Protect Us from All Anxiety: Meditations for the Depressed (Solace for Survivors) [Paperback]

William Burke (Author), Mary Southard (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A book of stunning integrity, humanity, spirituality --Crux of the News

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: ACTA Publications (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879461845
• ISBN-13: 978-0879461843
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #915,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comfort and Rest for the Suffering, October 24, 2000

By 

Just-a-girl "abc-survivors.net" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Protect Us from All Anxiety: Meditations for the Depressed (Solace for Survivors) (Paperback)

This book is for those who have been thrown into chaos, doubt, and darkness by depression. It would also be enlightening for someone who has never dealt with depression but would like to understand it better. These meditations are short and appear to be simple. But if you are struggling with depression, they will open the floodgates of emotion, and they will remind you that you are not alone.

Priest Burke describes candidly many of the lonely difficulties that I have had in depression. He confronts his demons in this book; and in doing so, he helps me to confront mine. He learns to accept himself in these journal entries, and he encourages me to accept myself as well. Even in the darkest moments of depression, this book shows that there is light. Even the sketches are beautiful and sad at the same time. There is no easy cure found here, but there is so much more than that. I feel peace when someone else has the courage to voice the terrifying thoughts that come with depression. I am encouraged when I hear a godly man calling depression what it is - an illness. I am strengthened when I see him taking the steps to be healthy and whole.

One thing that I love about this book is its order and organization. It takes the reader through the process of healing slowly. The reader is not bombarded with too much information at once (or forced to deal with their issues all at once time, or told to have hope when they have none). The setup of the book is perfect for reading a couple of pages a day and then praying about those pages (short prayers are included). The book was obviously written and organized with respect for each individual's personal pain and process. Sometimes a meditation will leave the reader to discern its importance and meaning. Thus, these meditations go beyond all of the simplistic self-help guides out there and take the reader to a deeper level, their own personal level.

I don't know how I stumbled across this book, but I am so glad that I did. I've read it once through and am now reading it again. It is challenging me not to give up on healing. It is challenging me not to give up on my God or myself. This is the best work I have read on depression yet.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only one who has been there..., March 19, 1999

By 

Mary M. Schmidt "Lynx" (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Protect Us from All Anxiety: Meditations for the Depressed (Solace for Survivors) (Paperback)

Depression is, above all, terrifying, and only one who has been there can describe or have any understanding of it. William Burke has done a fantastic job here. His meditations are right on target for those who feel as if they are hanging on to a thin thread. This book will make that thread a lot thicker.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a powerful book, September 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Protect Us from All Anxiety: Meditations for the Depressed (Solace for Survivors) (Paperback)

I really found this helpful and practical. Fr. Burke's openness about his mental illness does much to remove the stigma still associated with treatable brain disorders!