Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have suffered from depression for many years. I found this book both insightful and helpful. Recommended.

This is a very interesting and informative book on Depression, both the small d and the large D. For someone who has suffered for a long time, it provides great food for thought and some reassuring perspectives on the causes. Why are some people bitten by “the black dog” while others are not. And why do some get the small d depression whereas others are hamstrung by it, sometimes leading to such despair that suicide is a feasible solution.

In her practice, the author has witnessed many kinds of depression of varying degrees. How much is nature and how much is nurture depends on the individual. That is one reason there is no hard fast one solution. What I found fascinating was how much of the current situations were based on learned behaviour from childhood. While some are more predisposed to depression, the triggers are often a result of perceptions that were reinforced over a lifetime. That, I suspect, is one reason why she has been so successful in helping people “talk out” their inner demons that plague the depressed person.

Written in a straightforward easy to read style, it has the right balance of clinical information and anecdotes. It is a book that can provide insight and understanding not only for the sufferer of the depression but also the people with whom that person most closely relates. It certainly provides much food for thought on the hows and they whys of the dynamic between those individuals. If nothing else, it could be a starting point for dialogue between the two parties.

Five purrs and two paw=

This is a insightful guide into depression, providing an informative and well-researched book.

Exploring case files and therapy sessions with suffers of the condition, we see how differently depression manifests in different people, and it also depunks a lot of myths surrounding the conditions, while looking into other mental disorders as well.

While this was informative, it was a little tiresome as it could get a bit repetitive. Other than that, I highly recommend it for people looking to educate themselves on the depression.

This book was different than I expected, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I was anticipating a description of the various ways that depressive illness can manifest in different people. This book delves into the different depressions that are already well-known, such as post-partum and bipolar. American readers will also need to get used to the British slang, which I thought added color to the text!