Our online library of books, articles, and other resources can help you find powerful, practical ways to help yourself or a loved one through life's challenges, finding joy and strength in the process.
Depression afflicts both men and woman, both the old and the young. It has grown in epidemic proportions in recent decades. However, many powerful resources are available for healing this debilitating condition - and then moving on with joy and confidence.
Recovering From Depression
Written by Carrie Wrigley, LCSW
Providing tools and information to promote depression recovery has always been one of the core purposes of this site, and continues to be one of its primary missions. A wealth of information on this topic is already available here; and more will be coming soon. Here is an overview of the resources on depression recovery currently available here:
1) Handouts on Depression(MOST POPULAR) - 20 handouts in printable PDF format, on various aspects of depression recovery.
2) Handouts on CBT(POPULAR) - 13 handouts in printable PDF format, on techniques for depression recovery drawn for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), one of the most well-researched and effective methods for treating depression, anxiety, anger, and other emotional challenges.
3) Christ-Centered Healing from Depression (POPULAR) - Resources based on Carrie Wrigley's Education Week talk on the same topic. These include a 55 minute video overview, a 8 minute video instroduction, a transcript of the longer video, and resources the series was based on. This approach is anchored in "The Diamond Model," an integrative model for understanding and treating depression that draws on the most effective methods, drawn into a cohesive whole. This is taught in a religious (LDS/Christian context) that promotes spiritual as well as emotional healing.
4) Healing from Depression: Practical Steps Up to Wellness - This 9-part series of articles by Carrie Wrigley goes into more detail about the recovery process, and the practical skills involved. It is appropriate for both religious and non-religious audiences, and is an excellent follow-up to #3.
5) Chemical Imbalance - What the Research Says - An article outlining findings on the "chemical imbalance theory" of depression, exploring 1 - "How well supported is the chemical imbalance theory by solid scientific research?; 2 - Is it helpful or unhelpful to believe this theory?; 3 -What are the pros and cons of antidepressant use?; and 4 - What alternatives for depression treatment exist?
6) Best Books on Depression - A listing of best books on depression recovery. Many additional resources can be found in the "Healing Depression" section of the Bookstore on this site.
Watch this page for additional resources on depression recovery, coming soon!
"Chemical Imbalance" - What the Research Says
Written by Carrie Wrigley, LCSW
The "chemical imbalance" theory has been in existence for at least 5 decades, and over the last 2 decades has been the primary rationale for use of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and other powerful psychiatric drugs. The prevailing message is, "You need this drug to manage a chemical imbalance in your brain." Media shows, advertisements to the public, articles in professional medical journals, continuing education programs for doctors, and drug information pamphlets all refer to these ideas as if they were established scientific fact. How reliable are these messages, and how much should they affect our choices about how to manage depression?
Depression Recovery Conference - Handouts and References
On Sept. 24, 2010, Carrie M. Wrigley of Morning Light Counseling gave a talk at the Depression Recovery Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. The talk was entitled "Comprehensive Approach to Depression," and gave an overview of many strategies currently available to help understand, treat, and prevent depression. Resources from this talk are provided below, in PDF format for conference participants and others:
One of the most simple, yet powerful, ways to fight depression is physical exercise. Exercise can help stabilize brain chemistry, increase energy, improve overall health and wellbeing, and improve self-confidence. All of these benefits, and others, can help individuals who are depressed to recover.
Exercise can also be a powerful prevention strategy: both to prevent depression in those who have not been afflicted with it; and to prevent depressive relapse in those who have experienced one or more depressive episodes.
Many articles online contain helpful insights and suggestions that can help you get started. The PDF below contains descriptions and links to some of the best resources online on this topic:
Outlines the difference between "Symptom-Centered Treatment" and "Christ-Centered Healing." Reviews stages of healing; effective and ineffective strategies for depression recovery; and use of "The Diamond Model" as a guide for an integrative healing process. Also see source articles from LDS leaders referenced in the talk.
A 6 1/2 minute excerpt of the talk is featured in thisinspiring You-Tube video by Seth Adam Smith. Watch it here, in the small screen provided. Or, to watch it in full screen mode, click on the "You Tube" logo on the bottom right. Once in You-Tube, click on the four-arrow icon to expand it to full screen. (You may also wish to download the mp3 - a 6.5 minute talk segment with a gorgeous Sam Cardon background score. Enjoy!)
Transcript, "Christ-Centered Healing from Depression"
Hopefully this will be a helpful resource for the many people over the years who have requested a transcript of the talk, to study it more intensively, and to be able to apply its concepts more effectively. An index and summary of ideas presented in the talk appear below:
This first step is truly the foundation of everything else in the process of emotional healing. You have to know what you’re dealing with, in order to combat it effectively. A true premise of understanding is the foundation of empowering attitudes and action, that can lead to the desired results of healing, peace, and wellbeing. In contrast, a false premise of understanding can lead to ineffective, time-consuming, even debilitating results.
Here is a comparison of what depression is... and what it isn't:
Identify the Individualized Causes of Your Depression
No two depressions are alike. Like thumbprints, they are exquisitely individual, with unique variations from person to person. Even within the same individual, two episodes of depression, occurring at different times in life, can be very different than one another - having a different combination of causes and influences.
That is why, even in the same individual, what works to ease one depressive episode may be useless or even counter-productive in dealing with another episode. On the other hand, some factors causing depression may recur over and over again until they are resolved. In that instance, individuals can be benefited by remembering strategies that helped them through the last hard season, and re-applying them.
Find Meaningful Solutions to Each Factor Contributing to Your Depression
It can feel overwhelming at first to identify the various factors involved in your depression. You may wonder if you’re up to the task of recovery. You may believe that you’re one of those who “really IS chemically imbalanced,” without hope of improvement.
But remember – that belief can be your biggest impediment to feeling better. Recovery requires hope – hope of change, hope of resolution. Hope can be scary – but it is the first gateway leading out of depression.
Put Identified Solutions Into Practice - And Build a Lifestyle of Joy
This final step brings together everything that you've learned in this series. You could liken the process to growing a garden. Let's say you move into a new house, and find that the garden area outside has been neglected for years. It's full of tall weeds, hard untilled dirt, old leaves and debris.
But you have a vision of what that spot of ground can become. So, through several clear, practical steps, over the process of time, you work hard - and you successfully transform that pile of weeds and debris into a fresh, vibrant vegetable garden.
The "chemical imbalance" theory has been in existence for at least 5 decades, and over the last 2 decades has been the primary rationale for use of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and other powerful psychiatric drugs. The prevailing message is, "You need this drug to manage a chemical imbalance in your brain." Media shows, advertisements to the public, articles in professional medical journals, continuing education programs for doctors, and drug information pamphlets all refer to these ideas as if they were established scientific fact. How reliable are these messages, and how much should they affect our choices about how to manage depression? 
These are our favorite books on healing from depression:
, by David D. Burns, MD
, by Michael D. Yapko, PhD
, by Martin P. Seligman, PhD
, by Gabriel Cousins, MD
This first step is truly the foundation of everything else in the process of emotional healing. You have to know what you’re dealing with, in order to combat it effectively. A true premise of understanding is the foundation of empowering attitudes and action, that can lead to the desired results of healing, peace, and wellbeing. In contrast, a false premise of understanding can lead to ineffective, time-consuming, even debilitating results. 
No two depressions are alike. Like thumbprints, they are exquisitely individual, with unique variations from person to person. Even within the same individual, two episodes of depression, occurring at different times in life, can be very different than one another - having a different combination of causes and influences.