The Chemistry of Joy: A Three-Step Program for Overcoming Depression Through Western Science and Eastern Wisdom [Paperback]

Henry Emmons (Author), Rachel Kranz (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0743265076 | ISBN-13: 978-0743265072 | Publication Date: December 27, 2005 | Edition: Original

The Chemistry of Joy presents Dr. Emmons's natural approach to depression -- supplemented with medication if necessary -- blending the best of Western science and Eastern philosophy to create your body's own biochemistry of joy. Integrating Western brain chemistry, natural and Ayurvedic medicine, Buddhist psychology, and his own joyful heart techniques, Dr. Emmons creates a practical program for each of the three types of depression: anxious depression, agitated depression, and sluggish depression. The Chemistry of Joy helps you to identify which type of depression you are experiencing and provides a specific diet and exercise plan to address it, as well as nutritional supplements and "psychology of mindfulness" exercises that can restore your body's natural balance and energy. This flexible approach creates newfound joy for those whose lives have been touched by depression -- and pathways for all who seek to actively improve their emotional lives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Psychiatrist Emmons offers hope to sufferers of mild to severe depression in this well-articulated approach to integrating therapeutic techniques from East and West. Identifying three main forms of depression—anxious, agitated and sluggish—Emmons pinpoints three intellectual/physical/spiritual " types" these varieties of depression correspond with, and explains how the types mirror ones described in India's ayurvedic medicine and in Buddhist psychology. A student of Jon Kabat-Zinn (Wherever You Go, There You Are) and Deepak Chopra (Perfect Health), Emmons draws on their work in the fields of mindfulness meditation and mind-body medicine, respectively, to help readers find the most effective combination of diet, supplements, exercise and stress-relieving techniques. He provides personal stories to illustrate how brain chemistry and medication can alter behavior and mood and discusses how readers can evaluate their own need for medication. In later chapters, Emmons offers strategies for accessing inner strength and wisdom, once brain and body chemistry are balanced. While much has been written on complementary care for most conditions, readers battling depression will likely find Emmons's vision of healing informative and persuasive; others will find many practical ways to achieve a healthy lifestyle. (Jan. 3)
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Review

"The Chemistry of Joy is a valuable guide for anyone wishing to find greater exuberance and fulfillment in their life -- and who doesn't?"

-- Larry Dossey, M.D., author of The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things

"The Chemistry of Joy is simply the best book I know on depression. And I do not speak lightly, having battled this disease myself. Henry Emmons is not only a skilled physician -- he has the heart of a healer. May you find, as I have, that in the midst of depression's deadly darkness, his words offer light and life."

-- Parker J. Palmer, author of A Hidden Wholeness, Let Your Life Speak, and The Courage to Teach

"What a joy it is to read Dr. Henry Emmons's book, The Chemistry of Joy. If you're ready to overcome the pain of depression and really feel great again, then this book is for you."

-- Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., best-selling author of Meditation as Medicine and The Better Memory Kit

"What a thoughtful and caring road map out of depression. The Chemistry of Joy is a true gem of understanding that offers a beacon of hope for those wanting alternatives to medication. Emmons combines several powerful modalities and distills them into clear and useful tools."

-- Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D., author of Potatoes not Prozac and The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Fireside; Original edition (December 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743265076
• ISBN-13: 978-0743265072
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Recovery > Substance Abuse

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! Not all depressions are created equal..., November 7, 2006

By 

Talia Mana (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Chemistry of Joy: A Three-Step Program for Overcoming Depression Through Western Science and Eastern Wisdom (Paperback)

At last! A doctor that differentiates between different types of depression...

Most doctors rate depression according to its severity. They may state that you are experiencing a major depressive episode or a mild depressive episode, or perhaps you have seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Dr Henry Emmons has a different approach. He classifies depression as follows:

Anxious Depression

Agitated Depression

Sluggish Depression


This is a potential break-through in diagnosis and the possibilities it offers for treatment. According to Emmons you may be a combination of the above three types but most likely show a preference to one type or another.

More significantly, each type of depression is attributed to an excess or deficit of chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain. Many people will already know that low levels of serotonin, otherwise known as the happiness brain chemical, can lead to depression and disrupted sleep patterns. However Emmons suggests that dopamine and norepinephrine also have a role in depression. This is not entirely new, however the attribution of specific types of depressions and tailored treatment is new.

Anxious Depression is characterised by low levels of serotonin and feelings of inadequacy and excessive worry, together with insomnia and potential carbohydrate cravings.

Agitated Depression is said to result from an excess of dopamine and norepinephrine resulting in restlessness, anger, irritability and digestive problems.

Sluggish Depression is characterised by increased sleep, withdrawal and passivity due to low levels of dopamine and norepinephrine.

In Emmons' book The Chemistry of Joy he suggests eating plans for each type of depression, together with generalised recommendations for vitamin supplementation. Most of the information on vitamin supplementation will be familiar and include the usual mainstays, such as B complex, folic acid, omega 6 (fish oil) and the like.

