Taming The Black Dog New Ed

by Bev Aisbett

The fully revised, expanded and updated edition of Bev Aisbett's bestselling guide to overcoming depression, Taming the Black Dog





First published in 2000, Bev Aisbett's classic, simple and easy-to-follow guide to overcoming depression Taming the Black Dog has sold over 220,000 copies and helped thousands of people manage their depression.

Now expanded and fully revised, this updated edition of Taming the Black Dog features Bev Aisbett's unique blend of information, humour and clear, simple and practical advice. It is an invaluable guide and source of information for both chronic sufferers of depression as well as anyone with a fit of 'the blues'. Over 1 in 5 people will suffer some form of depression at some point in their lives, so Taming the Black Dog is a more important resource than ever before.

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

192 pages, Paperback

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

[Sufiyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Morrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 · Rating 1 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 · Rating 1 out of 5]

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

[Nicki Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay didn’t help a lot tho

[Anita]

good tips to help people out

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Nik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting points but I found the cartoons quite distracting.

[Elisabeth Degen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Kara Rowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad dog

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Michelle Barter-Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read, I think the illustrations are done quite well too.