Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Freedom from Depression: A Practical Guide for the Journey

Rate this book
Essential Practices for Lasting Freedom from Depression

The true source of healing from depression comes from within-not from doctors or medications. Yet when depression drains away our vitality and will, how can we find the energy to help ourselves? With Freedom from Depression, Dr. James S. Gordon reveals a new and empowering approach for dealing with this misunderstood condition-a way out of the darkness that helps you restore balance and joy to your life.

Proven Techniques for Navigating Our Way to Wholeness

Through both his personal experience and 40 years of research, Dr. Gordon knows just how serious depression can be. Dr. Gordon challenges the common medical model of depression as a strictly physical disease that is best treated with drugs-instead, he sees it as a wake-up call that our lives are out of balance. Drawing from treatments he and his colleagues have used successfully in places like Kosovo, Gaza, Haiti, and post-Katrina New Orleans, as well as experiences with patients in his US practice, he has created a set of simple and elegant tools for engaging more deeply with our lives instead of withdrawing. Here he offers practical training for using meditation, diet, guided imagery, movement, and more to help us deal directly with our own unique circumstances around depression.

The path to freedom from depression is realistic, hopeful, well-traveled-and filled with unexpected rewards. As Dr. Gordon has seen time and again, we can emerge from the darkness with a deeper appreciation of life's richness and our purpose in the world. With Freedom from Depression, he offers a bold new way to find true healing from this condition-to turn our fears into teachers, renew our body and mind, and reclaim our ability to take joy in life.

HIGHLIGHTS


The science of depression-dispelling common myths about genes, drugs, and lifestyle Antidepressants-taking a hard look at the value and limitations of drug-based treatment Neuroplasticity-why our ability to rewrite the brain's neural circuitry empowers us to overcome depression Simple meditation practices for balancing the emotions, body, and spirit Using self-hypnosis and guided imagery to relieve anxiety and find inner calm Diet, movement, and creativity-effective ways to bring a sense of delight back into your life The seven stages of the journey to wholeness

6 pages, Audio CD

First published March 15, 2012

25 people want to read

About the author

James S. Gordon

28 books26 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
3 (27%)
4 stars
4 (36%)
3 stars
0 (0%)
2 stars
2 (18%)
1 star
2 (18%)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Samantha wickedshizuku Tolleson.
2,158 reviews59 followers
May 7, 2016
This book and exercises seem to be making a vast difference in my everyday life. Though I find it easier to say Goose-Fraba instead Soft Belly. That's been the only thing that I have had to substitute.

Though the corn, gluten, & dairy free is going to be quiet the hurdle. Corn syrup is in almost everything, and it's beyond expensive to follow, in rural Alabama.

I'm also very impressed that this guy has had the stones to tongue-lash the big pharmaceuticals.

Rock On Dude!

I have heard of and been doing most of the meditation and guided imagery for many years now.
I have some serious issues with the last session and a half. The section about forgiveness, and forgiving the people who have wronged you. In all honesty this is bunk, and does not accomplish anything except to help you pat yourself on the back. If you are forgiving yourself that's just fine and dandy. If you're forgiving someone who has continually f*#ked you over, then this leaves an opening for that person to waltz right back into your life and do it again. There are some wrongs that you feel the effects for years to come, and it isn't healthy to forget what put you in that place. Some people in fact prey on well adjusted people just to take pleasure from tearing them to pieces.
When it comes to Combat PTSD forgiveness of self is acceptable, and seems to be an effective method. I wouldn't suggest that you force or rush this with a Veteran though. This step is by far the hardest and most complicated.
Profile Image for Ulee ☄︎.
272 reviews26 followers
March 23, 2017
meh. 2.4 ish maybe 2.5 ish, but not rounding up to three (ignoring math standards).
I didn't rate this lower because I didn't like what he had to say. It was more about the format. The cheesy music between each chapter, the dance break in one of the chapters, and something else I can't point my finger on. This is my first impression, maybe if I ever decide to listen to it again, I'll feel differently. I will say that I do like that he is anti-drugs and doesn't like classifying it as a disease and more of a condition.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.