SURVIVING THE DARKNESS

A compact guide to coping with depression.

In 2016, at the age of 47, debut author Nicholls, an Australian attorney and consultant, was diagnosed with depression. In this debut book, he relates his personal experience with the mental illness and offers other sufferers paths forward; as he puts it, “I liken recovery to a maze with several possible routes to the exit.” The first several chapters poignantly convey his initial struggles, as when he began to feel drained of energy. He also nods to the common characterization of depression as the “black dog”: “depression can ‘shadow’ the sufferer, even when their mood is upbeat and ‘victorious.’ ” Such salient observations help to destigmatize depression early on, and Nicholls soon uses his experiences to enlighten others on ways to deal with it in everyday life. For example, he includes a helpful survey of typical traditional treatments and discusses in some detail the coping mechanisms that he used over a number of years to help manage his depression. Nicholls advises that “there is no fixed menu of options,” but his overview of 20-plus strategies, including “Do not expect too much too soon” and “Set Limits,” supplemented by lessons learned and “failed options,” is likely to be exceptionally helpful to readers in similar situations. A key point is that no one needs to go through depression alone, and a chapter on building “your recovery team” offers specific guidance on selecting the right therapist. A subsequent chapter for concerned friends and relatives includes two valuable tables (“What not to say” and “What to say”) with commentary; for example, the inadvisable phrase, “I know exactly how you feel” is described as “not a helpful way to make someone feel understood when their depression has become overwhelming.” Overall, Nicholls writes succinctly with a keen sense of compassion and understanding.

Candid, reflective, and illuminating.