Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven-Stage Journey Out of Depression

by James S. Gordon and James S. Gordon

Book Overview

"Extraordinary. . . . Both therapist and patient will benefit hugely from reading this book." --Deepak Chopra

"Exactly what this over-medicated country needs right now." --Christine Northrup, M.D., author of The Wisdom of Menopause

Despite the billions spent on prescription anti-depressant drugs and psychotherapy, people everywhere continue to grapple with depression. James Gordon, one of the nation's most respected...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0143115510
• ISBN13: 9780143115519
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

The Most Helpful Book On Depression I've Ever Read

Having suffered from chronic depression for most of my adult life, I admit that I began reading this book with some doubt and trepidation. I have read many books on depression, including Peter Kramer's books and many others. I have been on several anti-depressants over the years, but found something lacking eventually with all of them. I have also tried counseling - got alot of insights, but still didn't feel quite right. Dr. Gordon's book hooked me from the very beginning...he has a very calm and considered approach to depression, and began the book with his very own experience with depression while in medical school. Finally - a psychiatrist who will admit that he too has suffered from this hideous malady! Each chapter provides many meaningful and common-sense approaches to helping oneself through depressive episodes. I don't think Dr. Gordon is so much "anti-drug" as he is against what he perceives as the overuse and over-prescribing of these drugs as a panacea for all mood problems and negative life experiences, such as divorce or death of loved ones. I have already seen the value of some of his wonderful suggestions, especially the use of exercise and meditation in fighting depressive feelings and hopelessness. There is also a glossary at the back of the book with a list of numerous resources for the reader to use in trying to find support during down periods. Thank you, Dr. Gordon, for providing this excellent book for those of us who know that the answer to our angst does not necessarily lie in a medicine bottle, but in also actively finding the resources and support to help heal ourselves.

A plan that everyone can follow

This is an excellent book; well structured, easy read, with a plan anyone can follow. Each section build on the other. He explains the why and wherefore and then give a Rx at the end of each chapter. This process can used by itself or,in connection with your peronal medical professionals. I particularly like the alternatives methods which he explains,in depth,so that a person can make their own informed choices. Personally, I am a vitamin and mineral advocate, but I know many who are quite pleased with herbal remedies. It takes courage to buck the system and I am thrilled to see MD's starting to open the door to alternative ways. I have worked in hospitals for years and have seen the other side of the drug industry. They do just as much harm as they do good,in my opinion, and I think it takes courage to stand up and lead the way to safer health care. It is definately on my reading and referral list to my clients as well as fellow medical professionals.

I HEARTFULLY RECOMMEND "UNSTUCK"

As the Nurse Navigator for a large Women's Health Center, I meet with nearly one-third of the women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Sonoma County, California. I recommend this book to many of my patients, as well as to some of my hundreds of patients in our Cardiovascular Health Assessment Program. You don't have to be depressed to benefit from Unstuck. Dr. Jim Gordon's beautifully written book offers a model of simple practices yoked with profound insight for all of us during those inevitable times in our lives when we feel stressed, anxious, confused, conflicted or overwhelmed. Dr. Gordon offers scientifically-sound and research-validated approaches combined in a way anyone can learn. If you seek to build on your own strengths, regain your sense of humor, mobilize your inner resiliency, restore your sense of meaning, and improve your mood and optimism about the future, look here. Everyone knows we "should relax," but, really, how can we do that at times when life feels difficult and chaotic? This work provides the EXPERIENCE of being able make a difference in our own daily lives. If we learn we can quiet ourselves a little bit, that opens up the possibility we can feel a little more peaceful, think a little more clearly, and begin to heal ourselves and our communities. Here is the model Dr. Gordon and people trained by him have used around the world with people facing cancer or chronic illness; the 52 children in the yellow school bus that careened to the edge of the collapsing Minneapolis bridge; shell-shocked young breast feeding mothers in a war zone; survivors of Hurricane Katrina; 9/11 firefighters and their families; stressed-out nurses and physicians; victims of Apartheid; war-traumatized children; Palestinians and Israelis in groups together; orphaned girls; former prisoners; people who have lived through torture; child soldiers from Mozambique; professionals who care for traumatized populations; and now, soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Dr. Jim Gordon is a highly-respected Harvard educated physician and clinical professor in the departments of psychiatry and family medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington D.C. "Unstuck" is richly and authentically written. You can hear Jim's incredibly kind voice and generosity of spirit and compassion and open heartedness and the best of well-wishes for your well-being. Living here in California near a river prone to flooding, we ponder, "What would I take with me if the waters drew near?" For me, Jim's book and the CDs from trainings with him would certainly be in my duffel.

