Summary of Robert L. Leahy's Beat the Blues Before They Beat You

Everest Media

Description

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.
Sample Book Insights:
#1 When I first met with Karen, she was 32 years old. She had been separated from her husband, Gary, for more than a year. Their marriage had started off badly four years before - Gary was domineering, dismissive of Karen’s feelings, and critical of almost everything she did.
#2 Karen had lost interest in other things, too. She had been eating junk food because it made her feel a little better for a few minutes, but she was gaining weight and losing control of her eating.
#3 Depression is a worldwide epidemic that empties lives of meaning and joy. It can even kill. It is not uncommon for people to have depressive symptoms without having a formal diagnosis.
#4 We have become more and more self-absorbed and less connected with one another. Our culture is marked by less and less of a sense of community. We have become more and more depressed, and this is because our culture is filled with unrealistic expectations and narcissism.

Sujets

• Santé et bien-être
• Santé mentale & traumatisme
• Santé mentale
• Santé mentale
• Dépression
• Depression
• Self-help
• Mood Disorders

Informations

• Publié par: Everest Media LLC
• Date de parution: 23 mai 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9798822518193
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Insights on Robert L. Leahy's Beat the Blues Before They Beat You
Contents Insights from Chapter 1 Insights from Chapter 2 Insights from Chapter 3 Insights from Chapter 4 Insights from Chapter 5 Insights from Chapter 6 Insights from Chapter 7 Insights from Chapter 8 Insights from Chapter 9 Insights from Chapter 10 Insights from Chapter 11 Insights from Chapter 12 Insights from Chapter 13 Insights from Chapter 14
Insights from Chapter 1

#1

When I first met with Karen, she was 32 years old. She had been separated from her husband, Gary, for more than a year. Their marriage had started off badly four years before - Gary was domineering, dismissive of Karen’s feelings, and critical of almost everything she did.

#2

Karen had lost interest in other things, too. She had been eating junk food because it made her feel a little better for a few minutes, but she was gaining weight and losing control of her eating.

#3

Depression is a worldwide epidemic that empties lives of meaning and joy. It can even kill. It is not uncommon for people to have depressive symptoms without having a formal diagnosis.

#4

We have become more and more self-absorbed and less connected with one another. Our culture is marked by less and less of a sense of community. We have become more and more depressed, and this is because our culture is filled with unrealistic expectations and narcissism.

#5

With effective treatment, you can overcome depression and never experience it again. Newer forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you change the way you think and what you do, and this will change the way you feel and break the cycle of self-perpetuated pain.

#6

It may be best for you to have some outside help when you first start treating your depression. You can find listings of certified therapists through the Academy of Cognitive Therapy website (www. academyofct. org).

#7

Depression is a complex condition that involves multiple symptoms. It is not just one or two symptoms, but a constellation of different thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and experiences. Before we make this diagnosis, we rule out medical problems that may give rise to the symptoms of depression.

#8

There are many ways to be depressed. You can have a major depressive disorder, which is characterized by a period of milder depression that lasts for about two years. You can also have dysthymic disorder and a period of major depression simultaneously, which is called double depression.

#9

The cause of depression is still unknown, but it is believed to be related to your brain chemistry. Many people think they have to find the cause of their depression in the way their parents raised them, but this is not always the case.

#10

There are three sets of neurotransmitters that are important in affecting depression: norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. Tricyclics inhibit the reuptake of these neurotransmitters, while SSRIs inhibit the reabsorption of serotonin specifically.

#11

There are many factors that contribute to higher risk of depression. Being widowed, divorced, or separated is a major predictor of depression, as is serious relationship conflict. Women who have difficulties with their children are at increased risk of being depressed.

#12

Depression is very costly, both literally and figuratively. It leads to higher rates of absenteeism from work, lower productivity, and higher rates of disability. It also places you at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and HIV/AIDS.

#13

I never got over the death of my friend, Ken. I was able to recall how sad I felt at losing him, and how glad I was for having known him. I wanted to help others find their way out of the dark passages of their lives.

#14

I organized this book around specific concerns. You may be feeling lonely or self-critical. You may be indecisive or feel like a burden to others. You may feel low energy or sadness. Whatever your concern, you want solutions.

#15

This book is meant to be a resource that you can refer to over and over. It’s a guide for dealing with your problems and a reminder that you can take action today to help solve them.

#16

The goal of reading and using this book is not only to help you get over your current depression, but to also give you the tools to prevent future episodes. It will not be easy, but it can be done.

#17

The cognitive-behavioral approach is not meant to be inspirational; it’s not meant to spark an epiphany that will change your life. Instead, it is meant to help you change your ways of thinking and behaving, and help you get better.

#18

The nature of depression is that you think that it makes sense that you are depressed. But you can identify your specific symptoms of depression, and target them for change. You don’t have to wait to feel better.
Insights from Chapter 2

#1

When you are depressed, you think in generalizations, you don’t give yourself credit for anything that you do, and you label yourself in the most negative terms. You set demanding standards that you will never live up to.

#2

The symptoms of depression are not about being happy or feeling good, but about the genes that need to survive, even if the individual is sacrificed in the process. With that in mind, let’s consider how depression could have helped our ancestors deal with danger, starvation, and competition within dominance hierarchies.

#3

When we take a closer look at some of the other hallmarks of depressive thought, we see that they, too, are part of an adaptive strategy for dealing with deprivation: if something bad happens, it means other bad things will happen; if something good happens, think of it as unusual; and if you don’t succeed, quit.

#4

From an evolutionary point of view, it makes sense to be pessimistic about trying harder to overcome depression. If you are overly optimistic during a time of scarcity, you will end up wasting calories, weakening yourself, and making yourself more vulnerable to threat.

#5

If you see yourself in the portrait of strategic pessimism, then you are not alone. Our ancient ancestors who were wise enough to know when to be pessimistic survived. The ancestors who wasted calories and resources during times of deprivation and threat died soon after, while the cautious and risk-averse genes continued on their way down to us.

#6

The evolutionary theory of depression states that depression helps you realize you are defeated so that you can adjust to your lower ranking in the group. It is an instruction to give up while you still have a chance.

#7