Product Description

In The Wisdom of Depression: A Guide to Understanding and Curing Depression Using Natural Medicine, holistic physician Dr. Jonathan Zuess explains how the activation of symptoms such as insomnia, preoccupation with one's problems, soul-searching, and the desire to be alone are natural reactions to our harried lives. The initial stage of depression is designed to enhance our ability to focus inward and find solutions to difficult emotional challenges; in many ways our bodies and minds are forcing us to create a contemplative environment much like the vision quest of native cultures or the monastic quiet of a Western retreat.

However, if this process goes on for too long, we can become "stuck," mired in an unproductive, even painful cycle. The gentle, alternative therapies in this informative and practical book help restart the healing work of depression, instead of simply cutting it short. As an example, the herb St. John's wort enhances the dreaming cycle--an intensive problem-solving mode of consciousness--unlike prescription antidepressants. Other therapies covered include nutritional supplements, light therapy, music and play, meditation, and prayer. Dr. Zuess also discusses environmental toxins and drug side effects that mimic the symptoms of depression, as well as how to find a psychiatrist if the depression deepens to a clinical state and antidepressants become necessary. The Wisdom of Depression is the essential guide to the full array of treatments for depression.

As a society, we have long misunderstood the process of depression. Depression is not just a chemical imbalance in the brain. It can be our bodies' response to the need to address imbalance in our whole lives and is in many ways about transformation. In fact, when viewed and treated within a holistic framework, the process of depression can become a powerful and potentially creative healing path.


From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1157091 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09-07
• Released on: 1999-09-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 252 pages

Amazon.com Review
"Depression is a quest for vision; its essence is transformation," begins Wisdom of Depression, a book with a unique slant. According to psychiatrist Jonathan Zuess, "depression can be a natural and healthy response ... designed to enhance your abilities to overcome difficult emotional challenges." Half of this book describes natural therapies for mild cases, allowing the person's internal healing processes, creative life energy, and spiritual journey to flourish. Understanding the importance of dreams is essential, says Zuess: dreams may be our version of vision quests. Depressed people dream almost twice as much as other people, and enter the dream state unusually rapidly. Two other keys are learning to see with "the eyes of the soul" and expressing creativity.

Temporary depression, says Zuess, "can help us to dive deep into ourselves, to restructure our inner being, and come to a new way of understanding and living in the world." According to Zuess, depression only becomes an illness when it goes seriously wrong and doesn't resolve itself naturally, developing into major depressive disorder. In this case, he advocates a medical diagnosis, talk therapy, nutritional supplements, exposure to early morning light, and either conventional antidepressant drugs or herbal alternatives--all of which he discusses in detail. --Joan Price

