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21 Ways to a Happier Depression: A Creative Guide to Getting Unstuck from Anxiety, Setbacks, and Stress
Inspired by his own life experience, Clinical Psychologist Seth Swirsky gently encourages positive introspection through honest and practical advice. With this book, a happier depression is literally in your hands!
112 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2017
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484 people want to read
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March 12, 2018
A fast, enjoyable read offering many different coping strategies for depression & anxiety that is already manageable.
CW: depression
I was scrolling the psychology section of Barnes & Noble today & stumbled upon this tiny book. It's about the size of a children's book and equally as short, so I decided to sit down in the bookstore & read it in one go. As I've been relapsing from my depression as of late, I thought this book would be a great pick-me-up, and it was.
I love the simplicity of this book. It is quite literally just 21 different tasks/activities that have helped the author (a clinical psychologist who suffered from depression) cope with his own illness. It's merely a list of ways to help handle the crippling effects of depression & how to implement them in your lives. The tone is light-hearted and encouraging, rather than preaching. I personally feel I already engage in most of these tasks, but the clear reminders were very helpful. I do feel that there should have been more tips that were less consumer-based because while buying things, even inexpensive things, can make us feel good, their positive effects can be fleeting and not everyone is able to treat themselves so frequently. There definitely are suggestions in this book that are free, but I wished there was a greater balance. (For example, there's one tip on exercise where the author does say you can do it at home which is great! But you don't need to buy weights to work out at home - there are endless free workouts online that would have been more helpful to include in my opinion.) For people looking for coping strategies to make the not-so-good days better, I think this book has the potential to be beneficial.
I think it's really important to take this book for what it is: a list of potential coping strategies that MIGHT work for you. Some will, some won't. There are definitely things in here I couldn't see myself doing, but there are also things that I know for a fact are helpful for my depression. I wouldn't even consider it a serious self-help book because it's just a list of tips you can choose to try or choose to ignore. Truthfully, these tasks could have been condensed into one or two sentances and posted on a lifestyle website in an article, and I wouldn't have thought twice. This book isn't particularly meaningful or full of depth but if you need some ideas for new habits, you may find one or two in here.
The artwork is also fantastic. All throughout the novel, there are bright, watercolor paintings by Kirsten Tradowsky. Some feature empowering quotes (though the "Shopping is cheaper than therapy" quote has rubbed me the wrong way for years since hearing it because it's so tasteless and felt very out of place in this book considering I felt the rest were great), others depicting the ways you can cope with depression. They were a pleasant, calming addition to the text and really made my reading experience enjoyable.
Although I enjoyed my short time reading this story, I would not recommend it as a "holy-grail" self help book. It was cute. It was enjoyable. But it isn't all that inventive or profound. It doesn't provide any coping strategies I haven't heard before. I don't believe this book would be extremely helpful to those currently suffering from severe mental health issues, especially if they aren't in treatment. It does not teach you how to work through intrusive thoughts (but of course, that isn't the novel's intention) and I don't believe it will have a significant impact on alleviating the symptoms of depression. All of these tips require motivation and effort which is often a struggle for many with depression so if that is something that is lacking for you, I'd skip this book and focus your energies into a more in-depth self-help book that will help you find that motivation. But if you find yourself asking, "What can I do in my everyday life to maybe clear my head, elevate my mood, and change my habits to make my days more bearable?" then you may gain something from this book! I definitely think this would be most helpful to people who are presently in/have gone through treatment and/or are already managing their depression, but it would be totally lost on people who's functioning is severely impaired by their mental illness.
CW: depression
I was scrolling the psychology section of Barnes & Noble today & stumbled upon this tiny book. It's about the size of a children's book and equally as short, so I decided to sit down in the bookstore & read it in one go. As I've been relapsing from my depression as of late, I thought this book would be a great pick-me-up, and it was.
