Phoenix Rising: 12 Golden Keys to Unlock Your Depression Product Type: Book Author(s): Anthony J. Schwarz, June Rouse Publisher: The Phoenix Group Release Date: 28 June, 2001 List Price: $15.95 Our Price: $15.95
What Other Customers Had to Say About This Item
[ Average Customer Rating: 4.71 ]
Rating: 5 :: A powerful and recommended guide with a message of hope Tony Schwarz's Phoenix Rising: 12 Golden Keys To Unlock Your Depression is an informative, effective, step-by-step process and self-help guide to becoming "the director of your own recovery" from depression. Golden Key principal number one is "Discover a Higher Power that Makes Sense To You," and the other Golden Key principles range from "Form Your Own Professional Support Team" to "Perform Physical and Spiritual Exercises Every Day." Numerous appendixes offer information and flesh out a variety of mental health issues related to depression, from contact information to selected mental health organizations to the twelve steps of Co-Dependents Anonymous. An index allows for easy reference. Phoenix Rising is a powerful and recommended guide with a message of hope for those undergoing bleak travails.
Rating: 4 :: A first-hand account of recovering from depression. It is important to keep in mind while reading this book that it is an anecdotal account of one layman's recovery from severe depression. The major theme of the book is a sound one - a depressive must take control of his own recovery. The author has done some research on the medical issues, and there are several helpful suggestions throughout the book. He is most adept at setting forth a plan of how to get through a day-to-day recovery. Making a daily task list and getting out and interacting with other people are good cooping mechanisms and give a depressive concrete goals to accomplish. However, the book won't speak to everyone. This is basically a 12 step program for depression. Like most 12 step programs it includes a spiritual element of discovering a "higher power". If this is not something that is right for you, you will find this book of limited utility. It begins with a lengthy discussion of the variety of religions and personal growth movements the author has dabbled in. Some will find it helpful, others will be put off by it. It is the nature of such anecdotal accounts that some readers will be able to relate to the author's experience and find it incredibly useful while others are not particularly moved. Nevertheless, even those who can't buy into the whole program will find valuable suggestions for dealing with depression.
Rating: 4 :: A good book to have on hand Pheonix Rising,12 Golden Keys to Unlock Your Depression is quick to inform the reader a very basic truth about depression....The patient is the key to their own recovery. If you are a partner seeking a key to helping a loved one with their depression this is not what you want to hear, if you are in the middle of the morass of depression and the self-defeating behaviors this is one more thing you have to deal with. Anthony Schwarz and his son Mikel have crafted a well written book that is focused on helping a person survive the depression. It is humane and kind. Often books on depression and recovery get caught up in jargon and the current trend in mental. Mt Schwarz is focused on a course of trying to stay in touch with life. He provides appendixes with inventory lists, how to approach dream journals, journal writing, looking for a therapist that meets your specific needs, simple approaches that may be overlooked that really provide sustanance and comfort in the trying time of depression. There are many approaches suggested, but it is the suggestion that we remember that we seek to strengthen our physical selves through eating better and gentle exercise that ring most true. And Mr. Schwarz also tells of reconciling his past religious upbringing with a new spiritual awakening to aid in his quest for peace of mind. This is a very up front book that blends medical and holistic and spiritual approaches. It encourages the patient to take responsibility and to seek joy. Some may be put off by the first person approach of the book. I found it to be validating, It made the therapies real. As with any self-help book it is a given that all the suggestions may not work for the reader. Mr. Schwarz is very upfront with his acknowledgement that the reader remember that he does not have all the answers, that he is simply telling his story and providing a guide, and that he wants other others to realize that they are not alone in their hard times. He encourages others to keep seeking. He tells of his searches for help and how he was able to blend his life experiences to aid in his recovery. I found this to be an extraordinarily brave book. I have already loaned my copy to a friend who I know will find comfort in the story. I know I did.
