Recover Life from Depression

Desire as Hungry Torrent or Quiet Stream

Recently, I’ve been reading about the blending of Buddhist psychology with western psychotherapy, especially the ideas about desire. I used to think that Buddhist teachings considered desire itself to be the cause of suffering and dissatisfaction with life. Not so, according to western interpreters like Jack Kornfield, Phillip Moffitt and Mark Epstein. They describe desire itself is an energy of life, a will to do things that can be turned toward healthy or destructive ends. […] Read more »

Leaving Lamictal and Antidepressants for Now

Written by John Folk-Williams

By phasing out lamotrigine, known more widely by the trade name Lamictal, and other antidepressants, I have recently ended 18 years of uninterrupted medication use to treat depression. It’s been a rough ride with 20 different psychotropic drugs. I had a few good periods with their help, but for the most part the results have been disappointing. My recovery started after years of taking antidepressants, years during which the condition steadily worsened. My personal and […] Read more »

Depression, Dreams and Spirituality

Written by John Folk-Williams

Depression comes, depression goes, and I often have no idea why. Sometimes, I suddenly break out of it through mysterious dreams that wake my whole spirit up. Those are the unexpected blessings, no more to be explained than the sudden recurrence of this illness. There are frightening dreams as well when I may be wandering through dark halls and rooms of enormous houses, mansions or castle-like structures. Usually, I open doors in growing fear, sensing […] Read more »