I love the simplicity of this book. It is quite literally just 21 different tasks/activities that have helped the author (a clinical psychologist who suffered from depression) cope with his own illness. It's merely a list of ways to help handle the crippling effects of depression & how to implement them in your lives. The tone is light-hearted and encouraging, rather than preaching. I personally feel I already engage in most of these tasks, but the clear reminders were very helpful. I do feel that there should have been more tips that were less consumer-based because while buying things, even inexpensive things, can make us feel good, their positive effects can be fleeting and not everyone is able to treat themselves so frequently. There definitely are suggestions in this book that are free, but I wished there was a greater balance. (For example, there's one tip on exercise where the author does say you can do it at home which is great! But you don't need to buy weights to work out at home - there are endless free workouts online that would have been more helpful to include in my opinion.) For people looking for coping strategies to make the not-so-good days better, I think this book has the potential to be beneficial.
I think it's really important to take this book for what it is: a list of potential coping strategies that MIGHT work for you. Some will, some won't. There are definitely things in here I couldn't see myself doing, but there are also things that I know for a fact are helpful for my depression. I wouldn't even consider it a serious self-help book because it's just a list of tips you can choose to try or choose to ignore. Truthfully, these tasks could have been condensed into one or two sentances and posted on a lifestyle website in an article, and I wouldn't have thought twice. This book isn't particularly meaningful or full of depth but if you need some ideas for new habits, you may find one or two in here.
The artwork is also fantastic. All throughout the novel, there are bright, watercolor paintings by Kirsten Tradowsky. Some feature empowering quotes (though the "Shopping is cheaper than therapy" quote has rubbed me the wrong way for years since hearing it because it's so tasteless and felt very out of place in this book considering I felt the rest were great), others depicting the ways you can cope with depression. They were a pleasant, calming addition to the text and really made my reading experience enjoyable.
Although I enjoyed my short time reading this story, I would not recommend it as a "holy-grail" self help book. It was cute. It was enjoyable. But it isn't all that inventive or profound. It doesn't provide any coping strategies I haven't heard before. I don't believe this book would be extremely helpful to those currently suffering from severe mental health issues, especially if they aren't in treatment. It does not teach you how to work through intrusive thoughts (but of course, that isn't the novel's intention) and I don't believe it will have a significant impact on alleviating the symptoms of depression. All of these tips require motivation and effort which is often a struggle for many with depression so if that is something that is lacking for you, I'd skip this book and focus your energies into a more in-depth self-help book that will help you find that motivation. But if you find yourself asking, "What can I do in my everyday life to maybe clear my head, elevate my mood, and change my habits to make my days more bearable?" then you may gain something from this book! I definitely think this would be most helpful to people who are presently in/have gone through treatment and/or are already managing their depression, but it would be totally lost on people who's functioning is severely impaired by their mental illness.
June 1, 2017
I'm gonna start calling books like this what they are: irresponsible.
You know what's not helpful for a depressed person? Telling them they need to get out of the house. Telling them they should get a haircut. They know they should do these things. They know that those things might help them get better. But they're depressed. Doing cutesy things like writing letters and painting a picture probably aren't gonna help when they can't even get out of bed to take a shower. And the inclusion of the quote, "I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist" has me SEETHING. Equating shopping with actual mental health care is so irresponsible and misleading. Especially when the depression could be a part of a bigger diagnosis like Bipolar Disorder, which is partly characterized by unhealthy spending habits. Encouraging someone to shop to heal themselves is a terrible idea.
"But the author states it's not for people with severe mental illness, you're being unfair!" If the author didn't create them for people with mental illness, they don't need to include the word "depression" in the book. Depression is an illness, not a hard week or a bad mood.
Wanna write a cutesy book with cute pictures and calligraphy quotes? Choose a different subject and leave this topic to trained professionals.
