Nothing Was the Same


“This invaluable guide, written by a psychiatrist and a family doctor, is unique in its balanced coverage of psychotherapy, medication, and other treatments for depression. It is clearly written and chock-full of tips and resources. If you suffer from depression, this is the best single book I've seen for you and your family.”

—Michael E. Thase, MD, coauthor of Beating the Blues


“Drs. Wright and McCray have done something remarkable, even unprecedented. They have taken all of the best self-management strategies for depression and translated them into materials you can use to support your own recovery. This is the first resource of its kind—and it can help you deal successfully with depression.”

—Frank Verloin deGruy III, MD, Chair, Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine


“Wright and McCray have compiled a wealth of information about depression—its causes, treatment, and how sufferers can contribute to their own recovery. Drawing on elements of all the proven treatments for depression, the book provides clear guidance and practical steps for those experiencing depression as well as their friends and family members. Because the book is organized in relatively brief but cohesive chapters, readers really can take the one-step-at-a-time approach to resolving depression that Wright and McCray recommend.”

—Ellen Frank, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine


“This book gave me hope, understanding, and just the right kind of practical help that I need. I really like how it integrates multiple strategies to combat depression.”

—T. H.

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Table of Contents

Preface

Authors' Note

1. Getting Started

2. Medical Illness and Depression

3. Paths to Depression: Paths to Wellness

I. The Thoughts–Action Path

4. Fighting Negative Thinking

5. Restoring Energy and Enjoying Life

6. Building Self-Esteem and Using Strengths

7. Enhancing Well-Being

II. The Biology Path

8. Getting the Most from Antidepressants

III. The Relationship Path

9. The People in Your Life: How Relationships Can Influence Recovery from Depression

10. Managing Relationship Problems to Improve Depression

IV. The Lifestyle Path

11. Lifestyle Changes

V. The Spiritual Path

12. Using Spiritual Resources

VI. The Mindfulness Path

13. Mindfulness

14. Developing a Plan and Making It Stick

Resources

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About the Authors

Jesse H. Wright, MD, PhD, is Kolb Endowed Chair of Outpatient Psychiatry and Director of the Depression Center at the University of Louisville. A well-known authority on depression and cognitive-behavior therapy, he is the author of award-winning books for both the general public and professionals. Dr. Wright was Founding President of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, is a Fellow of the American College of Psychiatrists, and received the Distinguished Educator of the Year Award from the University of Louisville.

• Author's website

Laura W. McCray, MD, practices family medicine in Burlington, Vermont, with a focus on mental health in primary care. She is Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Associate Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Vermont. A recipient of four Family Medicine Teaching Awards from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Vermont, Dr. McCray lives in rural Vermont with her husband and young son. She is very pleased to be collaborating with her father on this book.

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Audience

Readers seeking tools to manage depression. Also of interest to mental health and medical professionals and students.