Depression: The Way Out of Your Prison

Rating:
Summary: Empathy, support, guidance.
Review: An easily understandable, comforting type of help for depression sufferers appears in this book by therapist and author Dorothy Rowe. Rowe, who can seemingly read minds, speaks to the reader much as an observant parent might, providing support, and even scoldings. The technical content of the book is minimized however, so those seeking a biochemical or genetic analysis must go to another. The author may have feared that some readers would come to view depression as a purely chemical problem, and therefore beyond one's own control. Depression described as a biochemical imbalance would also suggest chemical solutions, which the author personally dislikes.

As with other books, symptoms are described for readers to make an initial self-diagnosis for depression. So many books list these only using uncommunicative terms such as "difficulty making decisions", "worrying", "loss of interest", "poor memory" which one will have difficulty recognizing as one's own problems when in an inobservant frame of mind. Rowe however, also gives specific, personable descriptions of thoughts and behaviour obtained from therapy sessions with sufferers. Among the pages the depressed reader will surely see some of the very same preoccupations and habits which he/she suffers and be alerted. Besides the relief to readers who thus learn that others share their own embarassing difficulties, treatment is facilitated when one is aware of resistive thoughts and actions.

The book is probably most useful as a first book for those deciding whether to pursue therapy or whether to make life changes. This is because the book attempts to demonstrate that therapists are aware of the problems which sufferers experience and that depression is well studied. Though recommendations are made for those who wish to change their mental states, these are not particularly structured. It is likely that a therapist will be necessary to assist with setting of objectives and methods of achieving these.

Expect to pick up and put down the book frequently due to its long sections and paragraphs, which can be fatiguing. Furthermore, the subject of each chapter is very broad and it may be difficult to identify the main points of each. Among the pages are quotes and literary allusions which will be pleasant for the well read.

This reviewer is a sufferer himself, and wishes readers well, whatever paths they may choose. His thoughts are with you.

Rating:
Summary: good overview but lacks solid advice
Review: As a former sufferer of clinical depression, my most effective tool for recovery was self-help books. Although I would say that Dorothy Rowe writes in a very creative and understanding manner about the nature of depression and the binds which keep us in it, the book doesn't really venture beyond the abstract. Unlike the excellent "Overcoming Depression" by Paul Gilbert or "Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway" by Susan Jeffers, there is actually very little advice on how to practically integrate these ideas into your life, as well as how to cope on a day to day basis with the condition.

Rating:
Summary: Frank,candid,honest,genuine,illuminating,compassionate.
Review: Dorothy Rowe possesses a remarkable insight into the world of depression. She brings to the reader a wealth of experience upon which to draw consolation and reassurance. Depression is a condition that can be dealt with, no matter how difficult it may prove otherwise-and this is her remarkable venture into reaching those of us who might otherwise have given up. This book is a must read for anyone touched by depression. It may very well be the only book on depression you will ever need. Dorothy Rowe is it. Get this book!

Rating:
Summary: Depression, The Way Out Of Your Pain
Review: Dot Rowe has portrayed a picture of Depressin that is purely text book and there seems to be little idea of the true pain suffered by depression sufferers. I would not reccomend this book to anyone who needs help in coping with depression.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful only for mild depression
Review: I think this book was damaging for people with chronic depression, as it suggests that you can just pull yourself up by your bootstraps and, with the help of God, get over it. Harmful rubbish.

Rating:
Summary: Depressed? this book helps as good as a very wise friend.
Review: I wish I have read this book several years earlier. Dr. Rowe's penetrating way of helping you understand and change your opinions about life is amazing. Her experience in helping those among us whom, when bad happens, choose to build and lock ourselves in a mental prison, is great help. This book is a must read when you or a friend seek help with such a terrible condition as that of depression --Aras Taha Geylani, Istanbul, Turkey.

Rating:
Summary: I came out of my depression through reading this book.
Review: It was only from reading this book that I was able to understand my depressive state and believe me I had severe depression. Depression is not some chemicle imbalance. If I had of believed that then I would still be suffering from depression as all the anti-depressants that I had used not only didn't work but in some cases made me feel much worse since I suffered from side effects. What Dorothy Rowe wants people to understand is that there is a definant link between thoughts and emotions.Since I have read all of Dorothy's books I don't remember if it is from this particular book that I was able given the advice to free myself from depression, but I can tell you what it was. In one particular conversation that she had with a client called Margaret, she told Margaret to repeat to herself OUT LOUD "Margaret, Your're alright". Margaret followed Dorthy's advice and was cured of her depression. I decided to repeat this on myself, saying OUT LOUD my first name, then your're alright,every so often over a period of one or two weeks. What I experienced was amazing. I felt like a big black cloud literally rise from my entire body until it disappeared above my head.It was a truly amazing experience. I felt my body go kind if limp like a rag doll and that was it, that was the end of my depression. It took some time after to really fully recover, but that experience was the beginning of the end of my depression. What Dorothy tries to make people understand is that depression is a state of ABSOLUTE TERROR and that your're feelings affect your mind and your mind affects your're feelings.When you suffer from depression you are so full of guilt that you not only feel that you are evil you KNOW that you are evil. And you keep yourself in this state because it offers you safety. I urge everybody who suffers from depresion or who knows some-one who is suffering from depression to read her books.

Rating:
Summary: Great, informative enlightened book
Review: This book offered me a different perspective to depression from alot of books I've read. What I read made sense and the religious references are few and far between so don't think there's a religious element to this book because there isn't to speak of.

This book will stop and make you think. Some of the insights are really obvious when you think about them and you can really relate to them.

Give it a try it might just start you on the road to changing your life...

P.S. My name is not Dorothy Rowe. ;-)

Rating:
Summary: insightful and practical
Review: This is the very best book I have read about depression, and as a psychotherapist, I have read many. This book is written in a style that is both accessible and scholarly, so it can appeal to sufferers of depression and to mental health professionals alike. The author builds a metaphor throughout the book in which she discusses depression as a prison, which is built brick by brick by experiences and thoughts. The prison both protects and isolates the depressed person, and the depressed person wants to change, but feels helpless to change, thereby remaining in the prison. The author conveys a deep understanding of the pain of the depressed person, the beliefs that perpetuate depression (e.g., being depressed=being good, only bad things will happen to me) and then rationally disputes these self-defeating beliefs. This book provides much food for thought; as such, I appreciated reading it slowly so that I could reflect on it between chapters.