You know what's not helpful for a depressed person? Telling them they need to get out of the house. Telling them they should get a haircut. They know they should do these things. They know that those things might help them get better. But they're depressed. Doing cutesy things like writing letters and painting a picture probably aren't gonna help when they can't even get out of bed to take a shower. And the inclusion of the quote, "I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist" has me SEETHING. Equating shopping with actual mental health care is so irresponsible and misleading. Especially when the depression could be a part of a bigger diagnosis like Bipolar Disorder, which is partly characterized by unhealthy spending habits. Encouraging someone to shop to heal themselves is a terrible idea.
"But the author states it's not for people with severe mental illness, you're being unfair!" If the author didn't create them for people with mental illness, they don't need to include the word "depression" in the book. Depression is an illness, not a hard week or a bad mood.
Wanna write a cutesy book with cute pictures and calligraphy quotes? Choose a different subject and leave this topic to trained professionals.
May 8, 2017
First of all, this book is not addressed to people with persistent depressive disorders but it is actually for people who are feeling blue or lacking some motivation as the author clearly states it. So if you are like me, you probably will not find this work very useful.
I enjoyed it. I thought it was an interesting approach and tried some of the ideas. Even though a couple of them really worked for me I have to say that I was left with the feeling that I wanted more from this book. This is the thing: just because it works for the author doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you. But if you are someone who sometimes has a rough time finding motivation this is a book you should try reading because you will make the most of it.
Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed it. I thought it was an interesting approach and tried some of the ideas. Even though a couple of them really worked for me I have to say that I was left with the feeling that I wanted more from this book. This is the thing: just because it works for the author doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you. But if you are someone who sometimes has a rough time finding motivation this is a book you should try reading because you will make the most of it.
Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2023
When I first saw the title of this book, I knew that it had the potential to make a lot of people a lot of angry. The title is loaded. However, after picking it up and reading it, I found that it is quite disarming, it's not written with pretention, and it's unassuming. Most of all, it's not telling you that any simple idea will be a cure all, or a cure some. It's just offering hope. I personally find getting the help that one needs during truly dark depression to be completely unattainable for some - therapy, doctors, and medication may be too expensive, too scarce, or too difficult to traverse. That said, the ideas presented are small fixes - in the way that practicing gratitude will help you find joy - and likely will be more effective for people who suffer the occasional blues. I picked it up to help find ideas for myself during times of high anxiety.
I think the premise of the book isn't that you should do every idea but there might be a gem in there that can be worked into your life to help cope. And I think that someone offering a little bit of help in the world is a good thing.
I think the premise of the book isn't that you should do every idea but there might be a gem in there that can be worked into your life to help cope. And I think that someone offering a little bit of help in the world is a good thing.
April 10, 2017
This a great and quick read. The beautiful watercolor drawings and quotes came together to make this a calming read. I think this would be a great reference for someone who has good coping techniques but not great ones. Someone who gets depressed often, but not too often. Someone who needs a quick pick me and doesn't know where to start. Or a quick reminder that making your bed everyday is helpful.
January 3, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. I have suffered from depression, anxiety, stress, you name it, for many years and was very excited to read this book from Seth Swirsky. I also saw he is a big fan of baseball, as I am, which made it even more fun for me to enjoy, especially when I read that one of his suggestions included writing his baseball heroes (I would love to write Texas Ranger stars Adrian Beltre and Josh Hamilton). This book offers some very creative and innovative methods to stop brooding and get your mind off of current troubles. I loved the illustrations, and I think that children that suffer from similar problems can benefit from Swirsky's suggestions as well. My therapist works with kids also, and some of her favorite activities are art therapy (painting masks), board games or just going outside and throwing the ball around. A big plus for readers in a depression: this book is simple and easy to do. It doesn't take a lot of energy or preparation to complete, and you will reap the benefits very quickly.
June 13, 2017
This is shitty and please, by all means, give it a miss.
Here are some of the 21 ways (in my own words and not the fancy crap the author chose to use instead).
say yes to everydamn thing for a month - because apparently, it gets you out of your zone.
take late night showers.
put a wet cloth on your forehead.
file your bills - like literally, in folders.
go shopping/pamper yourself.
