Healing from Depression: Twelve Weeks to a Better Mood [Paperback]

Douglas Bloch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002

Over 100 million people worldwide are diagnosed with clinical depression each year. As stars like Rosie O’Donnell bring their battle with depression into the spotlight, the disease becomes less and less a shameful secret. In HEALING FROM DEPRESSION, Douglas Bloch shares his struggle with a life-threatening depressive illness, and explains how the power of prayer and other holistic approaches ultimately led to his recovery. As one of the estimated 19 million Americans who suffer from depression, Bloch could not be helped by such “miracle” drugs as Prozac. Therefore, he had to seek out conventional and alternative non-drug methods of healing. The result is HEALING FROM DEPRESSION, a 12-week program that combines his inspirational story with a comprehensive manual on how to diagnose and treat depression, offering new hope and practical strategies to everyone who suffers from this debilitating condition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An important and valuable contribution to the millions of people that suffers from depression and to the doctors who treat them." --Larry Dossey, MD, author of Reinventing Medicine --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Douglas Bloch is a teacher and counselor who writes and speaks on topics of psychology, healing, and spirituality. He has authored ten books including the inspirational self-help trilogy Words That Heal, Listening to Your Inner Voice, and I Am With You Always. He lives in Portland, Oregon, where he runs support groups for those healing from depression and anxiety.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press; 1 edition (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587611384
• ISBN-13: 978-1587611384
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #655,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good story of overcoming agitated depression, January 7, 2010

By 

O.L. "reader153" (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Healing from Depression: 12 Weeks to a Better Mood (Paperback)

A well-written account of coping with very deep depression combined with anxiety and agitation. The author spends a fair amount of time talking about how religion and spirituality played a major role in helping him, so if this is a major turnoff for you for some reason keep that in mind (interestingly he describes himself as having grown up in a middle-class Jewish family but the spiritual awakening he undergoes seems to be within the context of Christianity, although I don't remember if he ever gives more specific descriptions of it along theological lines). He spends the first half of the book talking about his suffering, roughly, and the second half about his recovery program. His prescription for recovery, in rough order of importance, seems to be exercise, spirituality, social support, medication, therapy and diet. (Don't take this as an absolute description it's off the top of my head.)

Also talks some about his struggles to find a long-term inpatient program, and his inability to do so under current insurance schemas (he winds up doing a day program, and recommends it for others.) Is not shy about talking about his own shortcomings, such as his divorce and the fact that he used to write self-help books, but was unable to follow his own advice when struggling with depressive symptoms.

Spends the obligatory amount of time paying lip service to biochemical and genetic theories of mental/emotional distress. Also discusses suicide, both in the context of his own impulse(s) towards that act as well as people close to him who acted upon it (the book is dedicated to one of them).

A useful complement to the genre of personal accounts of psychiatric suffering.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lakey seal of approval, March 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Healing from Depression: Twelve Weeks to a Better Mood (Paperback)

Douglas Bloch has written a clear, thorough and wonderful book. Anyone dealing with depression or who knows someone who is will benefit greatly from the presence of this book. Written with heart and knowledge, this is truly a gem.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for those who want to heal themselves from their broken spirits, February 15, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Healing from Depression: 12 Weeks to a Better Mood (Paperback)

Depression is a funk you need to pick oneself out of, but that's easier said than done. "Healing from Depression: A Body, Mind, and Spirit Recovery Program" is a guide for recovery from depression and what one can do to combat one's own problems. Organized as a twelve week self-help program, Douglas Bloch gives readers a fascinating and insightful look at depression and how to lift oneself out of it. With tips on dealing with multiple types from a mild case of the blues to serious thoughts of suicide, "Healing from Depression" is a must read for those who want to heal themselves from their broken spirits.