What a good idea for a book...
I know that I have been depressed since about age 11. I go to therapists and they help with situations, but never with the underlying depresssion. It is just there. I have good periods and bad periods. The book that helped me was "Seven Weeks To Sobriety" by Joan Mathews Larson. I think she has a book out now specifically about Depresssion. I am telling you this because while I found the book helpful, I didn't find it readable. It was frustrating to wade through and I had to extrapolate what I needed from it because I am not struggling with alcoholism. I picked it up after listening to a radio talkshow about food allergies, and they suggested the book, and said to replace alcohol with what you think you are allergic to. BUt it was not as simple as all that. I had it for over a year before doing anything with it because when you are depressed, you don't feel like doing anything, especially wading through an unreadable book. I will say that since I did, and I have been using the supplement she suggested since 2001, I have had little problems with depression. I ran out of the supplement once and for a week felt lost and sad and cried uncontollably until I remembered and went and bought it again. Joan's point is that not all depression is external that can be treated with therapy. She has found that a body that is lacking in certain nutritions or is allergic to something can be depressed or angry or what have you without external causes. I have also found that since I started taking the supplements, that my therapy has been much more useful. I have also heard of studies that show that depression can start with an external event, but become chemical later. I believe that is what happened to me. I am by nature an optimist and outgoing. I had some trama at ages 10 and 11 and became depressed. The idea that my later bouts of depression could be chemical fit, because of my nature. I am rambling, sorry. My point is maybe you could write something that while it is helpful and informative, is also inviting to read, so it doesn't feel like work for someone who doesn't want to do anything but lay on the couch and cry.
