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Re-Reading the Story of Depression’s Meaning

by John Folk-Williams 20 Comments

Stories of depression's meaning

There are no more beautiful and moving stories of healing than those told by Rachel Naomi Remen. Kitchen Table Wisdom is one of those books I come back to again and again. Each of its brief stories renders a moment of discovery that reveals a life’s meaning to someone lost in pain or rigid routine. […]

Filed Under: Purpose, Reconnecting Tagged With: depression, life, meaning, Rachel Naomi Remen, self, survival, Viktor Frankl

6 Dimensions of Psychological Well-Being

by John Folk-Williams 14 Comments

psychological well-being

Recovery should aim at restoring psychological well-being as well as ending the symptoms of depression. Naturally, you get into treatment to stop the pain of those symptoms. It’s a huge achievement if the treatment works, and you can keep depression from ruining your life. But so many people relapse after initially getting better that full […]

Filed Under: Healing, Psychotherapy, Recovery Tagged With: personal growth, psychology, self, symptoms, well-being

Desire as Hungry Torrent or Quiet Stream

by John Folk-Williams 11 Comments

rushing water, shoreline, Indonesia

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 […]

Filed Under: Healing Tagged With: Buddhism, desire, energy, longing, self

Revisiting: Removing Barriers to Closeness

by John Folk-Williams 10 Comments

barriers to closeness

This is a new version of an early post about how my wife and I were able to keep our relationship together despite the impact of depression. It discusses a therapeutic approach to emotional awareness that helps eliminate barriers to closeness by drawing on ideas about acceptance. More than 20 years ago I stopped believing […]

Filed Under: Psychotherapy, Relationship Tagged With: intimacy, partners, self, shame, therapy

Why Talking to Myself Makes Sense

by John Folk-Williams 10 Comments

portrait magical thinking

I’ve tried to stop talking to myself, but I haven’t had much luck. I’m referring to the silent internal conversation that accompanies almost every waking moment when my attention is left on its own. I’ve often wondered why the talking has to keep going. Listening with Awareness As part of dealing with depression, I’ve worked […]

Filed Under: Mindfulness, Reconnecting Tagged With: awareness, mind, self, thinking, well-being

Trying to Be Selective about Self-Acceptance

by John Folk-Williams 5 Comments

Broken Glass Window

The boy took careful aim with his lever-action BB gun and fired off the first shot. The tiny pellet pierced one of the windows of the tall tree-house, and jagged cracks radiated from the pinhole it made. The house was nestled securely in the giant crook of an oak tree that stood right next to […]

Filed Under: Children and Depression, Psychotherapy Tagged With: acceptance, Anger, attachment, childhood, compassion, self

How Setting Boundaries Helped Me Heal

by John Folk-Williams 17 Comments

snow shadows

My getting depressed after a cancer operation almost ended our marriage. It was the blow that forced my wife to remind me of the boundaries I couldn’t afford to ignore. I had been in high spirits for the operation and right through the recovery period. My wife and I had been especially close during that […]

Filed Under: Depression Symptoms, Relationship Tagged With: boundaries, connection, fear, self, shame

The Delusions of Depression

by John Folk-Williams 23 Comments

I’ve had several moments in recovery when I realized that things I assumed to be true were really delusions of depression. Some were long-held beliefs about myself, others were briefly held convictions that were too far from reality to maintain for long. Psychiatrists probably wouldn’t call these delusions of the sort linked to psychosis, but […]

Filed Under: Depression Symptoms, Healing Tagged With: belief, blame, delusion, panic, self

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Surviving Depression Together Now Available at Major Retailers

Surviving Depression Together


Surviving Depression Together

"John, this is a ... much needed resource. Thanks for writing it!"

- Therese Borchard, author of Beyond Blue


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A Mind for Life Ebook Now Available at Major Retailers

A Mind for Life: From Depression to Living Well

A Mind for Life Ebook

The inner work of getting your life back from depression. This ebook is now available in most common ebook formats at major retailers.

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Living Depressed

Depression affects emotions, mental abilities, self-concept, behavior, relationships and the entire body. These core posts describe the full range of symptoms affecting daily life. Read More.

Choices in Healing

Hoping for recovery gives you a motive but not a method for getting there. This section has posts about therapies and healing methods you can work with either on your own or with professional guidance. Read more.

Living Well

If you've learned how to manage your depression, you'll want a fulfilling life rather than one dominated by fear that the illness might return. In this section, you'll find posts about how to work toward that goal. Read More

Relationships in Crisis

One of the hardest challenges of living with depression is holding onto your closest relationships. This section features posts on how to help a relationship survive. Read More.

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