Climbing Out of Depression

`This is wise stuff, with resonance that lingers on long after it is over, none more than the hope it offers, born of experience.' -- Ann Pilling * The Door *

SUE ATKINSON is a writer, teacher, mother and former depression-sufferer. She is the author of Building Self-Esteem and Pathways Through Depression and also of several successful books on teaching mathematics at primary level. Her husband is a Church of England bishop near Norwich. They have four grown-up children.

Contents Foreword to new edition 7 Introduction 15 Part 1: Rock-climbing for Lemmings 1 Instant cures? 18 2 Why rock-climbing? 21 Part 2: How Did I Get Here? 3 Sitting on the rocks at the foot of the cliff 26 4 Finding the cave: ideas for the very bad days 30 5 What is depression? 33 6 What causes depression? 38 7 Being kind to ourselves 47 Part 3: Is Climbing for Me? 8 Someone to talk to 50 9 The 'goodenough' principle 52 10 Strategies for living 54 11 What about professional therapy? 59 12 Preparing for the bad days 62 13 Clarifying our coping strategies 69 Part 4: First Steps 14 How can I get started? 74 15 What preparations can I make? 78 16 Things we need to take 86 17 Life is difficult 89 18 Things to leave behind 97 19 Negative thinking 102 Part 5: Hanging On 20 Getting to know ourselves 116 21 Emotions are OK 119 22 Overcoming fear, worry and panic 123 23 Understanding our anger 128 24 Managing guilt 132 25 Understanding how we see ourselves: our self-esteem 134 26 Boosting our self-esteem 135 27 Understanding the 'losses' in our lives 141 28 Understanding stresses 144 29 Fears 148 Part 6: Falling Off 30 Falling off 154 Part 7: Making Progress 31 Picking ourselves up and having another go 160 32 Using our dreams to help us 168 33 Loneliness 171 34 Reaching the overhang and facing the impossible 175 35 'You'll be glad this happened'? 178 36 Missing the foothold 182 37 Reaching the top 185 38 Now for the mountain! 189 39 On reflection 194 Resources 201 Further Reading 204