And the show stopper,
Get an ALL NEW HAIRCUT.
Wow, thanks huh!
Not that I rely on these books for solutions and/or deep secrets, its just a tiny hope to, maybe, come across something nice(?) and this, if anything, made me mad.
Here are some of the 21 ways (in my own words and not the fancy crap the author chose to use instead).
say yes to every
take late night showers.
put a wet cloth on your forehead.
file your bills - like literally, in folders.
go shopping/pamper yourself.
And the show stopper,
Get an ALL NEW HAIRCUT.
Wow, thanks huh!
Not that I rely on these books for solutions and/or deep secrets, its just a tiny hope to, maybe, come across something nice(?) and this, if anything, made me mad.
February 9, 2018
Let me start by saying I have depression and have suffered and struggled with it for decades. I’m assuming I am the target audience for this book.
So, here it goes...I liked this book. Mostly.
It was short and sweet and not too preachy. There are a few suggestions that spoke to me: file your papers to clear your mind of the weight they bring, take a shower before bed to “wash the day away”. A few fell flat: say yes to party invitations, write a letter, go talk to people at a book shop.
Right now I’m in a good place and was able to take these suggestions for what they are worth. But there was that part of my brain that knows the feeling of being so depressed I could hardly drag myself out of bed, much less make the darn thing. As I read about writing letters and going to parties, I was thinking “yeah, right.” When I’ve been at the lowest of the low, I don’t want to be around people. I even envisioned myself trying some of the ideas and not completing them, then feeling like a loser or a failure or one of the many horrible things that a depressed person feels. So, these aren’t ideas to pull yourself out of a deep, black pit of despair. There are more serious books for that. These ideas are for when you are down, but feeling less bad, I suppose.
The artwork was lovely and most of the quotes were good. I agree with another reviewer who took offense at the quote suggesting shopping is better than therapy. No it’s not. Real therapy should be at the top of the list. Self care and doing nice things for yourself (a little retail therapy) is important, but the quote was tone deaf.
I tried out a few of the ideas and will admit that they made me feel content, which is a huge victory when depression is always lurking around the corner.
So, here it goes...I liked this book. Mostly.
It was short and sweet and not too preachy. There are a few suggestions that spoke to me: file your papers to clear your mind of the weight they bring, take a shower before bed to “wash the day away”. A few fell flat: say yes to party invitations, write a letter, go talk to people at a book shop.
Right now I’m in a good place and was able to take these suggestions for what they are worth. But there was that part of my brain that knows the feeling of being so depressed I could hardly drag myself out of bed, much less make the darn thing. As I read about writing letters and going to parties, I was thinking “yeah, right.” When I’ve been at the lowest of the low, I don’t want to be around people. I even envisioned myself trying some of the ideas and not completing them, then feeling like a loser or a failure or one of the many horrible things that a depressed person feels. So, these aren’t ideas to pull yourself out of a deep, black pit of despair. There are more serious books for that. These ideas are for when you are down, but feeling less bad, I suppose.
The artwork was lovely and most of the quotes were good. I agree with another reviewer who took offense at the quote suggesting shopping is better than therapy. No it’s not. Real therapy should be at the top of the list. Self care and doing nice things for yourself (a little retail therapy) is important, but the quote was tone deaf.
I tried out a few of the ideas and will admit that they made me feel content, which is a huge victory when depression is always lurking around the corner.
January 5, 2021
Finished this book in one sitting today. I started reading this book so I could help myself when I'm feeling stressed or anxious. I was happy to find that someone else shares some of the same techniques that I use. We all handle depression, anxiety and stress differently and maybe this book wasn't for everyone.
This book listed simple things that help the author overcome his anxiety and stress like painting, scrap booking, taking late night showers, taking a coffee break and lots more that could help the readers too. Some of these things I've tried, others I never thought I'd even think of. Personally, I found this book pretty helpful.
