Despite the billions spent on prescription anti-depressant drugs and psychotherapy, people everywhere continue to grapple with depression. James Gordon, one of the nation's most respected psychiatrists, now offers a practical and effective way to get unstuck. Drawing on forty years of pioneering work, Unstuck is Gordon's seven-stage program for relief through food and nutritional supplements; Chinese medicine; movement, exercise, and dance; psychotherapy, meditation and guided imagery; and spiritual practice. The result is a remarkable guide that puts the power to change in the hands of those ready to say 'no' to suffering and drugs and 'yes' to hope and happiness.
--This text refers to the
Kindle Edition
edition.
Unstuck
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
A world expert offers a practical, proven guide to finding hope and happiness in the ashes of depression. Unstuck is superb. -- Mehmet Oz, Author You: The Owner's Manual Both therapist and patient will benefit hugely from reading this book. -- Deepak Chopra Unstuck is the most exciting book on transforming depression I've ever read. Before you reach for a drug, read this book to feel better. This book is exactly what this overmedicated country needs right now. Thank you, Dr Gordon, for writing it. Dr Christiane Northrup, author of The Secret Pleasures of Menopause Whoever you are, whatever it is that you do, wherever it is that you come from, and especially if you practice a healing art, whether as Psychiatrist, Physician, Surgeon, Naturopath, Chiropractor, Nurse, Alternative Practitioner, Priest or Counsellor, there is pure gold in this book for you - this book is the King Solomon's mine for mental health and wellbeing for our time - I never want to be without this book as a resource on my shelf for me, for my patients, and for my colleagues. -- Dr Kim Jobst Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Dr James S. Gordon is the founder and director of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM) in Washington, DC. A graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dr Gordon is a clinical professor in the departments of psychiatry and family medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and a former White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy. He is the author of Manifesto for a New Medicine and ten other books.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
194 of 203 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
*****
This book, written by a psychiatrist who himself has suffered from depression, will be controversial because it describes depression as "the beginning of an unfolding process of self-awareness, not the grim end of a disease process". The author challenges the prevailing model of depression as a medical illness, basing everything upon current brain research and current medical research dealing with depression. This is a very, very important book, one that every person who deals with depression should read.
If you are looking for a quick and dirty way of dealing with depression and want to take medication only, and from then on never think about depression or your life again beyond renewing your prescription, you would do better by NOT buying this book. Recovery from depression does take some work. On the other hand, if you want to know more about current research with SSRI's and view medication as only a part of your approach to dealing with depression, you should DEFINITELY buy this book. If you are like me and wish that you didn't have to take medication at all, and are willing to do some work to recover, you should absolutely buy it---you will love it and benefit greatly from it as I have.
If you want to know what research truly says about SSRI's it's here and more besides. Step-by-step techniques and tools. Examples that I could relate to. Integrating diet and exercise--what is shown to work and what doesn't. Supplementation. Support. Meditation. Movement. Awareness. Obstacles on your journey. Spirituality. There is a chapter on "the dark night of the soul", which includes dealing with suicidal thoughts. Alternative practitioners and alternative supplementation (including SamE, St. John's Wort, and rhodiola. There are huge appendices filled with resources to help you to find out more about every aspect of depression recovery. And of course, for clinicians and others, there are references to formal studies.
"Unstuck" is a resource manual---a bible, even---for depression recovery. It is important for those who have depression and for those who love them and for others who want to know what experts now know about all of the approaches to depression recovery.
Highly recommended.
*****
UPDATE 7-14-08: I just wanted to add that I in no way disparage people who need or want a "medication only" approach for depression. Apparently my review has given this impression to at least one person, and I regret this. Perhaps this will be clearer: if you are adamant that you want pharmaceuticals, and ONLY pharmaceuticals, and you don't care about any integrative adjuvant approaches, AND you don't care what any studies say about the medication you are taking, your money would be wasted by purchasing this book. If you are happy and cured of your depression, in your own estimation, then you are indeed fortunate and certainly would not want this book. You would not be or feel stuck, and thus would not want to be "unstuck".
