About the Authors -- Contents at a Glance -- Table of Contents -- Introduction -- About This Book -- A Note to Our Depressed Readers -- Conventions Used in This Book -- Foolish Assumptions -- How This Book Is Organised -- Icons Used in This Book -- Where to Go from Here -- Part I: Discovering Depression and Designing Defences -- Chapter 1: Understanding and Overcoming Depression -- Understanding Your Level of Well-Being -- Feeling Blue, or Depressed? -- The Many Faces of Depression -- Getting to the Root of Depression -- Calculating the Costs of Depression -- Feeling Good Again -- Feeling Great -- Seeing the Sense in Sadness -- Chapter 2: Detecting Depression -- Recognising the Damage of Depression -- Examining the Six Types of Depression -- Linking Drugs, Diseases, and Depression -- Knowing Where Grief Ends and Depression Begins -- Monitoring Mood -- Chapter 3: Breaking Barriers to Change -- Untying the Knots: Revealing Reasons for Avoidance -- Breaking Free from Self-Limitations -- Chapter 4: Finding Help for Depression -- Exploring the Self-Help Option -- Pursuing Psychological Therapy -- Consulting a Professional about Antidepressants -- Part II: Seeing Things More Clearly: Cognitive Therapy -- Chapter 5: Uncovering Underlying Thought Processes -- Thinking about Cognitive Therapy -- Monitoring Thoughts and Feelings, and Relating Them to Life Events -- Unearthing Distortions in Thinking -- Chapter 6: Dispersing the Dark Clouds of Depressive Thinking -- Taking Your Thoughts to Task -- Using a Thought-Repair Toolkit -- Chapter 7: Discovering the Distorting Perceptions Behind Depression -- Looking Closely at How You See the World -- Uncovering Your View -- Challenging Life Perspectives -- Seeing Clearly: Replacing the Distorting Lenses -- Chapter 8: Amending Your Memory -- Making Sense of Memory -- Depressing Disruptions.

Forgiving Forgetfulness -- Assisting Your Ailing Memory -- Part III: Actively Combating Depression: Behaviour Therapy -- Chapter 9: Don't take it Lying Down! -- Acting on Action-Blocking Thoughts -- One Step at a Time: Recording Activity -- Conquering 'Can't' Thoughts -- Checking Out Your Negative Predictions -- Giving Yourself Credit -- Chapter 10: Exercising to Lift Depression -- Introducing Endorphins Into Your Life -- Ungluing Yourself from the Sofa -- Easing Into Exercise -- Weighing Up Your Exercise Options -- Chapter 11: Rediscovering Healthy Pleasures -- Taking Fun Seriously -- Identifying Activities You Enjoy -- Vanquishing the Joy Destroyers -- Chaptrer 12: Handling Life's Headaches -- Devising Life's Problem-SolvingGame Plan - CRICKET -- Identifying the Central Core (C) -- Running Through the Routes (R) -- Investigating Outcomes (I) -- Committing to a Choice (C) -- Don't Try to Kid Yourself (K) -- Easing Your Emotions (E) -- Testing Out Your Solution: The Test Match (T) -- Part IV: Adjusting to Changing Relationships -- Chapter 13: Working Through Loss, Grief, and Mourning -- Losing What's Important to You -- Working Through Grief -- Chapter 14: Revitalising Relationships -- Looking at the Depression- Rejection Vicious Circle -- Pursuing Positives -- Defeating Defensiveness -- Clarifying Communication -- Part V: Full-Bodied Assault: Biological Therapies to Fight the Physical Foe -- Chapter 15: Maximising Medication Benefits -- Selecting the Best Weapons to Fight Depression -- Exploring the Medication Option -- Seeing What Suits: Working with Your Doctor to Find the Correct Medication -- Understanding How Antidepressants Work: Revising Biology -- Exploring Medication -- Looking Beyond Antidepressants -- Chapter 16: Help and Hope: Exploring Complementary Therapies for Depression -- Sampling Supplements and Herbs -- Food for Thought.

Lighting Up the Darkness: Light Therapy -- Treating Severe Depression -- Searching Further -- Part VI: Life After Depression -- Chapter 17: Reducing the Risk of Relapse -- Facing Up to the Potential of Relapse -- Equipping Yourself to Prevent Relapse -- Reining in Relapse When It Recurs -- Chapter 18: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness -- Imperfect Past Makes Future Tense! -- Living Mindfully -- Chapter 19: Heading for Happiness through Positive Psychology -- Searching for Happiness -- Getting Started on the Road to Happiness -- Part VII: The Part of Tens -- Chapter 20: Ten Ways of Improving Your Mood -- Having a Little of What You Fancy -- Being Nice to Others -- Getting Moving: Exercising to Raise Your Spirits -- Singing Your Own Special Song -- Reuniting: Calling to Reconnect -- Letting Music Move You -- Washing Those Blues Away -- Getting a Pet -- Taking Time Out -- Mellowing Your Mood with Mindfulness -- Chapter 21: Ten Ways of Helping a Child with Depression -- Finding Fun -- Setting Boundaries -- Giving Feedback -- Climbing Every Mountain -- Reviewing Responsibilities -- Talking and Listening -- Recognising Depression -- Looking Beneath the Surface -- Accessing Assistance -- Loving Unconditionally -- Chapter 22: Ten Ways of Helping a Friend or Partner with Depression -- Recognising Depression -- Recommending Help -- Just Listening -- Taking Care of Yourself -- Biting Back Criticism -- No Offence: Appreciating That It's Not Personal -- Practising Patience -- Showing That You Care -- Providing Encouragement and Staying Hopeful -- Enabling Exercise -- Appendix: Resources for You -- Self-Help Books -- Resources to Help Children -- Helpful Web Sites and Electronic Resources -- Advice and Support -- Index.