Through the Dark Woods: A Young Woman's Journey Out of Depression

by Joanna Swinney

A compassionate and practical look at depression and how it affects not only daily but spiritual life.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2006

Reviews

[Helen Waring · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gentle guide through some of the darkest moments of depression as experienced by Jo Swinney over multiple depressive episodes in her (at the time) short life. As such, it is not a self-help guide or a medical exploration although there are elements of both. What it is, is an intensely personal documentation of her experience and the things that have (and have not) helped her. It is written with sharp honesty, humour and a voice of both experience and knowledge in the huge amount of reading and research she undertook whilst writing the book.

Other reviewers have commented on the lack of practical detail and the over-arching Christian voice.

Addressing the first point, part of Jo Swinney’s aim is to write a book that would help people suffering from depression AND their family and friends. Having watched as a close family member struggled to get out from three years of depression, I found this book extremely helpful. The hardest thing about watching from the sidelines, is that you don’t fully know their experience and Jo makes an excellent job of describing this in ways non-sufferers can appreciate. If you are yourself in a depressive episode, it is unlikely that you will be able to read this book (as acknowledged by Jo in the penultimate chapter) but there are still plenty of practical tips - probably the most important ones being: seek outside help and: not everything works for everyone.

Addressing the second point, whilst I read this book as a Christian, and Jo Swinney makes no apology for her faith reflected in her writing and experience, I think it is possible to read it and find it helpful if you are not a person of faith. It is easy enough to skip the more Christian specific chapters or sections or just dip into the parts of the book you resonate with.

There is immense value in people writing from their own experience and throughout reading this book, I found myself pausing to breathe with deep relief that there is a way out and that I could now approach my loved one with more understanding, and therefore compassion.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jo Swinney has done an excellent job with her honesty, humour, vulnerability and sensitivity. Furthermore the language employed is accessible with gentle transitions from matters serious to matters amusing.
I particularly appreciated how she described her own process of engaging with the treatment options and the place of talking and drug therapies as she moved from rejection of such options to acceptance. This has the potential to help others with similar cautions.
She was also very realistic about the church setting. To be part of a caring community is wonderful and she affirms the way that churches have become more welcoming places for those with depression.
This is a book worth reading and worth recommending.

[Jasmyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a woman's battle with depression. It started when she was in school and carried into her adult life. She has many wonderful stories of the people that helped, the people that hurt, and how she's emerged a happier person. Many of the things she said made so much sense I'm amazed that everyone didn't already know them. The tips she offers for people suffering from depression and well as well as the ones trying help that with depression, are wonderful. The only down side of this book for me was the constant references to Christianity. I know these may help many people, but as someone that doesn't practice any particular religion, they seemed a bit forced at time. Still a book a would recommend to anyone with depression or anyone that knows someone with depression.

4/5

[Ilze · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although Swinney clearly suffers from depression and has done several things in order to alleviate it, I felt the book had very little to offer. There are books that I take notes from if they have good tips: The amount I could gain from this one cannot even be counted on one hand. If anything, at least one knows one's not alone with this kind of problem.