I have just read this book and thought I would post to share what I thought of it. Although some of it is hard going - and I wouldn't recommend reading it on a really bad day - it is still somewhat comforting that others can experience what I still (despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary) think of as unique to me and, if not quite come out the other side, at least emerge with a greater degree of understanding and ways of coping. Which I guess is where I would like to be but which doesn't always seem possible. For me, it is easy to belittle what I am feeling in comparison with the depths she found herself, so I am trying to hold on to the fact that it is having a serious impact on my life and therefore is important to me - you can always find someone worse off than you, and sometimes that helps to give perspective, and sometimes it makes you feel pathetic for feeling how you do.

Ultimately, her recovery was down to trying lots of different methods of treating the illness (major or severe depression was her diagnosis). Lots of drugs, several stays in psychiatric units, therapy (having the courage to stop therapy if you just don't get on with the counsellor), and then, as she started to get better, things like yoga, walking and meditation - which she continues to use as a way of staying well. I found the book almost equally comforting and disturbing - comforting that she did find a way of managing the illness, but disturbing that it still took a lot of effort to keep the depression at bay. But that is more about me and the fact that I am only taking the first tentative steps down the path of understanding about my own depression, and it's hard to think that the road will be a long one.

Anyway, it's the first book - as opposed to forums - about depression I have read but I do think it was interesting to read. She doesn't promise to have the answers and can only comment about her own experience. It would be interesting to hear if anyone else has read it and what their thoughts were.