This book listed simple things that help the author overcome his anxiety and stress like painting, scrap booking, taking late night showers, taking a coffee break and lots more that could help the readers too. Some of these things I've tried, others I never thought I'd even think of. Personally, I found this book pretty helpful.
July 20, 2020
This is a fast read on ways you can try to hep yourself get through tough times.
Some of these things are not new but the book does help explain the effects of these activities for you. I do suggest keeping this with you at all times whenever an attack may happen. These activities have proven helpful for me and I always suggest this book for people in need.
Some of these things are not new but the book does help explain the effects of these activities for you. I do suggest keeping this with you at all times whenever an attack may happen. These activities have proven helpful for me and I always suggest this book for people in need.
January 26, 2019
Swirsky is a mental health professional in Beverly Hills. This book is WAY more Beverly Hills than mental health. The art is beautiful and strange. The tips are light (but not all are entirely cost effective for everyone, but not so much so that I would call this book classist). The ideas are fairly straight laced and old school. Again, very Beverly Hills.
The tips in this book are likely very helpful for people in a temporary depression, not someone with a lifelong disorder. That said, even those of us who are life-timers have good and bad days on medication. I can see using some of these on my low but not so low I need to call my doctor days.
If you have a temporary case of the blues or are getting through a major life change (a loss, a big move, aging) then go for it. This will probably be a great fit.
For those of us life-timers, we need to stick with therapy, medication, and other more serious methods to help ourselves. This can be a tool for days when we are just a little off but it does not make for a dependable crutch.
This book is really 2.5 stars.
The tips in this book are likely very helpful for people in a temporary depression, not someone with a lifelong disorder. That said, even those of us who are life-timers have good and bad days on medication. I can see using some of these on my low but not so low I need to call my doctor days.
If you have a temporary case of the blues or are getting through a major life change (a loss, a big move, aging) then go for it. This will probably be a great fit.
For those of us life-timers, we need to stick with therapy, medication, and other more serious methods to help ourselves. This can be a tool for days when we are just a little off but it does not make for a dependable crutch.
This book is really 2.5 stars.
February 21, 2017
I suffer from depression and anxiety so anything that's going to help me I'm gonna wanna read! There are good ideas and tasks in this book that can help us all, not massive life changing things but little things, and little things mean a lot.
There's things from painting to buying yourself a gift, to writing a journal and making your bed in the morning, little things,something to bring a little joy to your life that may seem a little 'simple' to everyone else but means the world to us.
It's given me a little bit of hope that I can get through this, we all need a little help every now and again and this is a creative way to cope with how you are feeling.
I will definitely be keeping this on my kindle to refer back to as it's a good tool to open yourself up to different ideas.
*Huge thanks to Seth Swirsky, Sourcebooks and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*
There's things from painting to buying yourself a gift, to writing a journal and making your bed in the morning, little things,something to bring a little joy to your life that may seem a little 'simple' to everyone else but means the world to us.
It's given me a little bit of hope that I can get through this, we all need a little help every now and again and this is a creative way to cope with how you are feeling.
I will definitely be keeping this on my kindle to refer back to as it's a good tool to open yourself up to different ideas.
*Huge thanks to Seth Swirsky, Sourcebooks and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*
September 5, 2020
is a self-help book on 21 simple and immediate things you can do to help lift your mood for when you feel particularly shitty.
It is important to note that the book would in no way treat your depression and solve your life problems. At best, it would help you get through it easier. Like little distractions you can do to make your days better. If you are struggling with a mental illness, please seek professional help.
Also, I don’t think the book is worth the money. You could get the contents of the book from anywhere on the internet, even the author said so. It doesn’t offer any new or innovative ways on making bad days better, nothing mind-blowing, nothing special.
But, the author said it might help to have a book that can act as a physical reminder. But guess what can remind you better than a physical book? A phone, for it is most likely glued to your hand all day everyday.
It’s a cute book, but you could get by without it.
