[.ca] Breaking the Patterns of Depression (ISBN 0385483708)

Perfect Compliment to Richard O'Connor's:
In a seperate review I rated "Undoing Depression" with 5 stars and I give this book the same enthusiastic 5 star rating. Both books emphasize the need for depressed people to improve their lives and both books provide valuable information that will help accomplish this. Yapko seems to place a lot of importance upon cognitive therapy - depressed people almost invariably show errors in their thought processes that are harmful and teaching the depressed person to identify and correct these distortions is often the best way to accomplish rapid and lasting mental health. Often medications are needed, but using medications alone may help with the symptoms while not helping the patient to develop coping skills that are often needed in order to get at the root of the problem, and whereas insights alone may not be particularly helpful coping skills are. The book is well written with "Learning by Doing" excercises, and I like the way Yapko places emphasis upon understanding the various PATTERNS of depression for what they are, naming them, and helping the reader to recognize these patterns - to see them coming for what they are and to challenge them effectively (Chapter 2's title "Less Analysis, More Action"). I also think that many people will benefit from the section that focuses on common belief systems that can be harmful (e.g., "Everything happens for a reason") and helps the reader to move beyond noncritical acceptance of thought patterns and overgeneralizations. I agree with other reviewers that there is no replacement for professional help, and medications may be necessary, but I also think that many mildly to moderately depressed people will beneift greatly from owning these two books.

A MUST READ for anyone with depression:
For about eight years now, I have suffered tremendously with depression. I've been on Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, and Effexor. There have been several suicide attempt as well. I was a complete wreck. Thanks to this book, I can finally use the term WAS to describe my depression. The skills learned were so foreign to me, that at first, it seemed strange to attempt to do the exercises suggested in the book, but after about a week, I started noticing serious results. I've been using the techniques described in this book for almost two months now, and I've never felt better. This book is NOT a mushy, feel good about yourself book, nor is it a book that will get to rehash old resentments, but rather one that helps you to see the world in a realistic way, and take control of those things that now have control over you and shouldn't. God has given all of us so much, including the right to determine how we want to live, and there is no reason to allow depression, or anything else to take that from us. Order the book as soon as you can, and join those of us who can thank Dr. Yapko for helping us regain happiness in our lives.

A different perspective on depression:
I appreciated Yapko's perspective on depression. He approaches depression from different perspectives, noting that sometimes it is chemical, but other times it is environmental and attitude. Yapko goes down the list of how some cliches and societal perspetives can contribute to anxiety, most memorably, he puts his own spin on the "if first you don't succeed, try try again" cliche, restating it as, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again . . . but try something different!" Keeping our options open, and being willing to try different things, can keep us from being depressed when we don't get exactly what we want in the way we wanted it. Another thing I appreciated was how Yapko noted that sometimes a belief in "higher meaning" can be used in cruel ways. Basically, he details how there are some people who believe that depressed people choose to be depressed, and that if only they would be more spiritual and more open to the positive things in the world then they wouldn't be in a depressed state. In this view, depressed people are seen as burdens who just won't "get with it." If only they would be more positive, and realize that they choose how they feel (and therefore have chosen this depression, and should feel bad for having done so because having chosen depression shows they are negative people), then things would be okay. Yapko notes that this is very cruel and lacks compassion. The irony being that such people (those who condemn depressed people as "negative thinkers") are themselves negative thinkers. This book provides a fresh perspective on depression. I really appreciated it.

Excellent self-help resource!:
This book is one of the rare self-help books that don't just cite facts about depression, but that also help the reader with his problems! First, Yapko distinguishes fact from fiction, then he proceeds to show the reader how to tackle problematic aspects step by step. The biggest highlight in the books are the numerous exercises that deal with nearly all components and aspects of depression: interpretation, distorted thinking, guilt, relationships ... It expertly combines all the various proven therapy techniques in one readable book. The exercises are quite revealing and are divided into "pause and reflect" and "learning by doing". Together with the book "the new mood therapy" by D. Burns this book is one of the best self-help books for depressed people. As a psychologist I really recommend reading it!

Advice that will be helpful to many:
I found this book to be somewhat original and filled with information that will be useful to many people, regardless of whether they consider themselves depressed. I come from the school of thought that the greatest component of moderate to severe depression is biochemical, though most people find themselves in the realm of mild depression. For the mildly depressed, Yapko's advice may be more likely to work. And, like I said, most people could benefit from transforming the way they view and interact with the world. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".