Interesting approaches. There are some thing here that seem practical and easily implemented. Other things require a bit more effort or outside sources. This isn't an easy topic, but I didn't expect to finish a few pages and have all answers realized, so I guess in the end I end up getting what I expected. No more, no less. I do like that he doesn't subscribe to medications outright, overmedication is an issue in general and if his approach works long-term in a safer, healthier, cheaper way then that's pretty amazing.

Ugh! Anti-meds and too much religion (“spirituality”). Feels too much like snake oil. No thanks.

A very good friend recommended this book to me--and his record is over 90%. And I was well enough to go to my favorite local bookstore and get a copy!

I appreciate the ideas for help in the book. They are constructive for maintenance if you are already functioning. But we have an issue in our culture with terminology.

There's depression and there is major Depression. And, I'm sorry, sir, but one of these is a disease or some kind of medical dysfunction for sure.

And, no, the drugs and other remedies we have aren't much better than what's in Plath's The Bell Jar. We've been told the drugs are better, but mostly, the marketing has been a lot better.

Also major depression is not related to "happiness." You don't get sick because you are unhappy. That's another misunderstanding. People aren't thrilled to have any illness, but that correlation is not causation. There are millions of unhappy people walking around just fine who are not depressed, and I'm not sure if this book would help them or not. It might improve their life, depending on their circumstances.

A holistic approach is definitely the priority here; and now many apps exist to help track all moods and activities.

But most of the activities in the book require that you can get out of bed--get out of the house. So people need to understand there is depression and Depression. And our "mental health system" is lacking in every way. If anyone you care about would need more than this book, you might start to worry and be disturbed. So advocate for better resources and care now!!

I'm pretty mid-range on this book. I liked a lot of the exercises in it (in particular, the self-forgiveness meditation and the soft belly breathing exercise), and think I'll probably use some of them in my practice. The stories of his patients/clients was interesting, as well. I also liked the focus on the body and listening to its signals.

I get why people are saying this book is anti-med - it is based within our current scientific understanding of medication (e.g. that mild-to-moderate depression responds equally well to medication and placebo) but is a little more harsher against meds than I would typically be.

My distraction came more from the way the book is ordered, and the emphasis placed on both eating and spirituality. The first chapter is a mess of medical jargon about biology, and though it doesn't go too far, and I can understand why you would start out here, it's kind of off-putting. There's also a lot of focus on spirituality and religion, which is meh for someone who doesn't really put much stock in those. I am also always skeptical about white dudes writing at length about Chinese medicine and practices.

Several months ago, I felt I was circling the drain around depression. I wasn't clinically depressed, but situational depression threatened to become something larger and more permanent. Rather than wait around for circumstances to improve, I set out to make specific measurable changes which might help to change my downward spiral. I'm happy to report, it's working.

I'm not opposed to medical treatment for either physical or emotional problems, and I also do not think I was to the point that I needed medical supervision for my choices. However, I also believe there are effective ways to care for ourselves outside the purview of traditional western medicine.

In his book, Unstuck, ways to combat physical and mental illness through more contemplative and non-traditional methods. Nutrition, meditation, journaling, reiki and therapy are just some of the ways he explains and illustrates as support on the journey to wellness. Complete with meditation and visualization scripts, contact information for local therapies and a numerous resource bibliography, Unstuck is literally bursting with tools for the person who wants to take control of their well-being.

Occasionally I did get bogged down in the extensive research and explanation, but overall I am very glad I read this book. I use many of the tools in my daily life, and am grateful to have it as a resource for myself and others.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wish there was a place to go where all the activities were recorded and was included with the purchase of the book but other than that I really enjoyed it. I recommend it to anyone going through anything.