Mindfulness Journal for Depression: A Guided Journey Toward Self-Compassion and Positivity

For about three to four months I had a bout of depression in which I did not know how to help myself. These months happened to be just before Tanya Peterson's Mindfulness Journal for Depression came out. Although feeling pretty unmotivated to do anything, I was looking forward to purchasing this and couldn't wait to get it into my hands. I have had the pleasure of reading all of Ms. Peterson's novels, blogs, self-help workbooks, and journals. All of these helped me tremendously. The manner in which Ms. Peterson presents her information is easy to understand as well as helpful from the first page forward. Her journals especially are set up with not only incredibly helpful prompts that really get you to think while writing, but also each section is given an explanation that would always resonate with me and set the stage for the upcoming prompts in each section.All of her work, in fact, has always resonated with me as does this Mindful Journal for Depression. It came at just the right time for me and I am still working in it, reaping the comfort and satisfaction of self-understanding.This is an outstanding piece of work that Tanya Peterson is so gifted to produce. It is a must-have for anyone who has either felt "just down in the dumps" or has suffered for quite some time from depression. I would recommend this journal for a fresh new outlook that truly works!!!!!

This is a very good journal for getting your feelings out. It can help you to think of yourself more positively and see the positives within your self in a different light. And it does lend itself to being able to reflect over time as well as your progress. That can be a good thing, but could also be a letdown for some people if they look back and see that not much has changed. But, either way, I think this is a good starter tool to use if you need some coaching with self-esteem to help lift a depressed mood.

The best thing I can say after flipping through this journal is that it doesn't seem like I'm all that depressed. Don't stop reading, though!I HAVE been depressed, deeply, off and on throughout my lifetime. Sometimes it's chemical (oral contraceptives), sometimes it's legit (hauling around the baggage of a lifetime when half of it isn't even yours). I've also had a lot of therapy to deal with that, including good therapists and not so good (for me, at least) therapists.When you're depressed, even the thought of having to open a book seems like a big task. Luckily, this book is chopped up into bite-size bits of exercises. It appears to be a progression, but hey, you're depressed, who says you can't come back to that exercise later? (I'm telling you that so you'll open the book, and hopefully you'll work through the exercises, see that things are better and just progress through the book in a way that helps you).The book follows a lot of my experience with CBT. Get the "recordings" out of your head. Break down what you believe to be your obstacles to see if they are, indeed, obstacles, and if so, how can you overcome them in tidy little battles instead of needing to incite a war? You don't have the energy for a war, you're depressed!Great little book. It really is. I'm impressed and I'll be ordering some for friends who have been bitten by the Black Dog.I'll also keep a copy around, because I know how the Black Dog likes to make his rounds, and lord knows he found it more than comfy to hang out here for a while.The author is compassionate and encouraging in what feels to me like the perfect way. No false sunshine here, just authentic encouragement.Really great chapter on "impartial observing," which is surely the most difficult part of depression - it's hard to get from behind your own eyes to see anything in any other perspective. That part alone is worth the price of the book.It's a workbook, meant to be worked through, so if you do get it for someone, let them work through it and don't you go tip-toeing through it unless you have their permission. After we emerge from depression, some of the things that held us back seem silly, even embarrassing out here in the sunshine, but it was a source of genuine grief, sadness, and distress at the time. Honor that. Honor them. Honor yourself.Great book for anyone feeling "stuck."

This is not a substitute for professional help, but doing these exercises can help change your outlook. The book is pleasantly formatted. I like how the author gives information between questions so now won’t feel so alone just answering questions in a book. I like the quotes as well.

I am still working through this journal almost 2 months after receiving it. I still find myself reaching for it when I have time and energy to devote to it (thank you depression, work, and raising a family...) I am not deeply depressed, more of a functional depression that is just lingering months later since the loss of my mom. I have never been formally diagnosed so I can't tell you exactly where I'm at on that spectrum, but I know that I am...I love that this is a completely standalone journal. There is enough description that you don't need to have another book to read and use this journal as a workbook. When you already aren't feeling like yourself, you don't need another obstacle in your way...I like how everything is broken down into bite-sized pieces. Later prompts refer back to things you have already written about to either dive deeper into it or reflect on it. There are random check-ins just to gauge how you are doing, too, which is wonderful. Sometimes you don't want to think too hard.You definitely should work this through cover-to-cover. Some guided journals you can skip around, but this one should definitely be worked in order for you to get the best results with it.Even though I haven't completed this yet, I'm finding my way back to myself. Sure, some of it may be time, but a good bit of it is working through and actually processing everything in my head. It isn't just about my recent trauma either, it's about me as a whole.Would highly recommend for anyone looking for some self-improvement.