What if depression were a blessing as well as a curse? This is a book about how depression can have benefits as well as costs, and how to reap those benefits while making yourself feel better—better, in fact, than ever before. Semi-finalist, the BookLife Prize You have, in some sense, embarked on the hero’s journey. Despite being ill-fated, despite starting out as a victim and underdog, the hero is able to rise up to life and experience it in its horror and fullness, rather than merely suffer or survive it and occasionally drink its dregs like so many of us do. In myth, the aspirant has to travel through hell, or deep into the forest or labyrinth, before slaying the monster and re-emerging as a hero. If your depression is the journey through the Inferno, then let this book be your guiding Virgil. If your depression is the descent into the Cretan labyrinth, then let this book be Ariadne’s ball of red thread. A comprehensive, sympathetic, and thought-provoking guide for those who want to explore their depression in more depth. —The British Journal of Psychiatry Neel is an incredibly insightful and elegant writer, with a deep knowledge of all he surveys. —Dr James Davies, psychotherapist, author of Cracked ★★★★★ I have read most of Dr. Neel Burton's books and have enjoyed them immensely ... All in all, I found this to be a very insightful and engaging book on depression. —Jamie Bee, Amazon.com Top 50 Reviewer I've read many Neel Burton books. He's a wonderful writer and able to immerse you lightly in pretty heavy stuff. —Adrian Bailey, Vine Voice About the author Dr Neel Burton FRSA is a psychiatrist, philosopher, and wine-lover who lives and teaches in Oxford, England. He is a Fellow of Green-Templeton College in the University of Oxford, and the winner of several book prizes. His work features regularly in the likes of Aeon and Psychology Today and has been translated into several languages. When he is not reading or writing, or imbibing, he enjoys cooking, gardening, skiing, learning languages, visiting museums and gardens, and travelling, especially to sunny wine regions. ◆ Grab your copy now for a new and powerful way of looking at depression. Contents Part I: Understanding depression 1. What is depression? 2. What does depression feel like? 3. How bad can things get? 4. What is psychosis? 5. Who suffers from depression? 6. What causes depression? 7. How is depression diagnosed? 8. CBT, mindfulness, and other talking treatments 9. Antidepressant drugs 10. Electroconvulsive therapy 11. A philosophy of depression Part II: Modular self-help 12. The magical ring that lifts depression 13. Correcting thinking errors 14. Positive illusions vs depressive realism 15. Managing stress 16. Managing anxiety 17. A philosophical cure for anxiety 18. Facing up to death 19. Facing up to life 20. The happiness trap 21. The philosophy of happiness 22. Aristotle on eudaimonia 23. Seneca on success 24. Dealing with bad news 25. Coping with grief and bereavement 26. The view from above 27. The Stoic archer 28. Profiting from boredom 29. Getting out of your head 30. The Buddhist angle 31. Cultivating gratitude 32. Chicken soup for the soul 33. Mastering sleep 34. Releasing endorphins 35. The magic of music 36. Coping with psychotic symptoms 37. Coming off alcohol and drugs 38. Fighting thoughts of self-harm 39. Fighting suicidal thoughts 40. The philosophy of suicide 41. Building relationships 42. The 7 types of love 43. Dealing with insults 44. Building self-esteem 45. The wounded healer