Michael Addis on Overcoming Depression

What if depresson isn’t an illness in itself, but rather a signpost pointing to things you need to change in your life?

Rather than struggling to discover and fix the “causes” of your depression symptoms, you could focus on living your life in more rewarding ways and, in the process, start feeling better. Overcoming Depression describes what seems to be a very simple and self-evident way of dealing with this common psychological problem: Act in ways that reconnect you to natural sources of fulfillment and pleasure, and the symptoms of your depression will improve. This is actually a significant departure from conventional thinking about depression, which largely focuses on brain-chemistry imbalances or problematic thinking. Behavior activation, the therapeutic method used in this book, offers a positive, empowering approach to coping with depression. We talked to psychologist and professor Michael Addis, one of the book’s authors, about what makes this method and this book so different and uniquely effective.

New Harbinger Publications: The title of your book—Overcoming Depression One Step at a Time—seems to restate the purpose of many self-help books for depression. How is this workbook different from other books of its type?

Michael Addis: It will help readers to take control of their moods by becoming more actively engaged in life. They can accomplish this without waiting to feel better or waiting for their attitude to improve. The book provides numerous ways to approach day-to-day life that will help a person overcome depression by making conscious choices about how to respond to difficult feelings and situations. In effect, we try to help people get back in charge of their lives so their moods will naturally improve.

NHP: What triggers depression?

MA: Many things trigger depression, from big events like the loss of a job or the loss of a loved one to smaller day-to-day things like being stuck in a difficult relationship or gradually withdrawing from friends or family. Of course, many people think that depression is caused by neurotransmitter imbalances, which certainly accompany depressed mood, cognition, and behavior. However, the chicken-and-egg issue really hasn’t been resolved: which comes first, the biology, the behavior, the mood, or the cognition? What we do know is that making changes in any one of these areas seem to trigger improvement in the others.

NHP: Are there some people who are more susceptible to depression?

MA: Some people are more susceptible to depression for genetic reasons—depression, runs in the family, for example—while for others their approach to life may put them at risk. I’m thinking here of those people who respond to life’s challenges by withdrawing or avoiding difficult situations or feelings—they may be more at risk for depression.

NHP: What is a “depressogenic society”? Would you say that we live in one in the United States?

MA: A depressogenic society creates an environment that puts people at greater risk for depression. American society is increasingly alienating, leaving many of us feeling disconnected from others, overworked, and anxious. It would not be surprising if this society is increasing the rate of depression in its members, but such a phenomenon is difficult to demonstrate scientifically.

NHP: To whom would you recommend this book? Will it assist people suffering from different levels of depression?

MA: This book should be helpful for people with a variety of types of depression and severities. However, those who are severely depressed should also consider seeking treatment from a mental health professional.

NHP: What is behavior activation, and how is it used in your book to treat those with depression?

MA: Behavior activation is the process of choosing to act according to short and long-term goals in your life rather than the thoughts or feelings you are currently experiencing. It can also be thought of as choosing to be proactive rather than reactive in response to difficult feelings or situations. It’s used in a variety of different ways, from dealing with everyday stressors such as paying bills and completing household chores to larger life issues such as beginning or ending a relationship or finding a meaningful and rewarding job. The first step is always increasing your awareness of links between what you’re doing and how you’re feeling. Then people begin to make targeted changes in how they are behaving, which are likely to combat depression and lead to a more rewarding life.

NHP: How does behavior activation compare to other treatments for depression?

NHP: You state in the book that medication is becoming an increasingly common treatment for depression, but that patients who are treated with medication alone often relapse once they’re off the medication. Can you explain why?