THE ORGANIZATION OF CHAPTERS

This book is best approached, like most books, from the beginning, however, some may wish to focus on the chapters in any order they wish:

†† Chapter One presents depression as an expression of the psyche or soul, which, if seen and experienced with awareness, can lead to a sense of self-understanding that alleviates the painful effects of depression. This chapter also introduces Depression’s Seven Steps to Self-Understanding, or the evolving psychological and spiritual process of depression, which is the core of the book.

†† Chapter Two looks more specifically at some primary cultural and medical perspectives on depression, and includes the essential components of depression itself.

†† Chapter Three specifically explores the notion and the power of the “inner dialogue” that has the effect of determining the nature and severity of the depression itself as created by our own thinking. It also includes a deeper look into some primary perspectives on depression.

†† Chapter Four presents an ancient-to-modern history of depression and illustrates how American attitudes towards depression developed. This chapter also delves into the relationship between the “highly sensitive person” and depression.

†† Chapter Five speaks of the place and role of pathology within depression, and examines our attitudes towards pathology as something foreign to us. It also explores the notion of the nature of the soul itself as pathological.

†† Chapter Six explores depression as the psychological and spiritual “underworld journey” in terms of its archetypal and mythological stages of expression and development. This follows Joseph Campbell’s stages of the “Hero’s Journey,” as well as Dante’s Divine Comedy, and the Christian mystical notion of the Via Negativa.

†† Chapter Seven is the formal presentation of the process of depression as Depression’s Seven Steps to Self-Understanding. This chapter also includes a general initial application of the Seven Steps to our own particular circumstances.

†† Chapter Eight presents in detail a technique to access the experience of Depression’s Seven Steps to Self-Understanding, a means to put them to use in our own lives, and to personally benefit from them.

†† Chapter Nine provides a series of other varied tools and means that enable us to understand our depression and ourselves, and to be able to work with our depression.

†† Chapter Ten examines the idea of paradox which is inherent and necessary in providing us with a context in the work we do with depression, and enabling us to recognize depression as a gift.

 

DEPRESSION'S SEVEN STEPS TO SELF-UNDERSTANDING: A NEW BEGINNING

This blog is dedicated to those who suffer from depression,

and thus possess the profound gift of sensitivity

to the soul that stirs within them, within all of humanity,

and within the anima mundi, The Soul of the World.

May you discover this gift that dwells within you

and awaits your discovery...

 

From C. G. Jung's Letter on Depression

When the darkness grows denser,

I would penetrate to its very core and ground,

and would not rest until amid the pain a light appeared to me

for in excessu affectus [i.e. in an excess of passion] Nature reverses herself.

I would turn in rage against myself

and with the heat of my rage I would melt my lead.

… I would wrestle with the dark angel until he dislocated my hip.

For he is also the light and the blue sky which he withholds from me.

 

INTRODUCTION

The intention of this book is to alleviate the pain and suffering of depression through a more thorough and deeper understanding of what depression is, our own roles in it, and the experience of Depression’s Seven Steps to Self-Understanding, which moves us through the process of depression in a way that allows us to be aware of it while putting it to use for our own benefit. Thus, there is both a comprehension of depression itself and ourselves in depression, and our conscious experience of the depressive process, or “inner journey,” which makes it possible for us to navigate and thus find our way through the process.

This book is intended for those who have depression and for those who seek to understand depression itself. It provides background information, such as some history, philosophy, and psychology of depression, for the purpose of building a foundation for a proper and adequate understanding of depression and the dynamics of human nature. Equipped with this knowledge and under-standing of depression and oneself in depression through Depression’s Seven Steps to Self-Understanding, the reader is then better prepared to benefit from the technique that allows access to experiencing the Seven Steps.



However, in its presentation of both information and useful techniques, those who seek to understand depression on a deeper level may do that, while those who primarily seek to apply the techniques and put them to work for themselves may do that. These kinds of options are available with a book such as this that offers both theoretical background and practical means to understanding or comprehending, and working with or navigating, depression.

DEPRESSION'S SEVEN STEPS TO SELF-UNDERSTANDING:
A GUIDE TO COMPREHENDING AND NAVIGATING YOUR INNER JOURNEY

BY JOSEPH D. LEONE, Ph.D.
may be ordered at:

http://www.amazon.com/Depressions-Seven-Steps-Self-Understanding-Comprehending/dp/098434750X