The Mind, Heart & Soul of Depression: Your Guided Journal for Emotional Healing and Getting to the Truth of the Matter

By Cathy L. Reimers Ph.D.

Are you depressed? Do loved ones minimize your depression? Are you unsure how to help yourselfor even if you can? The truth of the matter is that depression can be disabling, misunderstood, and misdiagnosed in our society.

In her book The Mind, Heart, and Soul of Depression: Your Guided Journal for Emotional Healing and Getting to the Truth of the Matter, Cathy Reimers, PhD, uses her twenty-five years of experience as a psychologist to explore the depths of depression. She shows you how to get to the causes of your depression with engaging short stories, followed by exercises to complete at your own pace. This self-help journal is divided into ten sections, beginning with a discussion of the symptoms of depression. Other sections outline links between depression and brain chemistry, the impact of family relationships and traumatic events, the risks of depression, the practice of mindfulness, psychological resources, and other helpful tools. Youll also learn how to deal with your depression through journaling.

Through The Mind, Heart, and Soul of Depression: Your Guided Journal for Emotional Healing and Getting to the Truth of the Matter, you will get to the mind, heart, and soul of your depression, let go of negative experiences, and free yourself from family conflicts. Youll embrace the heart of the matter, journey on a path toward healing, and live life to the fullest again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Aug 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504364270

Cathy L. Reimers Ph.D.

Cathy Reimers, PhD, is a psychologist with more than twenty-five years’ experience counseling children, teens, and adults. She blogs at ADHDSoul.com, PerfectFamilyStorm.com, and DocReimers.com, and hosts the Internet radio show Perfect Family Storms. She’s the author of The Perfect Family Storm: Tips to Restore Mental Health and Strengthen Family Relationships.

Book preview

THE Mind, Heart, AND Soul OF DEPRESSION

YOUR GUIDED JOURNAL FOR

EMOTIONAL HEALING AND

GETTING TO THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER

CATHY L. REIMERS PH.D.

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Copyright © 2016 Cathy L. Reimers PH.D.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Cover design- Elyse Jennings

Graphics illustrator- Phil Juliano

Balboa Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5043-6422-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-6427-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016912954

Balboa Press rev. date: 08/29/2016

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Why Write in a Journal?

2. Carrie and Her Horses

3. Journaling Will Open Your Mind

Part I. Symptoms of Depression

1. My Sadness

2. My Loss of Interest

3. My Restlessness

4. My Moodiness

5. My Hopelessness

6. My Sleep

7. My Appetite

8. My Concentration

9. My Body Aches

10. My Guilt

11. My Anxiety

Part II. Chemistry

1. My Brain

Part III. Traumatic Experiences

1. My Accident

2. My Child Abuse

Part IV. Risks of Depression

1. My Self-Destruction

Part V. Family

1. My Early Environment

2. My Family Secrets

3. My Family Shame

4. My Self-image

5. My Family Boundaries

6. My Controlling Family

7. My Triggers

8. My Emotional Messages I Carry

9. My Siblings

Part VI. Maintaining Other Relationships

1. My Interconnections

Part VII. Healing

1. My Practice of Mindfulness

2. My Practice of Gratitude

3. My Practice of Awareness

4. My Stresses

5. My Strains

6. My Spirit Guides

7. My Health

Part VIII. Treatment Options

1. My Psychiatrist

2. My Neurologist

3. My Psychologist, Counselor, Social Worker, Family Therapist, or Marital Therapist

4. My Clergy

5. My Intensive or Inpatient Care

IX. Support Systems

1. My Support Groups

Part X. Lessons of Depression

1. My Authentic Self

2. My Story

DEDICATION

This book is for anyone who has suffered from depression but believes that healing is possible by getting to the Truth of the Matter of our Mind, Heart and Soul.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I owe a debt of gratitude to some people who have contributed to this book in many ways.

First, I want to thank my daughter, Emilie, who encouraged me to follow my passion in starting this mental health series.

Very special thanks to my daughter-in-law, Elyse, who designed a book