I started this from a position of wary cynicism. I've seen a lot of toxic positivity on social media and I was worried this might be in the same vein. Thankfully, it isn't but it is a little too light and fluffy to be of real help without other forms of therapy and support. If you're just trying to improve your own mental health on a dark day, go for it but if you're in a dark, dark place, I can't see this being helpful.

I really enjoyed that this book gave very simple techniques that could be used every single day. The suggestions and ideas in this book are all incredibly realistic so they are not too overwhelming for someone just starting out their journey to improve their mental health.

This book gives many ideas on more positive, upbeat thinking. I was introduced to the word Resilience. Toughness.

Working as a mental health nurse, I love any books that help with my own mental wellbeing as well as being able to pick up tips to use professionally. This is a really well laid out book, full of useful and practical advice.

A Good book for anyone who is suffering from depression or for anyone (like myself) who has an interest in psychology

Book: “Positive Psychology for Overcoming Depression– Self-Help Strategies to Build Strength, Resilience and Sustainable Happiness” by Miriam Akhtar

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

This books is relatively short for a self-help book. It is 254 pages on a digital copy. It is full of good information some of which is common sense but others that are the result of research studies. Miriam Akhtar suffered being “visited by the black dog” but no more based on practices she has implemented in her life.

Miriam spends a good portion of the beginning book explaining what “depression” is and is not. It is rather exhaustive and I wonder when you truly deal with depression, do you need such a lengthy explanation. Depression is a lengthy and continuous feeling of being hopeless, helpless and worthless. It is much more than a passing fancy. It is intense. There are psychological, physical and social symptoms to depression but too many to list here. It is the black hole that you simply can not get out of. There are various spirals you can take down with you from psychological, social to physical and pessimistic spirals.

She starts off the book about the 'Tale of the Two Wolves.' The grandfather is explaining to his grandson that there is a struggle going inside each person. A wolf that is evil and mean and a wolf that is good and positive. The grandson asks, which wolf wins to which the old man responds “Which ever one you feed?” It is very important then to feed the positive part of yourself and with determination, deny the negative of any feeding to the evil or bad one.

Miriam suggest doing positive things each day even if it is small and for example involves simply walking in the mall. Many approaches involves using your mental capacity to make changes and as this is the case, it will take time and constant repetition to do so.

Some of the arsenal in the positive kit are: Gratitude, Savouring, Acts of Kindness, Connecting with Loved Ones, Using your Strengths, Mindfulness Meditation, Loving-Kindness Meditation, Physical Activities, and Visualizing Your Best Possible Self (seeing your future positively).

Miriam Akhtar highlights many books that offer further insights into the positive parts of the kit. She references these book as places to get more information to deal with depression.

With gratitude, it is dependent upon the senses you relate to most as to what you are most thankful for. With visual, it might be seeing beautiful art and with touch, it might be a massage or hot bath. With smell, it might be smelling flowers and with auditory, it might be listening to good music or a listening to a choir.

French author, Albert Camus, speaks of “In the midst of winter, I found there was inside me an invincible summer.” We all need to see the beauty and positives in the negative and the cold.

With Loving-Kindness meditation, there are three aspects available – a Visualization of imagining a person smiling at you, of Reflection – reflecting upon positive aspects of a person or yourself and Sound – repeating a sound or mantra such as “Loving Kindness.”

Some tactics for dealing on worrying are: distract yourself, write down your fears, avoid the triggers that set you off and taking one small step towards solving the problem in a s positive way.

These are some of the methods that Miriam has used in dealing with her depression and it can help you too. I recommend this book to people who deal with depression. There is more in the latter part of the book.

Tags: Positive Psychology, Depression, Self-help, Strength, Resilience, Happiness, Visited by the Black Dog, Anxiety, Gratitude, Savouring, Acts of Kindness, Connecting with Loved Ones, Using your Strengths, Mindfulness Meditation, Loving-Kindness Meditation, Physical Activities, and Visualizing Your Best Possible Self

I really enjoyed Miriam Akhtar's book "Positive Psychology For Overcoming Depression." She provides a comprehensive set of health modalities in an uplifting way. As the founder of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Chapter in my county, I work with women with mood disorders including depression. I'll recommend this book to help them as they struggle with depression because even if they can't incorporate most of the tools the author suggests, they can start with a few and I think they'll gravitate to her accessible writing style.

As a psychology major and someone that struggles with depression, I found this approach to be relevant and highly recommend it.

This is a great practical book for anyone suffering from depression or just feeling a bit blue. You can dip in anywhere and have a go at any of the exercises that you feel drawn to. I think it is pitched at just the right level - not too much information but straight to the most helpful bits.. It is simplistic in parts but that is exactly how it needs to be. I think it could be used by anyone without them feeling overwhelmed. I liked the bubbly and encouraging approach and the structure was just right. Far better prescription than pills. Thank you

I have really enjoyed the parts of this book that I have read so far. I am a big believer in positive psychology so lots of it resonated with me. I feel that this could be a great book to keep handy to dip in to in times of need.