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.

After being on Paxil for 12 years it is nice to find an alternative to the over prescribed antidepressants. I gained 80 lbs. over the past years, and I feel worse now that I look so bad. The whole body/mind/spirit approach is something that I can totally relate to.
This is a great tool for anyone with similar problems. I feel much better after getting off of the drugs and using a different approach.

James Gordon, MD, opens his new book with the following bold statement: "Depression is not a disease, the end point of a pathological process...It's a wake-up call and the start of a journey that can help us become whole and happy, a journey that can change and transform our lives."
This may not sound like the typical perspective of a Western-trained psychiatrist, but Gordon is not your typical psychiatrist. He is a leader in the field of integrative medicine, having Instead, Gordon serves as kind of guide to the guides, using his professional experience and expertise to point out how the reader can develop a personal approach to healing. He does not pretend to be the world's leading expert on every healing path that he recommends readers explore. Instead, he provides an empowering and hopeful perspective that will help readers explore every aspect of their lives, and as many healing modalities as they find appealing.
Gordon takes seriously his responsibility to help readers make one-on-one connections with professionals who can offer advice tailored to the individual. The chapter on how to choose specific guides to work with is compelling and noticeably absent in other "self-help" books. He emphasizes that any guide, whether a physician or a spiritual teacher, should know how to create a safe haven, and should be welcoming, generous, and courageous. Gordon himself models this approach in how he talks to the reader and shares his own experience with depression.
There are few books that serve this role, and I think that it is an excellent model for the kind of work that all therapists and healthcare professionals do. Gordon's book illustrates how to be a guide that connects an individual to many healing paths, while emphasizing a holistic, Yogic perspective. For that reason, I recommend the book to anyone who hopes to guide individuals on a path of healing and compassionate self-awareness.

This is the most encouraging book on depression that I have read. Dr Gordon uses a multipronged approach including meditation, body movement, acupuncture, nutrition, positive thinking, ;aychotherapy, and utilizing all available support, both inner and outer. Many of his suggestions cost no money at all. But they do require an active choice and this is often hard for someone who is depressed. He makes this easy too, however, because a person can try one tool at a time, add one tool at a time. He draws on recent research and many years of experience. Try even just the deep belly breathing for a start; this in itself can calm the chattering mind.

I found this to be very helpful..and validating of my beliefs about so called depression..Life is a journey and we all want our journey to have meaning..with out that we question it all.

Have not completed reading the book but so far the ideas have been very helpful. Lois

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.

before taking any med's for your depression
read this book it will help you
decide what is right and wrong.

great book
great author

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.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RZPU0Y4O1J8HZ

'Unstuck' by Dr. James Gordon is an extraordinary, professionally written book with a contemporary & effective approach to healing depression.

Although somewhat unconventional in technique the method for becoming unstuck from depression offers hope & happiness.

The healing approach is holistic & integrative, and while Dr. Gordon is trained in Western medicine he also has ample direct experience working with patients who have experienced depression and trauma.

Dr. Gordon is well educated also in Chinese medicine, Indian healing & Buddhist meditation.

Ultimately Dr. Gordon's treatments involve body, mind, spirit techniques; so read this book to learn about the details on how to effectively heal depression.

Reads well along with 'Nexus' by Morrison & Singh a spiritual & enlightenning novel about an interesting group of charcters in search of true happiness.

Nexus: A Neo Novel

I am a trained clinican and researcher who now appreciates how little we really understand about the mechanism of hope and illness. Dr. Gordon makes a promise of providing hope at the very beginning of Unstuck. When I was diagnosed with a chronic, life-threatening illness, at Johns Hopkins University, I was so devastated, in pain, and hopeless that I turned to Dr. Jim Gordon, based on his reputation for alternative approaches to healing. To my surprise and relief, he told me that he could cure this illness, the only physician who made such a claim. He took me off my life-sustaining medication and put me on a diet of lettuce and yogurt. Under his intense care, I withered, my pain became excruciating, and I came very close to dying. After returning to my regular doctor, I settled into a productive and relatively healthy life.

Patients who are in despair are exquisitely vulnerable, and need to be very cautious about this book, and how they seek help. It is important to work with a physician who understands that, even more than hope, his first responsibility is humbly to do no harm.

*****
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.
*****

I've met Dr. Gordon and he is one of the leading physicians practicing complimentary and alternative medicine in this country. I am ordering this book now, but knowing Dr. Gordon this will be worth the time of anyone who is struggling to find treatment for depression. I have a family member for whom medication does not work and I am eager to share Dr. Jim Gordon's wisdom with her.