From Publishers Weekly
To a topic about which so much has already been written, psychiatrist Zuess (The Natural Prozac Program) brings an astonishingly fresh view. His holistic approach recognizes depression as "a natural and healthy response" to "difficult emotional challenges," a "built-in healing mechanism." Unless this healing process is subverted in some way, its outcome, Zuess says, is "inner transformation," as sufferers "emerge from it stronger, healthier, and more in touch with their wise inner self." But Zuess admits that subversion is possible, and that the depressed response sometimes evolves into illness ("major depressive disorder") rather than being resolved. Only then does he advocate the powerful drugs (Prozac, Zoloft, etc.) most conventional psychiatrists offer as a first and often singular treatment. Instead, Zuess proposes use of the natural herb St. John's Wort. For all forms of mild to severe depression, he also suggests a program that includes a physical examination, exercise, sunlight, herbs, vitamins, nutrition, psychotherapy, play, dream analysis, and meditation and relaxation techniques. He also teaches an excellent step-by-step method for creative problem-solving. Offering a knowledgeable examination of the myriad treatments for the epidemic affliction of depression, Zuess's noteworthy book also delivers a brisk introduction to the holistic view of medicine in general.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Zuess, a practicing psychiatrist and author of The Natural Prozac Program: How To Use St. John's Wort, the Antidepressant Herb (Three Rivers, 1997), advocates a holistic approach to the treatment of depression, urging readers to choose the best of conventional and complementary therapies. Zuess differentiates between the common depressed response and the longer lasting major depressive disorder. Symptoms of a depressed response such as insomnia, restlessness, fatigue, and introspection are natural reactions to deep emotional and spiritual issues. Dream analysis, spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation, and creative expression in music, art, and writing can aid the process of resolution and transformation. When the depressive response turns into illness, Zuess recommends medical and psychological intervention. He gives guidance on choosing a therapist, discusses the use of antidepressant drugs and other therapies, and describes St. John's Wort as a natural antidepressant. Recommended for consumer health collections.?Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L.,
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Holistic and balanced approach to depression
Few people think of depression as a gift of wisdom. Too many of us don't recognize the difference between a "depressive response" and "major depressive disorder." In either case, this book is a combination of approaches to dealing with the issue from a balanced, holistic perspective and includes vitamins and nutrition, herbal theraphy, meditation, dream analysis and prayer, and traditional medicine. It includes lots of personal biographys and examples of individuals dealing with depression . Dr. Zuess also includes strategies and practices that are easy to follow and and he offers lots of suggestions to help point one in the direction he or she may need to go in finding optimum treatment. It is well researched and written in a style that is very readable. He includes good resources for further reading and professional organizations that may be of assistance. I have read many books and the professional literature regarding depression and I think this is the best book I've read designed to meet the needs of every day people every where who are seeking true answers for their depression. I can't recommend it enough.

Yes, but ...
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the author makes excellent points about the origins and function of depression: how it can be a wake-up call, a learning experience, or the body's way of ensuring that someone gets the rest and the caretaking he/she needs. I also felt that his "holistic" approach to depression is right on: One of my best friends leads a life that would depress the cheeriest soul alive, and takes massive doses of Prozac to cope with it. While she had problems with depression long before she painted herself into this corner, I think the drug is just suppressing the anger and frustration that might stimulate her to get out of it. On the other hand, several chapters struck me as a sales pitch for St. John's Wort, and I have some real problems with that: the potential for abuse, the dangers of self-medication and unpredictable dosages, etc. In general, I think the book has some excellent advice for depression sufferers, but I'd advise readers to view the St. John's Wort sections with extreme caution.

THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK ON DEPRESSION - MUST READ!
Book Review By, Valerie MacNeil 1/11/99

The Wisdom of Depression: a Guide to Understanding and Curing Depression using Natural Medicine (1998), by Jonathan Zuess, M.D., proves its claim to be an informative remedy for people's misleading interpretations of depressive symptoms. At the forefront of a holistic approach to medicine that takes into account everything from exercise and nutrition to deleterious environmental causes, Dr. Zeuss explains that effective alternative treatments for severe clinical depression are available for use instead of, or maybe even in addition to, conventional antidepressant medication.

He informs us that all humans have a natural "depressed response" to certain situations, which actually enhances our abilities to find solutions to difficult emotional problems. Like the vision quests shamans experience in native cultures, our "depressed response" places us in a more contemplative environment in which we seek answers to, and wisdom about, challenging problems. The response normally runs its course and resolves itself, but in some cases, we get "stuck" and can't "snap out of it". At this point, we need help, because our depression has become an illness.

Dr. Zuess' book is definitely a MUST READ for everyone concerned about depression, since it's extremely comprehensive, even with appendices on finding suppliers and practitioners of Natural Medicine. Discussing important causes that most people- even doctors- don't think of, such as sleep, vitamin deficiencies, and even electromagnetic radiation - he enlightens people with practical reference information regarding natural cures achieved through herbs like St. John's Wort, nutrition, exercise, and even art and creativity. Also, he uses case studies to reveal the humanity inherent in all medical observations. Briefly, Dr. Zeuss' trustworthy research into Natural medicine truly represents the wisdom afforded by holistic approaches to our mental and physical health. My only criticism is, "Why wasn't this book available sooner?" Yet, it's truly better late than never!