This book, written by a psychiatrist who himself has suffered from depression, will be controversial because it describes depression as "the beginning of an unfolding process of self-awareness, not the grim end of a disease process". The author challenges the prevailing model of depression as a medical illness, basing everything upon current brain research and current medical research dealing with depression. This is a very, very important book, one that every person who deals with depression should read.
If you are looking for a quick and dirty way of dealing with depression and want to take medication only, and from then on never think about depression or your life again beyond renewing your prescription, you would do better by NOT buying this book. Recovery from depression does take some work. On the other hand, if you want to know more about current research with SSRI's and view medication as only a part of your approach to dealing with depression, you should DEFINITELY buy this book. If you are like me and wish that you didn't have to take medication at all, and are willing to do some work to recover, you should absolutely buy it---you will love it and benefit greatly from it as I have.
If you want to know what research truly says about SSRI's it's here and more besides. Step-by-step techniques and tools. Examples that I could relate to. Integrating diet and exercise--what is shown to work and what doesn't. Supplementation. Support. Meditation. Movement. Awareness. Obstacles on your journey. Spirituality. There is a chapter on "the dark night of the soul", which includes dealing with suicidal thoughts. Alternative practitioners and alternative supplementation (including SamE, St. John's Wort, and rhodiola. There are huge appendices filled with resources to help you to find out more about every aspect of depression recovery. And of course, for clinicians and others, there are references to formal studies.
"Unstuck" is a resource manual---a bible, even---for depression recovery. It is important for those who have depression and for those who love them and for others who want to know what experts now know about all of the approaches to depression recovery.
Highly recommended.
*****
UPDATE 7-14-08: I just wanted to add that I in no way disparage people who need or want a "medication only" approach for depression. Apparently my review has given this impression to at least one person, and I regret this. Perhaps this will be clearer: if you are adamant that you want pharmaceuticals, and ONLY pharmaceuticals, and you don't care about any integrative adjuvant approaches, AND you don't care what any studies say about the medication you are taking, your money would be wasted by purchasing this book. If you are happy and cured of your depression, in your own estimation, then you are indeed fortunate and certainly would not want this book. You would not be or feel stuck, and thus would not want to be "unstuck".
134 of 142 people found the following review helpful
By J. Knecht
Format:Hardcover
|
Length:
2:16
Mins
135 of 150 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Most if not all of the things Dr. Gordon recommends are excellent strategies not only for people who are mildly or moderately depressed (conditions that I think probably shouldn't be referred to as depression at all to avoid confusion), but for everyone else, too.
However, for those who are seriously and severely disabled by depression, but who still have just enough energy to read, I think you can get a more complete and balanced view of the situation with some additional or alternative material.
A good start would be reading the following articles by fellow depressive Therese Borchard (on the web - find through a search engine).
"Don't Get Stuck on "Unstuck": Depression Is Real, and Drugs Help Me"
"The Latest on Antidepressants: Be Careful Where You Get Your Facts"
Then, especially if you've read "Unstuck," I think you'll have truly balanced and thorough basis to make a recovery plan for yourself if you read (or listen to as an audio book) "Against Depression" by Peter Kramer.
A final caveat about Dr. Gordon's book: Several elements of his recommendations contain an underlying - sometimes subtle, sometimes not so much - suggestion that depression is fundamentally a character flaw, or something that can be eliminated simply through alterations in a defective worldview, etc.
It's true that everyone needs to take as much responsibility as possible for their own lives. Needless to say it's also true that a symptom of depression is negative and unhealthy thinking. But for people who have major depression it's not helpful to frame the problem in ways that might lead to even more self-recrimination. In fact, I think that can make the problem and the consequences far worse.
If you have serious depression, especially in repeat episodes, there is considerable science pointing toward a probability that you have a biological injury, not just a "weakness."
