Taming the Black Dog: A Guide to Overcoming Depression

by Bev Aisbett

Don't want to get out of bed in the morning? Feeling as though the light is fading at the end of the tunnel? You may be suffering from depression, a condition Winston Churchill referred to as the Black Dog. taming the Black Dog is a simple guide to managing depression, which an estimated 1 in 5 people will suffer in one form or another at some time in their lives. Modelled on Bev Aisbett' s successful LIVING WItH It, tAMING tHE BLACK DOG has a unique blend of wit and information and is an invaluable guide for both chronic sufferers of depression as well as anyone with a fit of 'the blues'.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Psychology, Audiobook

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2000

About the author

In 1991 Bev Aisbett launched a full–time freelance career in cartooning and illustration. Around this time, Bev experienced an ordeal commonly known as anxiety disorder. Out of this experience she developed the character "IT" which led to the successful publication of Living With IT, Living IT Up and Letting IT Go. Bev has also published "Get Real, dealing with body image and eating disorders" and in 2000 the successful "Taming the Black Dog: A guide to depression."

Reviews

[Suz]

This was my first book about mental health, read a very long time ago. It was a light bulb moment to know there were resources out there.

[Tara]

A pretty lame form of help for a doctor to give to someone with two degrees almost finished, who was reporting symptoms of depression.
All the same, I can see how it would benefit someone.
Someone who doesn't know what depression is and needs it explained to them in simple terms..

[Sammie]

Lame book, only read it to see what it was like *Yawn*

[Sufiyo]

This really helped me in a time of total despair. So simple yet so profound and to the point.

[Morrison]

It's alright. Very low level approach to depression and treatment. All very well known information.

Bit like "my first depressive episode".

Not particularly unique or different

[Lucy]

A cute and approachable-seeming guide to depression. The funny drawings create a sense of playfulness to make depression seem manageable, silly, a dog that needs training. I can’t see this actually working for anyone who is clinically depressed. Perhaps it is mean as a softener to the thought that you might have to seek help?

The first half of the book gives an brief overview on what depression is and why people suffer depression. I felt this was oversimplified and I found parts to be edging on victim-blaming. If anything, I felt slightly angry after reading this “book”. Did I think more would come out of it and I was disappointed? No, I felt nagged and criticized and dirty.

I understand this book is mean as a jumping-off point to talk about and do something about your depression, but I shudder to turn it over and see that it is published by GSK - a pharmaceutical company. It doesn’t take a genius to see a trap like that. This distrust shakes any validity the book may have had. Is it meant to soften you to the concept of committing to numbing yourself with drugs manufactured by GSK?

Perhaps it is a book given by well-meaning family and friends who want to fix you and think it can be done with funny cartoon illustrated drug pamphlets. I suppose if you were in a dark time of your life, you could use this book as a means to ask for help, to lessen the confusion of the person you were showing it to and saying “I think this is me, I need your help”. Leave it out casually so someone will ask you if you are okay. Take it to the doctor and use it as a tool to get the attention you need. Otherwise, I don’t really see its usefulness. Depression isn’t a funny dog, it’s a beast of self-loathing and pain. If you want a better-drawn dog comic, go buy Footrot Flats.

[Leigh Machnee]

This seems outdated. I’m not even depressed, but I read thinking it might be informative, and help with anxiety, which I do experience. The author shames depressed people, saying things such as ‘depression is a choice’ and in the chapter on eating healthy says ‘how hard is it to chop and steam vegetables while grilling a steak’. They seem to think depression is just feeling a bit down. I would recommend Beth McColl’s ‘How to Come Alive Again’ over this.

[Kylie W]

If you ever suffer from depression I highly recommend getting this book and keeping it on your bookshelf. It is short, easy to read and has lots of cartoon pictures. Despite the pictures and the easy-to-read factor, it doesn't condescend at all. You can pick this up and just read a couple of pages anywhere at random.

I love it.

[Kitty]

This book is a good starting place for dealing with depression. It covers a lot of the basics and has some really good tips. I'm giving it three instead of four stars because I didn't love the sections on medication and nutrition.

[Jayne Gray]

Short, and far too chatty for the audio book format I listened to it in. It seemed to have good information, although too simplistic and preachy I suspect for anyone with complex problems who is feeling vulnerable.

[Kirsty]

Not a book to read as a resource for helping others. Purely aimed as a self help tool.

[LAURA JONES]

this was a good book the black dog being depression which was the name Winston Churchill called his depression. the name stuck and this was a really good book. it has a lot of reading but also some exercises to help you in a practical way. it was written in a light cartoon style which meant the book was easier to read and take in the content. it also made it easier to read than some heavy lines of instructions. it relates to things like dog things such as fleas fur balls and muddy paw prints which is about depression in others.
it then moves on to training which is about ways of getting past the conditions of depression such as self harming self pity then onto self help professional help recovery and freedom.
if you are looking for a light but serious book that will put you on the right path towards recovery or for someone to read to help them, this is a good book

[Nicki Kendall]

A helpful and informative guide for anyone either suffering from depression or for anyone who knows someone who has it. The book delved into what depression is and how it occurs. It will leave the reader with a much better understanding of what depression is and ways in which to help manage/deal with it better when it strikes. #bevaisbett #tamingtheblackdogaguidetoovercomingdepression #tea_sipping_bookworm #bookstagram #bookqueen #amazon#kindle #litsy #greatreads

[Linda]

This is the Depression equivalent of the author’s Anxiety focused book series thereof. Very accessible, entertaining, and simple to apply to good effect. Read it as an intro to the topic if you’ve entered the growing ranks of the depressed. And, ideally, use it as a conversation point with your therapist.

[Patricia Maria]

Great book if you think you or someone you know is suffering from depression

This is a hopeful and helpful book to give you a better view about what depression is. And how you can get a head start on getting back your life

[Ibrahim]

A nice little book about depression: Its causes, symptoms and possible solutions.
It's written concisely in a very simple "comic-like" format that makes it easier for depressed people to enjoy and potentially use.
Good effort.
Thanks Bev.

[Harrison Vesey]

Short, insightful, easy to understand and super practical. This little book really struck me by how much it made sense of my mind and my situation, and the difficult but hopeful reality of the changes I need to make.

[Deb Chapman]

I read this little book quite a few yrs ago on recommendation of a friend and just now listened to the audiobook. Some good ideas thrown out there and probably pick up different things depending on where one is at on that depression journey. I liked the last sentence: nothing to do now but heal.

[Mohammad Ali]

واقعا مفید و تاثیر گذاره، حجمش کمه و چکیده ی کاملی از روش ها و راهنمایی هاست
با خوندش مسائل، بیشتر براتون روشن میشه.

[Felicity Mason]

It was okay didn’t help a lot tho

[Anita]

good tips to help people out

[Kit]

Anything that helps someone to overcome depression is a hero in my book 👌

[Nik]

Some interesting points but I found the cartoons quite distracting.

[Elisabeth Degen]

Such a helpful read for those experiencing depression. Easy to read as it's humorous and filled with great illustrations.

[Kara Rowley]

Interesting

[Darcy]

It really opened my eyes up to stuff I was mentally going through and putting on myself....it's super easy to read and understand and I love the dog illustrations!

[Nicole Rediscovers Reading]

Very insightful

[Lana]

While there were a few helpful moments, and there were a few helpful reminders, I didn’t think that this offered the greatest solution for “taming the black dog”

[Theo Silberston]

Bad dog

[Robert]

Well written and I found it to be a nice quick listen.