Product Description

Twenty to thirty million Americans suffer from some form of diagnosable depression, and their ranks are growing. Psychologist Michael D. Yapko explains that in order to find relief, more than the current episode of depression must be examined. In Breaking the Patterns of Depression, he presents skills that enable readers to understand and ultimately avert depression's recurring cycles. Focusing on future prevention as well as initial treatment, the book includes over one hundred structured activities to help sufferers learn the skills necessary to become and remain depression-free.

Breaking the Patterns of Depression begins by translating the clinical literature on psychotherapy and antidepressant medication into language that can be used to enhance an understanding of depression, and to personalize individual cures. Yapko uses a conversational, anecdotal tone that encourages readers to take an active approach to helping themselves. Special sections entitled "Learn by Doing" and "Shifting Perspectives" help develop the skills necessary to manage difficult experiences. Readers learn how to solve problems effectively, anticipate the likely consequences of their actions, think and act in a direct, goal-oriented fashion, balance different areas of their lives, and use self-knowledge to stay out of harmful situations.

More realistic and helpful than other depression-management books on the market, Breaking the Patterns of Depression defines what causes depression and, best of all, clarifies what can be done about it. With this knowledge in hand, readers can control their depression, rather than having depression control them.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51899 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-15
• Released on: 1998-09-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

From Library Journal
The rate of depression has increased by nearly tenfold in those born in the years following World War II, making it the most common psychological problem in America. Depression expert Yapko presents a book that will help put depression in perspective and equip sufferers with the skills and knowledge to heal themselves of this modern plague. The first part of the book is devoted to discussing the clinical literature on psychotherapy and antidepressant medication. Here, the causes of depression, its diagnosis, and its treatment are explained in language easily understood by the lay reader. The second part is devoted to explaining the patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that signal depression. Yapko effectively uses case histories as well as more than 100 exercises to assist the reader in building the skills needed to manage depression. While there are many other titles on depression management, this book is a break from the widely held view that depression is mainly a biochemically based disease treatable with medication. It should serve to complement such books as Colette Dowling's You Mean I Don't Have To Feel This Way? (LJ 1/92) or Sandra Salman's Depression: Questions You Have...Answers You Need (LJ 2/1/95), which focus more on using drugs as a treatment for depression. An excellent book; recommended for all collections.?Dana L. Brumbelow, Auburn P.L., Ala.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"If depression has you in its grip, if your spirits need lifting, if tomorrow holds no promise of a better day, don't waste another minute: there's an antidote to feeling lousy and it's this book, Breaking the Patterns of Depression. Michael Yapko will help you unravel the mystery of depression and, more important, he will show you what you can do today to feel better immediately."
--Michele Weiner Davis, author of Change Your Life and Everyone in it and Divorce Busting

"Dr. Yapko has brought this book to all of us who battle the enemy of joy and peace--depression. And it is a wonderful guide. In it, he will teach you, as he has taught me, how to understand depression and how to defeat it. He will teach you how to look at yourself, the world, and the future in a new way. He will teach you that you can have a peaceful and meaningful life, and he will teach you how to do that."
--Dr. Lynn D. Johnson, Ph.D., director of the Brief Therapy Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, and author of Psychotherapy in the Age of Accountability


From the Hardcover edition.

Ingram
Contradicting the widely held belief that depression is a disease best treated with medication or extensive psychotherapy, this unique and multifaceted book shows how to recognize the patterns that contribute to depression, and how to break them.

Customer Reviews

Perfect Compliment to Richard O'Connor's
In a seperate review I rated "Undoing Depression" with 5 stars and I give this book the same enthusiastic 5 star rating. Both books emphasize the need for depressed people to improve their lives and both books provide valuable information that will help accomplish this. Yapko seems to place a lot of importance upon cognitive therapy - depressed people almost invariably show errors in their thought processes that are harmful and teaching the depressed person to identify and correct these distortions is often the best way to accomplish rapid and lasting mental health. Often medications are needed, but using medications alone may help with the symptoms while not helping the patient to develop coping skills that are often needed in order to get at the root of the problem, and whereas insights alone may not be particularly helpful coping skills are. The book is well written with "Learning by Doing" excercises, and I like the way Yapko places emphasis upon understanding the various PATTERNS of depression for what they are, naming them, and helping the reader to recognize these patterns - to see them coming for what they are and to challenge them effectively (Chapter 2's title "Less Analysis, More Action"). I also think that many people will benefit from the section that focuses on common belief systems that can be harmful (e.g., "Everything happens for a reason") and helps the reader to move beyond noncritical acceptance of thought patterns and overgeneralizations. I agree with other reviewers that there is no replacement for professional help, and medications may be necessary, but I also think that many mildly to moderately depressed people will beneift greatly from owning these two books.

THE Depression Resource (that is changing my life)

[Please read the whole review before buying the book.] While in the process of jumping through healthcare hoops to get into a therapy program, I asked my psychiatrist if there were any books or workbooks that I could start on my own. He said he knew of none, that what I really needed was therapy. Well, I'm still waiting to get into a program, but this book has been amazing! I will go into therapy prepared. I know what my problems are, and I know what I need to do to improve the way I think and feel. I am doing much of it on my own, with the help of dozens of exercises in this book.

This resource is so educational and EMPOWERING. It describes all sorts of distortions in thinking and feeling. The exercises help you make connections between how you think and why you are depressed. What I love about Dr. Yapko is that he is never condescending, and he never accuses the depressed person of causing their own problems. He does claim that depression is learned, but never blames or intimidates. Rather, he shows that there is hope in learning new patterns.

I have been in therapy before, and it involved rehashing feelings and experiences from my past. Dr. Yapko shows that what is more important to focus on is our process of thinking and handling events. Rehashing old experiences can just feed our depressive patterns. This explains why my last round of therapy didn't help me cope with my present problems!

This book has filled me with hope. There is a lot of information to learn, and many new patterns to develop. But all of that gives me hope for a better future. One of the exercises in particular has really opened my eyes to why I am currently in a depression. Knowing our vulnerabilities can explain when we fall into a depression, and can also help us prevent future episodes! I can't say it enough - buy this book for yourself or for someone you love.

FINAL NOTE: Medicine often has value and can help a person achieve a level of stability so that they can tackle the exercises and changes in this book. A severely depressed person should seek professional help and find a medication before starting this book. It could be very overwhelming for someone who is in complete despair.

A MUST READ for anyone with depression
For about eight years now, I have suffered tremendously with depression. I've been on Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, and Effexor. There have been several suicide attempt as well. I was a complete wreck.

Thanks to this book, I can finally use the term WAS to describe my depression. The skills learned were so foreign to me, that at first, it seemed strange to attempt to do the exercises suggested in the book, but after about a week, I started noticing serious results. I've been using the techniques described in this book for almost two months now, and I've never felt better.

This book is NOT a mushy, feel good about yourself book, nor is it a book that will get to rehash old resentments, but rather one that helps you to see the world in a realistic way, and take control of those things that now have control over you and shouldn't. God has given all of us so much, including the right to determine how we want to live, and there is no reason to allow depression, or anything else to take that from us.

Order the book as soon as you can, and join those of us who can thank Dr. Yapko for helping us regain happiness in our lives.