I HEARTFULLY RECOMMEND "UNSTUCK"

As the Registered Nurse for a large Breast Care Center, I see about one-third of the women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in Sonoma County, California. I am recommending this book to many of my patients, plus some of my hundreds of patients in our Cardiovascular Health Assessment Program. You don't have to "be depressed" to benefit from "Unstuck." Dr. Jim Gordon's beautifully written book offers a model of simple practices yoked with profound insight for all of us during those inevitable times in our lives when we feel anxious, stressed, confused, conflicted or, yes, depressed. Dr. Gordon offers scientifically-sound and research-validated approaches combined in a way anyone can learn. If you seek to build on your own strengths, regain your sense of humor, mobilize your inner resiliency, restore your sense of meaning, and improve your mood and optimism about the future, look here. Everyone knows we "should relax", but, really, how can we do that at times when life feels difficult and chaotic? This work provides the EXPERIENCE of being able make a difference in our lives. If we learn we can quiet ourselves a little bit, that opens up the possibility that we can feel a little more peaceful, think a little more clearly, and begin to heal ourselves and our communities. Here is the model Dr. Gordon and people trained by him have used around the world -- with people facing chronic illness and cancer; the 52 children in the yellow school bus that careened to the edge of the collapsing Minneapolis bridge; survivors of Hurricane Katrina; 9/11 firefighters and their families; stressed out nurses and physicians; shell-shocked young breast feeding mothers in a war zone; victims of Apartheid; war-traumatized children; Palestinians and Israelis in groups together; orphaned girls; former prisoners; people who have lived through torture; child soldiers from Mozambique; professionals who care for traumatized populations; and now, soldiers and soon civilians with trauma from Iraq and Afghanistan. Dr. Jim Gordon is a highly-respected Harvard educated physician and clinical professor in the departments of psychiatry and family medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington D.C. "Unstuck" is richly and authentically written. You can hear Jim's incredibly kind voice and generosity of spirit and compassion and open heartedness and the best of well-wishes for your well-being. Here in California with the wild fires raging, we ponder, "What would I take with me if a fire drew near." For me, Jim's book and the CDs from trainings with him would certainly be in my duffel.

Modern Bible for Depression Recovery

***** This book, written by a psychiatrist who himself has suffered from depression, will be controversial because it describes depression as "the beginning of an unfolding process of self-awareness, not the grim end of a disease process". The author challenges the prevailing model of depression as a medical illness, basing everything upon current brain research and current medical research dealing with depression. This is a very, very important book, one that every person who deals with depression should read. If you are looking for a quick and dirty way of dealing with depression and want to take medication only, and from then on never think about depression or your life again beyond renewing your prescription, you would do better by NOT buying this book. Recovery from depression does take some work. On the other hand, if you want to know more about current research with SSRI's and view medication as only a part of your approach to dealing with depression, you should DEFINITELY buy this book. If you are like me and wish that you didn't have to take medication at all, and are willing to do some work to recover, you should absolutely buy it---you will love it and benefit greatly from it as I have. If you want to know what research truly says about SSRI's it's here and more besides. Step-by-step techniques and tools. Examples that I could relate to. Integrating diet and exercise--what is shown to work and what doesn't. Supplementation. Support. Meditation. Movement. Awareness. Obstacles on your journey. Spirituality. There is a chapter on "the dark night of the soul", which includes dealing with suicidal thoughts. Alternative practitioners and alternative supplementation (including SamE, St. John's Wort, and rhodiola. There are huge appendices filled with resources to help you to find out more about every aspect of depression recovery. And of course, for clinicians and others, there are references to formal studies. "Unstuck" is a resource manual---a bible, even---for depression recovery. It is important for those who have depression and for those who love them and for others who want to know what experts now know about all of the approaches to depression recovery. Highly recommended. ***** UPDATE 7-14-08: I just wanted to add that I in no way disparage people who need or want a "medication only" approach for depression. Apparently my review has given this impression to at least one person, and I regret this. Perhaps this will be clearer: if you are adamant that you want pharmaceuticals, and ONLY pharmaceuticals, and you don't care about any integrative adjuvant approaches, AND you don't care what any studies say about the medication you are taking, your money would be wasted by purchasing this book. If you are happy and cured of your depression, in your own estimation, then you are indeed fortunate and certainly would not want this book. You would not be or feel stuck, and thus would not want to be "unstuck".