Stop Feeling So Damn Depressed

Don't feed The Beast. In this no-nonsense guide for men, psychologist Jonas Horwitz presents straightforward, jargon-free strategies to help you identify and overcome depression, once and for all.

The damned thing about severe depression is that it takes over your brain, body, and spirit. It wants you to say to yourself, "There is nothing I can do to make myself feel better. I am helpless in the face of my problems." Even at this very moment as you read these words, your severe depression is whispering in your ear, "This is all bulls@#t." Your depression has lived with you for a long time, and has seldom left your side. It's relentlessly pessimistic, and wants you to believe that your misery will never end. In a nutshell-your severe depression is The Beast that you just can't seem to escape.

With this unique guide, you'll learn why it's so important to take your severe depression seriously-just as you would if you had cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or any other life-threatening illness. In addition, by anthropomorphizing your depression into a separate entity-The Beast-you'll discover what makes it tick, as well as the unhealthy behaviors that can feed it and make it stronger, such as drinking or watching too much television. Most importantly, you'll find actionable solutions to put The Beast in its place so you can start focusing on the things that matter.

In order to overcome your depression, you must understand its nature. This book will help you understand The Beast, stop feeding it, and take back your life.

“This wonderful book is a treasure trove filled with gems of meaningful, important information and guidance. For those who struggle with ‘the Beast’ of depression, Horwitz provides valuable advice that is candid and practical. The ‘no-nonsense’ language cuts through the haze of jargon and technical talk, offering an accessible road map to remission and recovery.”
—Robert N. Golden, MD, dean of the School of Medicine and Public Health, and processor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

“Horwitz knows just how miserable men with severe depression feel. A clinical psychologist, he tells specific things a man can do to feel much better, without telling the lie that depression is easy to fix. He explains what is going on in the brain that keeps depression alive and how behavioral changes can reduce the depression. His tone is conversational; his message is direct. I plan to buy a stack of these books and hand them to men I know who need to read it. “
—Barbara J. Myers, PhD, associate professor emerita and former director of the developmental psychology division at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

“Horwitz’s powerful, no-nonsense guide for men experiencing severe depression is written with sincerity and compassion as he navigates a subject too often ignored. Depression is a serious illness and one of the top risk factors for suicide. Horwitz’s passion for this subject can be seen on each page as he provides practical, solution-based options for those struggling with the ‘Beast.’ It is, without a doubt, a book to share with your colleagues, clients, and loved ones.”
—Julie McIntyre, LCSW, MSW, retired clinical social worker for the department of psychiatry and emergency medicine at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

“This brilliantly designed book could only have been written by a psychotherapist who has spent thousands of hours talking with men about depression. Horwitz has achieved remarkable things here. He has distilled the relevant research, and presented it in a straightforward, short, but comprehensive form. The ideas are sound and easy to understand while never being oversimplified. This book provides a source of hope without ever underestimating the size of the challenge of overcoming depression. I think anyone who works with men in any capacity will want a stack of these to present at the right moments.”
—David K. Donlon, LCSW, psychotherapist in Chapel Hill, NC, for thirty-five years; president of the American Academy of Psychotherapists

“Depression—we know it’s there, but we can’t see it. Jonas Horwitz gives us a brilliant way to ‘see’ and deal with our depression. Revealing how we unwittingly feed a beast that weighs us down, Horwitz provides a way into—and through—the shadows of depression. Look through the windows of this book, as I have, let go of helplessness, and get on with meaningful living.”
—Rev. Steven A. Ingram, DMin, LPCC, pastoral counselor

“This book, How to Stop Feeling So Damn Depressed, by Jonas A. Horwitz, is just that: a commonsense, direct, honest, easy-to-read guide for men suffering from severe, debilitating, chronic depression. From the opening paragraph Horwitz communicates directly to the men he is writing for in a way that makes it clear he is all about teaching men specific strategies they can use to gain control over their depression, which he calls ‘the Beast.’ His guide is creative, personal, educational, practical, and guided by research and years of experience as a therapist.”
—Wendy Kliewer, PhD, professor and former chair in the department of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University