The Depression Cure

The 6-Step Program to Beat Depression without Drugs

By: Stephen S. Ilardi

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

In the past decade, depression rates have skyrocketed, and one in four Americans will suffer from major depression at some point in their lives. Where have we gone wrong? Dr. Stephen S. Ilardi sheds light on our current predicament and reminds us that our bodies were never designed for the sleep-deprived, poorly nourished, frenzied pace of 21st-century life.

Inspired by the extraordinary resilience of aboriginal groups like the Kaluli of Papua New Guinea, Dr. Ilardi prescribes an easy-to-follow, clinically proven program that harks back to what our bodies were originally made for and what they continue to need. The Depression Cure program has already delivered dramatic results, helping even those who have failed to respond to traditional medications.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2009 Stephen S. Bardi (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Practical, straightforward, grounded in persuasive research, this book is recommended for anyone seeking an alternative approach to treating depression." ( Library Journal)

Hope!

Would you listen to The Depression Cure again? Why?

I really found this book helpful and encouraging. I am listening to it again now, and will probably go back to it again several times.

What did you like best about this story?

TLC - Therapeutic Lifestyle Change. There is good research on Depression, and Ilardi provides clear, actionable advice -exercise, eat well, get sleep, get socially connected, take Omega-3s, etc.

Which scene was your favorite?

NA

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to this almost all in one go. It was easy to digest, made good sense, and felt very doable. I definitely notice improvements when I've been active, when I go out.

Any additional comments?

Google Ilardi's TED talk and learn more about TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Change).

He's almost got the mechamisms right.

He gives very compelling reasons for his suggestions. I agree almost basically on what needs to be done but I think his ideas.

Great book

Just starting to put things into action but brought a lot of the information together from everywhere else and made sense of it...

This book changed my life

As an African boy, there is no word for depression in my country. After listening to this audiobook and following the instructions, my whole life improved. Omega 3 +exercise+doing meaning full work+socailizing made me a better human being.

Very informative and will listen to it again.

I got this in hopes that Anything could be helpful at this point. Definitely it gave me the knowledge to do a lot of things that I have neglected to focus on. This book is helpful! I am glad I got it. Looking forward to actively work hard on a few easy things I can do to improve, and will probably refresh and read this a second time in the future.

Great tools for depression

I think the tools offered in this book are very valuable. As a life-long sufferer from clinical (not just episodes related to hard life events but truly a chemical deficit), I have found increased awareness around the idea of “ruminating” and how these circular, obsessive thoughts contribute to feelings of depression. That is thanks to this book. Some of the other tools (exercise and supplements/omega 3) I’ve been working for years. A couple of small critiques: first, small doses of SSRI anti-depressants are life-changing for me. They don’t remove or “cure” the depression by a long shot; however, they set me up to be able to do the other work — the exercise, the socializing, etc. I’ve gone on and off of them for 20/25 years. It’s night vs. day every time I’m off vs on them. (Aside: Doctors tend to grossly overdose, based on pharmaceutical company-sponsored research. I’m convinced that they pose the question as, what’s the maximum amount a patient can tolerate before the adverse effects outweigh the beneficial impacts? I’ve found that 20% of the standard medium dosing is effective for me.) A second critique is the near absence of mindfulness as a powerful tool for the depressed person. It’s transformative! My final critique is that this narrator was so, so, so wrong for this content! Dr. Ilardi himself has such a comforting, warm, calm tone — I love his YouTube talks. In gross contrast, this reader sounded like he’d been hanging around Vegas card tables all night with whiskey and few packs of smokes. He should be narrating a thriller or a crime novel, international espionage — anything but a depression cure book!! I could barely get past him.

Extremely informative & helpful information!

I loved this book! I felt like I knew a lot of what is in this book but I think we all need to be reminded of the importance of these lifestyle changes.

practical, simple recommendations

I found the content in the book to be simple and practical. I found the presenter of the book to be good. there was just enough science and scientific information and examples to make it interesting and not lose the audience.

A little repetitive

Good advice but there were a few times I thought it would have worked better in print. The summary at the end is a bit prescriptive for my tastes.

Pulled me back from the abyss

I experienced several significant episodes of depression that took me to the edge of the abyss. Listening to this book and implementing it’s suggestions took me off of the potential lost to suicide list. Thank you.