Conquer depression and find your joy

Great news: You’re not alone. Millions struggle with depression every day. More great news: We know a lot about how to bring relief. Flipping through this book is the first simple step toward reclaiming happiness! You’ll learn how to recognize the symptoms of depression and what to do about them—from medication and therapy to the latest treatments. Whether you occasionally have unexplained blues or are seriously debilitated by depressive illness, this book will give you the insight and tools you need to enjoy life again!

Inside. . .

Understand the causes of depression

Discover how depression affects the body

Develop techniques to cope with symptoms

Find a therapist who understands your needs

Decide if medication is right for you

Find useful quizzes, exercises, and strategies

Rebuild your relationships

The good news on beating the blues

Do you want the good, the bad, or the best news first? OK, the bad news is that an estimated 264+ million people worldwide suffer from a depressive illness. The good news is that we know how to defeat these illnesses better than ever before using a growing range of highly effective psychotherapies, medications, and other therapeutic methods that are improving all the time. And the best news: because of these advances, the majority of people no longer need to suffer the debilitating—and sometimes dangerous—effects of long-term depressive illness.

The new edition of Depression For Dummies shows how you can make this happen for you by providing the latest and best information on how to banish the noonday demon and bring the sunshine back into your world. In this friendly, cheerful, no-nonsense guide, leading clinical psychologists Laura L. Smith and Charles H. Elliot give you the straight talk on what you face and proven, practical advice on how to punch back and win. Showing you how to know your enemy, they demystify common types of depression, explain its physical effects, and help identify the kind you have. Armed in this way, you can take firmer steps toward the lifestyle changes—as well as therapy or medication—that will put you back in control.

• Learn about different forms of depression
• Build simple, daily habits into your life that help banish the blues
• Understand conventional, alternative, and experimental therapies
• Move on: avoid relapses and stay happy!

Whatever your level of depression—occasional bouts or long-term—this book gives you the insight, the tools, and the inner strength and persistence to put enjoyment back in your life.