Customer Reviews

The Depression Advantage

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There is something truly inspiring and revolutionary about this book and its message - that there are advantages to be gained from depression. Recovery, self awareness, spirituality, perception of the light within the darkness. These can be the gifts leading to recovery, a condition made possible through our perserverance in the face of "almost" insurmountable despair. Tom Wootton has scored a major win in our - and I mean consumer and nonconsumer alike - battle to understand in depth some of the mystifying choices laid before us on the path of mental "illness", esp. as it pertains to those of us living with a bipolar condition. It is up to us to do something with our lives, to not give in absolutely to the absolute immobility of depression. The author goes with honesty, clarity, and self revelation, into the heart of depressive episodes, offering sufferers and their companions a new definition for functionality ("Redefining Functionality") which helped me gain a wonderful new perspective on my condition. He speaks of the great spiritual masters in history - St. Teresa, St. Anthony, Milarepa, St. John of the Cross, & St. Francis of Assisi - and of their own paths of transformation. Through their mental and emotional pain, through their examples, we have been given great evidence of recovery. And through the courage of people like Tom Wootton who share their deepest personal history, we have tools we can choose to use to our advantage. As he states so eloquently, "Through brain research, genetics, modern psychology, and the synthesis of knowledge from cultures across the globe, we stand at the crossroads of a new paradigm of mental health. I believe it is one that will change mental illness into an advantage for everyone." In a chapter discussing what we can learn from others' examples, he tells us that "They have already shown us the way...We have tools they never had...We don't have to suffer to succeed...We don't have to be depressed again...Our condition demands introspection and change." He outlines how we get there from here, wherever here is for us, to recovery.

I hope that this book stirs discussion among NAMI groups, Peer Recovery Specialists, Psychiatrists and other mental health care workers, DBSA groups, and all those who have yet to find the advantages that await them within. The culture of perfectionism that dictates a world without people like me in it needs to pick up this book and educate itself. I also hope that reading this book will induce more readership of Wootton's previous material, esp. "The Bipolar Advantage". It is crucial that people realize, wake up to the fact that being a person with a mental condition is not a death sentence, does not have to be held over their head as a stigma, they do not deserve to be eradicated from the earth through genetic manipulation. We have gifts beyond price if we can only learn to spin the straw into gold. Tom Wootton lucidly and in detail explains how this is possible if we choose to do the work. This book is inspiring, sure to provoke discussion, thoughtful, and very well written. Bravo!

I saw Tom talk to our NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) group recently. His books, which were written during manic episodes of his bipolar illness, seemed like the kind of ideas that might come from manic states. Or smoking dope. "Depression isn't a disadvantage, its an advantage!" "Why didn't I think of that before!" I listened to what Tom had to say but didn't hear many particulars. Although I was skeptical that he had anything really meaningful to say, I thought, "What if he does? It would be worth $20 bucks if he was right and it actually could change my whole life." I wish I had saved my $20 bucks. I would gladly send my book back for a refund.

Tom's book is the kind of book that gives "self-help books" a bad name. It promises so much more than it delivers - which are basically platitudes and further enticements for more insights. Assuming you are willing to shell out more money. In the last chapter of the book, which so far had delivered nothing much more than "every cloud has a silver lining," Tom makes mention of the one and two-day workshops he can sell you and his other book Bipolar Advantage.

Finally, Tom uses a big portion of the book telling us stories about saints who reached God by going through immense pain. Insinuating that we could do the same thing. I grew up Catholic and during church I we had a book "Lives of the Saints" that was available to read. Since mass was in Latin in those days and boring and repetitive, I read the book. The message I got from the book was that these saints came to God because of their love for him and their abilities to put up with the pain and still remain loyal to him. Not, as Tom would have us believe, because of the pain.

On the positive side, the book is well written. It just doesn't have much to offer except promises. The whole thing reminded me of a snake oil salesman. Buy this great product, it will cure all your illnesses. It will save your life." Balderdash! Don't say I didn't warn you. Save our money.

