Breaking the Patterns of Depression [Paperback]

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.

[Please read the whole review before buying the book.] While in the process of jumping through healthcare hoops to get into a therapy program, I asked my psychiatrist if there were any books or workbooks that I could start on my own. He said he knew of none, that what I really needed was therapy. Well, I'm still waiting to get into a program, but this book has been amazing! I will go into therapy prepared. I know what my problems are, and I know what I need to do to improve the way I think and feel. I am doing much of it on my own, with the help of dozens of exercises in this book.

This resource is so educational and EMPOWERING. It describes all sorts of distortions in thinking and feeling. The exercises help you make connections between how you think and why you are depressed. What I love about Dr. Yapko is that he is never condescending, and he never accuses the depressed person of causing their own problems. He does claim that depression is learned, but never blames or intimidates. Rather, he shows that there is hope in learning new patterns.

I have been in therapy before, and it involved rehashing feelings and experiences from my past. Dr. Yapko shows that what is more important to focus on is our process of thinking and handling events. Rehashing old experiences can just feed our depressive patterns. This explains why my last round of therapy didn't help me cope with my present problems!

This book has filled me with hope. There is a lot of information to learn, and many new patterns to develop. But all of that gives me hope for a better future. One of the exercises in particular has really opened my eyes to why I am currently in a depression. Knowing our vulnerabilities can explain when we fall into a depression, and can also help us prevent future episodes! I can't say it enough - buy this book for yourself or for someone you love.

FINAL NOTE: Medicine often has value and can help a person achieve a level of stability so that they can tackle the exercises and changes in this book. A severely depressed person should seek professional help and find a medication before starting this book. It could be very overwhelming for someone who is in complete despair.

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".