It is important to note that the book would in no way treat your depression and solve your life problems. At best, it would help you get through it easier. Like little distractions you can do to make your days better. If you are struggling with a mental illness, please seek professional help.
Also, I don’t think the book is worth the money. You could get the contents of the book from anywhere on the internet, even the author said so. It doesn’t offer any new or innovative ways on making bad days better, nothing mind-blowing, nothing special.
But, the author said it might help to have a book that can act as a physical reminder. But guess what can remind you better than a physical book? A phone, for it is most likely glued to your hand all day everyday.
It’s a cute book, but you could get by without it.
August 15, 2020
I love this 'handy' book!!!! :)
Depression is not just for clinical. If you're feeling low and it disrupts your activities or making you not wanting to do what you love, that's the call sign for potential depression. Of course, you'd need to consult.
I am not where I wanna be, and this fluctuate feeling of 'lows' started when I was 31. It is suffice to say that I am struggling a lot in my 30s.
To heal, I did go to psychologists. I was about to start counseling but the pandemic kind of changed the game. So, I read books.
About depression, about self-help, about the concept of mental health and so on. This is not to replace the actual counselling but it helps to feel that 'I am not alone' and that 'this is not the end' or 'this is just the way it is'.
I will still have those panic attacks, insomnia, or 'low' because this situation is depressing. And, I don't think toxic positive will do good. You just get on with it.
So, books are my friends, my shields of armor, and BTS (of course).
This one is simple but it's that 'yes, I feel it too!' Somehow I need to validate my efforts of fighting this 'low' because I know that I am on the right track.
It doesn't matter how many times I relapsed, but each times I stand up again, these are the ways.
I found calm in painting, not about the shapes, but the strokes of the brush keeps me calms. Making journal. To make up my bed.
I did this whenever I was too overwhelm and felt like my brain propelled to that 'dark'. And, it is true.
I dont know why it's 21, perhaps there's special meaning to the author, but reading them are also a delight. Cos, I have been in reading slumps for months. The easy to read, colorful pages, and just short sentences kinda helps me back on track again.
Hopefully.
I mean I finished this in a few days. But, most definitely go back again for inspiration.
I am not one to preach about staying calm in this pandemic cos I would loose my s*its all the time.
But, I know the only thing that I couldn't give up is myself. I could give up on relationships, work, even friends, but I dont allow myself to give up on me.
Even if I have to walk on this Earth with the scars wide open, I'd walked with my head up high cos these lows and highs are entirely my own decisions.
Whatever your dreams, or pathetic your life, I hope one can always choose life.
Happy reading, good people!
Depression is not just for clinical. If you're feeling low and it disrupts your activities or making you not wanting to do what you love, that's the call sign for potential depression. Of course, you'd need to consult.
I am not where I wanna be, and this fluctuate feeling of 'lows' started when I was 31. It is suffice to say that I am struggling a lot in my 30s.
To heal, I did go to psychologists. I was about to start counseling but the pandemic kind of changed the game. So, I read books.
About depression, about self-help, about the concept of mental health and so on. This is not to replace the actual counselling but it helps to feel that 'I am not alone' and that 'this is not the end' or 'this is just the way it is'.
I will still have those panic attacks, insomnia, or 'low' because this situation is depressing. And, I don't think toxic positive will do good. You just get on with it.
So, books are my friends, my shields of armor, and BTS (of course).
This one is simple but it's that 'yes, I feel it too!' Somehow I need to validate my efforts of fighting this 'low' because I know that I am on the right track.
It doesn't matter how many times I relapsed, but each times I stand up again, these are the ways.
I found calm in painting, not about the shapes, but the strokes of the brush keeps me calms. Making journal. To make up my bed.
I did this whenever I was too overwhelm and felt like my brain propelled to that 'dark'. And, it is true.
I dont know why it's 21, perhaps there's special meaning to the author, but reading them are also a delight. Cos, I have been in reading slumps for months. The easy to read, colorful pages, and just short sentences kinda helps me back on track again.