This book really had an impact on my life. I've had depressive bipolar states for as long as I can remember and dealing with this illness has become the most challenging thing in my life. When I started reading the book I was skeptical that there could be anything positive in depression, but I was looking for anything positive that might help me. Tom Wootton has created that in The Depression Advantage. It taught me to cope more effectively with my depression and how to find a spiritual richness that I never knew could exist in the midst of my depression. This book is not a fake cure all book. It's honest and straight forward and Tom writes in an easy to read style that makes it seem like the author is right there with you. I hope you will take the opportunity to give this book a try. I did and it helped me enormously.

As a retired pastor (www.sausalitopresbyterian), I have encountered dozens of people suffering from depression or who are bi-polar. Past wisdom and practice was to medicate them with strong drugs that in many cases rendered them unable to live anything resembling a normal life.

Tom Wootton is literally changing all of that. His approach is so revolutionary that, at first, most people, therapists and clients alike are surprised by it and must adjust to this new paradigm.

But, Tom is convincing an ever-broadening group of both professionals and their bi-polar and depressed clients that they don't need to consider themselves hopeless or helpless.

In his book, "The Depression Advantage" he has created a spiritual guidebook through the landscape of depression as well a barometer of where those feelings fall on the emotional spectrum. Where previous books on depression focus on climbing out of the condition, The Depression Advantage asks us to look at our surroundings and find our bearings, even while depressed.

Tom explores the depressed state as catalyst. A catalyst for seeking help, for connecting with others, for discovering self, and for finding new levels of functionality. Most importantly, he discovers the transformative powers of depression on the lives of those affected, using the lives of the saints such as Teresa of Avila, St. Anthony, Milarepa, Saint John of the Cross and Saint Francis of Assisi as examples.

Tom weaves a story of spiritual growth and even ecstasy obtained through great suffering. These examples form a pattern of hope for those who have been through the throes of depression and who may experience it in the future. Ultimately the stories he recounts are tales of joy and transcendent communion with a higher spirit that resides within each of us.

Buy and read this book and encourage those who suffer from depression to do so too.

Finally, a book about depression that doesn't try to make you replace "sad" thoughts with "happy" thoughts. It was really refreshing to find a book so down to earth about the realities of depression that also gave me great hope for living a full life even though I have depression. This book explores what it really means to live with depression full time and not be afraid of it. I especially liked the examples of the lives of the Saints and what it meant to them to live with the symptoms of depression.

This book gave me great insight as a person who suffers from depression myself.

I felt the writer was walking in my shoes and knows where my hurt is.

Using it to an advantage is something that hadn't occurred to me.

All that time I used to waste , I can now turn around

Oh yes, I still get depressed, (BIG TIME) but now I can somehow use my minds
"Big downer" through the rabbit hole to do one thing I like on the down day (at a minimum).

I can start small with "ok i'm going to try to play a favorite song" while laying on this couch.
to moving off the couch and walking to my patio where my favorite flowering
hanging baskets are ( I did them on a down day ).. to Wow what beauty there is outside, maybe i can get out today.

Starting small even while the voice inside was saying "what a lump you are today"
and deciding "this so called "lump" still has something I want from this day and you(inside voice) are not going to stop me (strong parental voice)

Now it comes so much faster. I find I can cut thru the "dead" tape in under 2hrs on a weekend with no plans and find myself enjoying a day that I would have spent regurgitating "why am I here" , what is so great about ....

Books are great! if you listen while you read

Tom Wooten knows MORE about THE EXPERIENCE of the bipolar than anybody else who LIVES the condition today. Want to know what it is like to be bipolar from someone who has "suffered" from it? "From the inside?" This is the book. A very interesting reading experience, too.

The Depression Advantage

I not only have bipolarism, but clinical depression as well. All of the books I've read on the topic of depression are geared to make the reader deny their depression; honestly, no one can deny their depression when they're depressed.

Wootton's book is the first to encourage readers to embrace their depression, to understand that looking at the world through the perspective of depression is a gift, a super power, an ability to be proud of.

This is the only advice that has ever truly worked for me.

Wootton's writing style is sincere, honest, and funny, and his book is full of experiences we depressed people can recognize and relate to.

If you ever get a chance to attend a Bipolar Advantage workshop take it! It will change your life.

Unlike any book on depression, the author looks at the depressive condition from a spiritual point of view. And, the opportunity for growth and development from this condition. Transforming book. You'll come away not feeling like you have a disability, but an opportunity.