"Do you want the good, the bad, or the best news first? OK, the bad news is that an estimated 264+ million people worldwide suffer from a depressive illness. The good news is that we know how to defeat these illnesses better than ever before using a growing range of highly effective psychotherapies, medications, and other therapeutic methods that are improving all the time. And the best news: because of these advances, the majority of people no longer need to suffer the debilitating--and sometimes dangerous--effects of long-term depressive illness. In this friendly, cheerful, no-nonsense guide, leading clinical psychologists Laura L. Smith and Charles H. Elliot give you the straight talk on what you face and proven, practical advice on how to punch back and win. Showing you how to know your enemy, they demystify common types of depression, explain its physical effects, and help identify the kind you have. Armed in this way, you can take firmer steps toward the lifestyle changes--as well as therapy or medication--that will put you back in control"-- Provided by publisher.

Part 1: Discovering depression and preparing a plan. Demystifying and defeating depression -- Detecting depression -- When bad things happen -- Breaking barriers to change -- Finding help for depression ; Part 2: Understanding and accepting thoughts and feelings. Understanding the thought/feeling connection -- Defeating distorted thinking -- Rethinking thoughts lurking behind depression -- Accepting thoughts and feelings -- Thinking the worst : suicide ; Part 3: Taking action against depression. Getting out of bed -- Working out to lift depression -- Rediscovering healthy pleasures -- Solving life's headaches ; Part 4: Rebuilding connections. Working through loss, grief, and mourning -- Relationship enhancement ; Part 5: Fighting the physical foe : biological therapies. Prescribing pleasure -- Hype, help, or hope? : alternative treatments for depression ; Part 6: Looking beyond depression. Reducing the risk of relapse -- Mending your memory -- Pursuing happiness ; Part 7: The part of tens. Ten ways out of a bad mood -- Ten ways to help kids with depression -- Ten ways to help a friend or lover with depression.