59 of 59 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Life After 7 Years of Suffering, Dec 5 2010
By N. Stevens - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Depression Cure: The 6-Step Program to Beat Depression Without Drugs (Paperback)
For the last 7 years I have fought with depression that has gone from mildly inconvenient at times to downright debilitating at other times. I discovered Dr. Ilardi's book after coming off of almost a full week of being unable to even make it out of bed. At that point I had already gone through 3 different types of drugs and was thinking I was going to be moving to another type soon. But that wasn't much hope as each type I tried would work for a few weeks and then I'd be back almost to where I started.
I was able to get together enough energy to read through the first step of TLC (dietary supplement) and make a trip to The Vitamin Shoppe. I started to take the recommended doses of the vitamins and noticed some slight changes in a couple of days. Within a week I was able to make it through the next few sections of the book. I started to notice rumative behavior and redirect it. I put a light box on order. I started doing some light exercise on the exercise bike (after clearing the dust). And I started to feel even better. I eventually made it through the rest of the book and started to record my depression symptoms according to the very helpful survey in the book. The first week I was in the 10-15 range (already a huge drop from where I estimated I was when first starting). The next week I was under 10. And this last week for the first time I can remember since I was in high school, I had ZERO symptoms of depression. This in spite of an extremely stressful week at work.
It's hard to put into words what coming out of depression feels like. All I know is that I feel right now in a way that I thought I'd never be able to again. ANY physician who treats depressed patients needs to be aware of this research. I know I will be making my doctor aware of it the next time I see him... and hopefully save someone else the length of suffering I went through.
"The Depression Cure" is not a pipe dream - this is the real deal.
85 of 88 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
TLC for everybody, Jun 13 2009
By Keith A. Abney - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Depression Cure: The 6-Step Program to Beat Depression Without Drugs (Hardcover)
Dr. Stephen Ilardi has written a highly accessible book that has something to offer everyone, not merely those who suffer from clinical depression. Without stooping to the charlatanism of New Age healers, Ilardi points out that mental and physical health are intimately connected, for reasons connected to our evolutionary heritage. He goes beyond the banal, vacuous advice of 'diet and exercise' to tell us with greater specificity what exactly in our diet (omega-3s), bodily environment (aerobic exercise, sleep) and and external environment (sunshine, close and frequent interpersonal contact) that we need to combat the epidemic of the blues.
The implications of his book are multitudinous and profound: among others, for the role of medication in national health care policy and our attempts to prevent depressive illness - if his work is taken seriously by those in government, the health care system could begin a much-needed movement toward wellness for all and prevention of disease, instead of merely rewarding pharmaceutical companies for campaign donations.
This is the rare book in the field that is useful, not merely for the clinically depressed, but also for those merely suffering from the 'normal blues', or even those just wishing to enhance the well-being of their lives. His TLC program can help just about everyone, and most of its elements are low-cost or free! I believe this book potentially could be prove to be a watershed moment in the very understanding of illness and the goals of medical treatment. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
48 of 53 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A compelling new treatment regimen, Jun 4 2009
By Dan Browning - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Depression Cure: The 6-Step Program to Beat Depression Without Drugs (Hardcover)
First, a disclaimer: I am a friend of Dr. Ilardi's, and I have been following the development of his "TLC" (Therapeutic Lifestyle Change) treatment regimen for several years. Having said that, I would not be giving this book five stars if I didn't think it represented a true breakthrough in the treatment of depression.
Dr. Ilardi writes in an intelligent and accessible style; he brings a keen intellect to his academic research and a genuine sense of compassion for his patients and all those who suffer from the scourge of depression. He balances theory and practice, providing practical advice to implement the six steps of his innovative program.
Dr. Ilardi provides compelling evidence for both the efficacy of his own protocol and the ineffectiveness of so many commonly prescribed pharmaceutical and other therapeutic solutions. I believe that readers who have struggled for years with depression (especially those for whom conventional treatments have failed) will benefit greatly from the sound, sage advice contained in this outstanding book.
If you have a friend or loved one who suffers from depression (or if you yourself do), I cannot urge you strongly enough to get a copy of this book for them (or for yourself). It could literally be a life-saving read.