So here's an analogy: If you have a bullet in your foot, it really doesn't matter whether you shot yourself or whether someone else shot you, or whether someone handed you the gun and encouraged you to do it, etc. The injury is the same, and you need to get serious help before you bleed to death. And if you have serious depression, get serious help before your life ticks away in confusion and despair.
So the Gordon book may be helpful, or not, depending on you, your history, and your current situation.
However, for those who are seriously and severely disabled by depression, but who still have just enough energy to read, I think you can get a more complete and balanced view of the situation with some additional or alternative material.
A good start would be reading the following articles by fellow depressive Therese Borchard (on the web - find through a search engine).
"Don't Get Stuck on "Unstuck": Depression Is Real, and Drugs Help Me"
"The Latest on Antidepressants: Be Careful Where You Get Your Facts"
Then, especially if you've read "Unstuck," I think you'll have truly balanced and thorough basis to make a recovery plan for yourself if you read (or listen to as an audio book) "Against Depression" by Peter Kramer.
A final caveat about Dr. Gordon's book: Several elements of his recommendations contain an underlying - sometimes subtle, sometimes not so much - suggestion that depression is fundamentally a character flaw, or something that can be eliminated simply through alterations in a defective worldview, etc.
It's true that everyone needs to take as much responsibility as possible for their own lives. Needless to say it's also true that a symptom of depression is negative and unhealthy thinking. But for people who have major depression it's not helpful to frame the problem in ways that might lead to even more self-recrimination. In fact, I think that can make the problem and the consequences far worse.
If you have serious depression, especially in repeat episodes, there is considerable science pointing toward a probability that you have a biological injury, not just a "weakness."
So here's an analogy: If you have a bullet in your foot, it really doesn't matter whether you shot yourself or whether someone else shot you, or whether someone handed you the gun and encouraged you to do it, etc. The injury is the same, and you need to get serious help before you bleed to death. And if you have serious depression, get serious help before your life ticks away in confusion and despair.
So the Gordon book may be helpful, or not, depending on you, your history, and your current situation.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous book
This was recommended to me by a doctor, and it is a great book. A friend borrowed it, shared it with her daughter, who also liked it, and that is the last I have seen of it. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Elisabeth Anderson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Understanding
Help with understanding depression an how it can sneak up on you over time and methods to recover from it
Published 2 months ago by J. Albertoni
2.0 out of 5 stars
NO.
If I could do the things recommended in this book, then I wouldn't need the book in the first place. Read more
Published 3 months ago by KathInMaryland
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Really Helpful Book...
If you think you might be depressed and are reluctant to see a professional or for some reason you can't get to see one, this book will be a help. Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Allard
1.0 out of 5 stars
I'd sue this guy for malpractice if he tried this crap with me
Are you kidding me? Shaking as help for depression?
Consulting an "inner guide", as opposed to rational/critical thinking? Read more
Consulting an "inner guide", as opposed to rational/critical thinking? Read more
Published 6 months ago by Misanthrope
5.0 out of 5 stars
More Depression Voodoo
An open letter to Dr. Gordon:
I'm severely depressed. I bought your book, as after reading the reviews it seemed to offer alternatives and hope. Read more
I'm severely depressed. I bought your book, as after reading the reviews it seemed to offer alternatives and hope. Read more
Published 9 months ago by chaztv
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unstuck Will Get You...Well...
This book, written by a man, James S. Gordon, M.D., who REALLY understands Depression and who articulates it so accurately and so very eloquently, will, believe it or not, help to... Read more
Published 11 months ago by C. Davey Utter
5.0 out of 5 stars
I cured anxiety and depression using this book
This year I went through terrible depression and debilitating anxiety where I didn't want to leave my home due to my own health issues, the passing of a close friend and a whole... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Spoonfulofsugar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Technique and compassion
What I liked best about this book is that I felt as if the author truly felt compassion for the reader. The tone is gentle and reassuring, never condescending or scolding. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Willow
3.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't Unstick Me
I was desperate to overcome my severe clinical depression drug-free. I bought the book determined to put it into practice. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Cindy
