Appendix (4): Good Mood: The New Psychology of Overcoming Depression

Good Mood

Home
About Julian Simon
Table of Contents
Ways to Overcome Depression
Conquering Depression, Enjoying Life
Download Chapter
Buy the Book

back to
depression community

send this page to a friend

Good Mood:
The New Psychology
of Overcoming Depression

Chapter 2

cont.

There is a happy conclusion to the grim reports quoted above. Modern psychology and medicine provide rapid relief to most people who develop the sorts of depressions described in those reports. No more does a sufferer simply have to wait until nature takes it course, or until you can yourself can invent a way to successfully reshape your thinking patterns. Cognitive- behavioral therapy can promise relief to most people within a few months, accompanied by long-run protection against relapse by teaching you how to avoid depressing modes of thought. Drug therapy often provides fast relief of the symptoms, too, though without promising that your depression has been cured.

In view of the large number of depression sufferers -- a larger proportion of the population nowadays than ever before -- these advances must rank as among the most beneficial contributions of science to human welfare.

Summary

The chapter describes a variety of cases of depression, often in their own words. The rock-bottom element is the feeling of sadness. The term "sad" includes without distinction the feelings and moods one might call "melancholy," "blue," "being down," "misery," "grief," "despair," and similar descriptions of negative feeling. The prolonged feeling of sadness, plus the thought "I'm worthless", constitute depression; these two elements are the hallmarks of the depressed person.

advertisement

A variety of other symptoms are also found in some depressed persons--inability to sleep, disinterest in sex, inability to work, for example. But these other symptoms are by no means universal.

A sense of helplessness, often with a sense of hopelessness, accompanies or is part of the sadness and lack of self-regard in depression. The helpless attitude might be considered part of the core of depression. A rigid set of "ought's" and "musts", and a absence of pleasurable experiences, frequently are important constituents, too.

top | next | site map | send page to friend
chapt. 2 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

HealthyPlace.com Depression Center Links
home ~ site map

HealthyPlace.com Homepage
Chat ~ Forums ~ Communities
HealthyPlace.com Films ~ HealthyPlace.com Radio ~ News
Site Map ~ Web Tour ~ Advertise ~ Email Us
send this page to a friend

We subscribe to the HONcode principles of the Health On the Net Foundation.