Interestingly Emmons speculates that Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), which are commonly prescribed for depression, are not effective long term. This contradicts accepted wisdom, however his reasoning is sound. He hypothesizes that SSRIs simply manipulate existing stores of serotonin and do not help create new sources of serotonin. Accordingly, if an individual has difficulty manufacturing serotonin then over time the existing stores will be depleted as the SSRIs can not stop re-uptake indefinitely. It's an interesting theory. I couldn't find any source for this from published research and it appears to be based on Emmons' observations of his patients but I think the theory has merit.

Emmons favours a combination of lifestyle changes and supplements to treat depression. He does not rule out medication but seems to prefer a diet rich in tryptophan (the precursor to serotonin) together with 5-HTP. If you have a deficit of dopamine and norepinephrine then dopamine/norepinephrine enhancing foods and supplements are recommended.

Although the dietary information is good I am concerned that some people may opt to stop their pills in favour of the diet. Please don't stop your medications without supervision from your doctor!!!

Emmons' book also recommends `Mindfulness Mediation' and making lifestyle changes according to your Ayurvedic body type, a philosophy made popular by Deepak Chopra in several books including Perfect Health.

The final step proposed by Dr Emmons is the daily use of Mindfulness Meditation. In his discourse on the benefits of Mindfulness, Emmons claims that in as little as 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week you can feel calmer, sleep better and get on better with your family and workmates. I couldn't wait to put it to the test!

Emmons uses Jon Kabat-Zinn's definition of mindfulness which he describes as:

"awareness from moment to moment, on purpose, without judgement"

He also suggests that we give up on self-improvement and instead focus on accepting ourselves and loving ourselves, as we are, complete with faults. Instead of trying to fix ourselves Emmons suggests that we will find happiness in self-acceptance. An interesting concept. My own take on it is that self-improvement IS essential. After all, mindfulness and self-acceptance involves learning new skills and changing the way we think. These are simply self-improvement tools. I don't see how one can be separated from the other.

On the subject of the practise of meditation Emmons makes some good points. He advises that you may not always feel restful and relaxed when you meditate. Also that sitting meditation (which is usually the first type of meditation that most of us are taught), is one of the most challenging forms of meditation. That's good news for me - I have to confess there are days I can not sit still to meditate. Instead I enjoy meditating while moving. Most people are led to believe that seated meditation is the ONLY type of meditation. This is not true - you can benefit from a variety of forms of mindfulness meditation.

I find meditating while dancing or walking is easy. Meditating while stuck in one spot makes me want to wriggle and squirm. Oh, and the itches and the aches and pains that I swear I feel when I am confined to a chair!

This is Emmons' own account of meditation:
"I can testify from my own experience that sometimes you'll feel deeply relaxed, and other times you'll be so restless you wonder why anyone bothers with this annoying practice. Sometimes when I meditate I feel real contentment; other times, I feel bored; still other times, I ache with the pain of difficult emotions, troubling memories, or just a diffuse grief that seems to have no source."

Regular mindfulness meditation has not cured my insomnia or magically improved my relations with friends and family but I do feel calmer and more positive and my coping skills have improved. It definitely works, although perhaps not quite as well as Dr Emmons suggests.

The Chemistry of Joy by Dr Henry Emmons is an excellent book - 5 stars - and a wonderful resource for anyone looking to combine Eastern and Western philosophies and make lifestyle changes to reduce or eliminate depression and anxiety.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book!!!, December 21, 2006

By 

Shirley Guppy (Idaho) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chemistry of Joy: A Three-Step Program for Overcoming Depression Through Western Science and Eastern Wisdom (Paperback)

Anyone looking to improve their lives should definetly take a look at this stuff. This book literally changed my life. Whether you suffer from mild or severe depression, the small suggestions offered in this book are priceless and very easy to follow (plus, they're fun to try).

I've spent years battling severe depression. I dropped out of college for a year, and recently ended up in the hospital with suicidal thoughts. I'm not sure if I would be here if I hadn't accidentally picked up this book. It was refreshing to find so many extra steps that I can take to improving my lifestyle, other than just medications and therapy. The book is easy to read and fascinating.
These practices have kept me on track in graduate school, and many people have told me I look better than I ever have (I'd bet everything that it has to do with my better diet and meditation practices). The book was just a start, but it's the only book I've ever seen that allows that kind of start. I've read extensively on depression, and I've never learned more than I learned in one little book.

Most of all, I feel better than I've felt since I was 16 (before the depression). This book has opened new doors for me and I feel well enough to take them all!!!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Book!, January 10, 2006

By 

A Grateful Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chemistry of Joy: A Three-Step Program for Overcoming Depression Through Western Science and Eastern Wisdom (Paperback)

Dr. Emmons' book is a great gift to people who suffer from depression as well as to their families and friends. It addresses an extremely complex problem with competence and clarity, warmth and compassion, and with great respect for the reader -- a remarkable accomplishment. I have suffered from mild depression. My spouse has had serious clinical depression. We have found Dr. Emmons' book to be a valuable reference to which we can turn for reliable information, both general and specific. Better yet, as we read this book, it almost felt as though Dr. Emmons was right there with us, offering not only wisdom and counsel but his gentle and healing presence of encouragement and hope as well. The combination of Western science and Eastern wisdom is a welcome contribution to the literature on depression and is presented in a very accessible way. I hope that the many people who suffer from depression, as well as those who treat them, will find their way to this superb resource.