Coming Out of the Dark

by Mary Southerland

Book Overview

Mary Southerland had a successful ministry, a husband who led a growing church, and two kids who were the joy of her life. She kept all these things in balance until clinical depression brought her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0736914544
• ISBN13: 9780736914543
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
• Length: 218 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Life-changing practical advice

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (5/07) Depression is one of those illnesses that can strike anybody at just about any time. Its causes are diverse and the symptoms not always easy to recognize. Worst of all, it is so difficult to "get back on track," or as Mrs. Southerland aptly termed this, to get out of the pit of depression. It is refreshing to see a book on this difficult subject, written by somebody who has been through it and who managed to get out of the pit. It is even more refreshing when such a book is written with ample common sense and spiced up with a large dose of humor. While it is clear that the book is geared towards women; to be more precise, actually Christian women, it is by no means something other people suffering from depression could not use - and with good results. Mrs. Southerland does a great job explaining what could possibly lead us into depression, how we could recognize the symptoms and how we could deal with them and finally overcome depression. She lists the common fears and the common problems that could get us depressed. She also included some quite useful exercises at the end of the book. Each chapter contains some concise and uplifting words of wisdom and on most every page you will find something to laugh or at least chuckle about. Take this example, "The spoken word is powerful, and spoken words of encouragement can bring great comfort. The idea is not to speak many words, but the right words. Consider this: · The Lord's Prayer contains 71 words. · The Gettysburg Address contains 272 words. · The Ten Commandments contain 139 words. · The Declaration of Independence contains 1323 words. · A U.S. government order setting the price of cabbage contains 26,911 words." Quite frankly, I wish this book would have been available to me years ago when I was in one of those bottomless pits myself. I certainly would have climbed out of it faster using the techniques and advice in Mary Southerland's "Hope in the Midst of Depression," which is very aptly subtitled "How to Embrace Life Again." Between the practical, sound advice, flowing writing style and positive attitude, this is a winner. I would highly recommend it to anybody struggling with depression - or just wondering if what they are going through could possibly be depression. While this book is clearly geared towards Christian women, I feel that it transcends the genre and religious affiliations and could be of great help to just about anybody.

Depression doesn't mean you are being punished!

Finally a book on depression that is a real person. As a ministers wife, Mary was struck with severe clinical depression and panic attacks. She tells her tale of recovery, the root of her depression, real life stories and how she is doing today. She talks about how embarresing it was for her, of all people to not want to lead the choir anymore, or attend church anymore. She gives great insight into what she did on her darkest days, parts of the bible that inspire and uplift you. For the first time I felt like I can get better, and that being blue is not a punishement for sin. Mary reveals what was at the heart of her depression and what triggered her major breakdown. She provides simple and direct steps to take to start to feel better. Mary is also very careful not to underestimate the need for medical help. She also doesn't believe it's all in your head or that you should just fake it. This is an outstanding and uplifting book. I wish every person (believer or not) that is suffering, has suffered, or has family suffering from depression could have a copy of this book. God Bless Mary Sutherland!!