Hopefully.
I mean I finished this in a few days. But, most definitely go back again for inspiration.
I am not one to preach about staying calm in this pandemic cos I would loose my s*its all the time.
But, I know the only thing that I couldn't give up is myself. I could give up on relationships, work, even friends, but I dont allow myself to give up on me.
Even if I have to walk on this Earth with the scars wide open, I'd walked with my head up high cos these lows and highs are entirely my own decisions.
Whatever your dreams, or pathetic your life, I hope one can always choose life.
Happy reading, good people!
March 17, 2024
It sounds like an odd thing to say about a book to do with depression but I enjoyed this book. I read it from cover to cover but it's really the kind of book you can dip in and out of. Especially if you're currently in the depths of your depression, it's the kind of book where you can pick something from it to try and help lift that, particularly bad day. I definitely will be keeping this somewhere visible for when that kind of day rears its ugly head. I think picking one of these ideas, like growing a plant or giving painting a try will definitely be achievable and helpful.
May 8, 2018
Typical run of the mill book. I could not finish it.
May 25, 2019
I reviewed this title from a digital e copy on a kindle, which is the reason I can not comment on the illustrations.
I believe a great format for this book would be spiral bound. You could flip to any idea, lay the book flat as you read or follow through.
This is a quick read, if you just read cover to cover but the reader will get most benefit from returning to read again slowly and implementing each suggested activity. I liked how the author put a personal spin on the topic. He writes in a calm, gentle voice I could relate to, like having a conversation with a friend. A patient friend who gives good advice and would not presume to tell me how I am feeling, SHOULD feel, or tell me exactly what to do. This book gives valid and easily doable activities which offer the reader moments of relief and a sense of control over something.
I believe a great format for this book would be spiral bound. You could flip to any idea, lay the book flat as you read or follow through.
This is a quick read, if you just read cover to cover but the reader will get most benefit from returning to read again slowly and implementing each suggested activity. I liked how the author put a personal spin on the topic. He writes in a calm, gentle voice I could relate to, like having a conversation with a friend. A patient friend who gives good advice and would not presume to tell me how I am feeling, SHOULD feel, or tell me exactly what to do. This book gives valid and easily doable activities which offer the reader moments of relief and a sense of control over something.
October 11, 2025
It is a brief list of things to do to help you when you are at a low in your depression and can muster the energy to get out of bed or off the couch. Some good ideas for sure and it only takes a bit over an hour to read.
June 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and it had a lot of helpful tips that I can actually see working when I feel super low.
July 22, 2021
I give this book 4.5/5 stars.
I suffer from depression and anxiety, so I walked into reading this book a little skeptical. Because I was afraid it was just some overused and stupid suggestions. But I really liked this book. It came with so many different and possible ideas to help yourself through your depression. Things I didn't even think about trying. I also love that there isn't really long texts to every point. That could have made the reading experience worse. I also like the different artwork. A nice "break" from reading and it's beautiful and colorful.
A point i also really liked was that the Author talked from experience and didn't talk about something he hasn't even tried himself. It makes it even better reading it because it feels more believable. I'm definitely going to use some of the things in this book.
I can totally recommend this book to people who want to read something small and helpful. You can use at least one of the points in the book.
I suffer from depression and anxiety, so I walked into reading this book a little skeptical. Because I was afraid it was just some overused and stupid suggestions. But I really liked this book. It came with so many different and possible ideas to help yourself through your depression. Things I didn't even think about trying. I also love that there isn't really long texts to every point. That could have made the reading experience worse. I also like the different artwork. A nice "break" from reading and it's beautiful and colorful.
A point i also really liked was that the Author talked from experience and didn't talk about something he hasn't even tried himself. It makes it even better reading it because it feels more believable. I'm definitely going to use some of the things in this book.
I can totally recommend this book to people who want to read something small and helpful. You can use at least one of the points in the book.
