The Upward Spiral

"This book is an excellent resource for anyone who has depression, who has suffered from depression in the past, or who knows someone suffering from depression. Part one explains a lot of technical processes that go on in the brain that cause depression. It explains brain regions and chemicals and their interactions at a very basic level. It was still a lot to remember because I'm not well-versed in neuroscience, and it's been awhile since I've studied health at this level. Most depression books I've read have focused on cognitive behavioral therapy, or other methods, to fight depression or alleviate symptoms. <br/><br/>Part two of the book focuses on why and how certain activities such as exercise, a proper sleep routine, social activities, psychological and psychiatric care, and making decisions help to create an upward spiral that helps begin the process of pulling one out of the trap/downward spiral of depression. Recently, I had made many of these changes on my own and they have helped a lot. I didn't know why or what was going on until I read this book. <br/><br/>The Upward Spiral wasn't a quick read for me because I wasn't familiar with all the terms used frequently, and because I wanted time to process and absorb what was being taught. That being said, this book could be a quick read for someone who wants to plow through it and just glean the tips from part two. One could also learn plenty by just reading the tips and not worrying about the how/why aspect, then trying some of them to see which ones help (not every suggestion will help every person, as depression is unique to each person suffering from it). <br/><br/>My one complaint is that this book doesn't have an index. I was constantly flipping back and forth in the text, trying to remember where I read what, and not knowing something I read was important to flag to reference until later. I find this very frustrating."