Depressed and Anxious: The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Workbook for Overcoming Depression & Anxiety (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Depression is when it takes energy to just move..." (more)
Key Phrases: strategic behavior skills, taking opposite action, increase positive experiences, Higher Power, Supreme Being, Dialectics of Anxiety (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A revolutionary, proven-effective model that shows you how to:
· Identify symptoms of mixed anxiety and depression
· Cope with negative and painful emotions
· Calm your anxious mind
· Regulate dramatic mood shifts
· Learn how to soothe yourself
· energy and enthusiasm

Imagine feeling depressed and drained of energy and initiative while also being overwhelmed with feelings of dread and anxiety about the future. The consequence of this intolerable state of mind amounts to behavioral paralysis, a profound loss of control and quality of life. Therapist call this condition co-occuring depression and anxiety. Clinical research suggests that 60 percent of depression sufferers concurrently experience some kind of anxiety disorder. This book, the first written to general readers about this condition, uses the powerful techniques of dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, to help readers control both conditions.

DBT begins with the assumption that psychological problems are the result of feeling or emotional responses that are in conflict. It integrates a range of theraputic techniques to "tease apart" and resolve the competing internal needs and urges that generate anger, depression, and anxiety. By recognizing these conflicting emotions and forming new expectations, readers alleviate the symptoms generated by these conflicts. The book begins by having readers identify their most painful inner conflict. Then they develop compromises that acknowledge the issue but limit its ability to interfere with their lives—effectively reducing the extent to which their emotions govern who they are or what that are capable of. Exercises focus on assisting readers to become more responsive to uplifitng aspects of their enviroment and tolerant of unavoidable emotions.

From the Publisher

An expert in dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, shows readers who struggle with both anxiety and depression how to use ideas from this powerful therapy to relieve their symptoms and regain control of their lives. Readers use mindfulness techniques and cognitive behavioral strategies to tolerate distress, silence negative self-talk, and resolve inner dialectical conflict.

· Statisticians report that more than 50 million Americans suffer from depression and anxiety
· This is the first book to address co-occurring depression and anxiety
· From a leading expert in dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT—the newest, breakthrough model in psychology today

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Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications; 1 edition (May 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572243635
• ISBN-13: 978-1572243637
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,908 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #16 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Anxiety Disorders
  #23 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Aging > Depression
  #37 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Mood Disorders

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars more questions than answers, did not work for me, March 16, 2005

By	Self Helper "Sam" (New York) - See all my reviews

Dialectical behavior therapy (a form of Cognitive Therapy), this book is based upon, is derived, in part, from a process in which seemingly contradictory facts or ideas are weighed against each other to come up with a resolution or balance. For instance, you might learn about accepting who you are, faults and all, while at the same time making changes in your thoughts and behaviors. Sounds great, doesn't it?

The first 10 pages were extremely interesting and hopeful. But then, suddenly, the book becomes cryptic and hard to follow.

I consider myself to be someone of at least average intelligence with a BA in psychology. I've read and used many of self-help books with a degree of success.

As much as I wanted to like this book, I failed to understand its philosophical foreign concepts. Even simple ideas, felt more complex than needed to be, given some esoteric definitions. I wish I could have given you an example, but unfortunately, I was so lost in this book.

I am not sure who is at fault: the author for not explaining it, myself for failing to understand, or DBT being so complex, but after about 2/3 of this book, I finally mindfully accepted that I needed to give up.

I my opinion,there are two problems with this book.

1. The author is just unable to explain new concepts to a newbie, especially when they are so "new-age". Marra is more suited to be a researcher, rather than write a self-help book for a patient who is confused and reduced by his/her problems in the first place and has no prior background in psychology or philosophy. (It can be done, just read Mind over Mood by Greenberg and you'll see what a clear and well organized self-help book has to look like).

2. Quite possibly, DBT is not well suited to be self-taught from a book.

At some point, I will give this book another go, and if I feel any different, I will amend my review accordingly. By no means, I would give up on DBT since study after study confirms its superior effectiveness in treating Borderline Personality Disorder as well as more common intense emotions.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Pithy work, March 19, 2006

By	G. Freeman - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In purchasing T. Marra's work on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, I was believing I purchased a workbook suitable for use in session that would assist my struggling client's work through the complicated issues of low stress tolerance and other areas of dysregultaion. Alas, I was greeted with another author utilizing advanced terminology and contradicting the endorsement that this manual would "penetrate the jargon of dialectics." It is a useless manual for my clientele. Marra's work is yet another writing that requires too much effort at untangling his psycho language. The client's read the material and are lost at how to use the skills in a manner that will increase their quality of life. This is also my complaint with Marsha Linahan's works. Her material is appropriate for graduate work but not in the trenches of the clinical office. If an agency can afford her tapes, the material is then broken down but most non-profit agenices are not so fortunate. With Marra's manual, I discovered more of the same on my search to find materials helpful for breaking down the complicated techniques so they may be easily applied with the individual in session and in groups. GFL LCSW

47 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent therapy for depression and anxiety consumers, May 8, 2004

By	Patty E. Fleener "Webowner - Mental Health Today" (Oregon) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm the webowner of Mental Health Today. The author has taken dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) which was originally used for borderline personality disorder consumers and prepared it for the use of consumers who experience anxiety and depression disorders. The book is excellent! Workbook filled with wonderful exercises. It's about time DBT has been claimed to assist other disorders and has been done so well in this book. Highly recommend!