August 28, 2017
I rarely rate a book with one star, but I have very strong feelings about this one.
First, it astonishes me that a clinical psychologist would title a book of such an important nature "21 Ways To A Happier Depression".
This book is indeed written for what I would classify as a person with a bit of the blues, not someone with major depression/anxiety. Anxiety, setbacks, and stress belong in very different categories.
This book may be a helpful tool for that person who needs some creative tasks to do to take their mind off the clock. It is not for the extremely depressed individual who needs another human being nearby just to make it through the day.
Nice attempt Seth Swirsky, but you rubbed me the wrong way. And, you should have known better. I don't know how long you have been practicing, but I think you have a lot to learn.
First, it astonishes me that a clinical psychologist would title a book of such an important nature "21 Ways To A Happier Depression".
This book is indeed written for what I would classify as a person with a bit of the blues, not someone with major depression/anxiety. Anxiety, setbacks, and stress belong in very different categories.
This book may be a helpful tool for that person who needs some creative tasks to do to take their mind off the clock. It is not for the extremely depressed individual who needs another human being nearby just to make it through the day.
Nice attempt Seth Swirsky, but you rubbed me the wrong way. And, you should have known better. I don't know how long you have been practicing, but I think you have a lot to learn.
December 28, 2016
21 Ways to a Happier Depression is a non-fiction book addressing ways to be a little less depressed or anxious in life. As the author stated/implied in the book, this is not for people who have severe mental illness but rather for those who can get stressed or down on days. I felt it was quite short and that the 21 ways weren't that unique and that they were very much personal ways of coping. I couldn't see myself trying several of the ways and I think that more depth could have been added to the content. Personally, I don't feel that this book added much to its genre but I appreciate the author's effort in trying to.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2016
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.com. This book was a quick but interesting read about how to deal with depression and anxiety. Since I have dealt with both at different times it was neat to see some different techniques on how to overcome or cope with the feelings. I particularly liked the one about putting a cool damp cloth on your neck and over your eyes. I have never tried this but next time I think that I will. It was a quick and simple guide which is nice to refer back to in a crisis.
February 7, 2017
This is a quick read with beautiful art work. There are some wonderful suggestions to give a sense of accomplishment and bring joy to a person with depression or a low mood. Some suggestions like painting seem a bit overwhelming for a person who is very depressed to overcome. I can't imagine trying to gather art supplies and sit down to try to paint when its a struggle to get out of bed in the morning. Some suggestions seemed much more manageable. I would recommend this book and received a copy from netgalley for review.
September 2, 2018
This book is short and very easy to read. These are its only positive points. Unfortunately, it has almost no scientific basis for the pieces of advice it provides. It is completely subjective and personal, thus it has practically no value to the majority of people who suffer from depression. Also, many of the ways are well-known and not innovative.
December 10, 2018
This was recommended by my therapist (who I don't see anymore, go figure). I really didn't find anything helpful in this book. I suppose it might be useful to someone - perhaps I'm just not his target audience. It seems to suggest a lot of ways to 'take your mind off' being depressed but it came off kind of flippant and light to me without any 'real' meat to help.
February 8, 2017
Such a cute little book. Its not for the severely depressed...but would work for people fighting bad days and just need a little pick me up. I think it has some great suggestions. Artwork was beautiful!
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.com.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.com.
March 12, 2017
Seth writes in such a way that you actually go through the book within minutes. It had such a 'feel-good' vibe to it with practical steps on how to pick yourself up when you are in an emotional rut. I particularly enjoyed the illustrations as they were so colourful.
October 24, 2018
Definitely not for chronically depressed or majorly depressed people. Its basically for someone who has never experienced depression before or is just down in the dumps. Anything more than that and this book is worthless.
August 9, 2024
I got recommended this book and decided to give it a read. I think the recommendations on things to do were all pretty simple but can definitely lift ones mood and I definitely will take these things into consideration.
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