Table Of ContentMore Praise for Rethinking Depression
“This book helps us to understand how and why sadness and suf-
fering have been transformed into a medical or psychological dis-
order called ‘depression,’ and why that transformation has left us
all ‘sicker and weaker’ than we might otherwise be. The suggested
remedy to our modern alienation, the injunction to abandon the
search for happiness and to live according to our principles, stands
as a challenge and an inspiration to us all. I would recommend
this book to sufferers and professionals and anyone who is inter-
ested in a deeper understanding of mental health issues.”
— Joanna Moncrieff, author of The Myth of the Chemical Cure
and senior lecturer in social and community psychiatry,
University College London
“The world is shrinking and the American model of mental illness
is being sold globally. Soon there will be billions of ‘depressed
people’ worldwide taking antidepressants to medicate away their
unhappiness. Eric Maisel’s brilliant new book explains this phe-
nomenon with awesome clarity and simplicity and goes the next
step by proposing what people can do to sidestep mental health
labeling and create their own sensible program for healthy living.”
— Nancy Pine, author of Educating Young Giants
From Reviews of Eric Maisel’s Previous Books
“Eric Maisel’s psychological approach sets his work apart.”
— Library Journal
“Eric Maisel has made a career out of helping artists cope with the
traumas and troubles that are the price of admission to a creative
life.”
— Intuition magazine
“Eric Maisel’s books should be required reading for anyone in-
volved in the arts, especially students and their teachers. Maisel
demystifes the process of creating art.”
— Theatre Design and Technology Journal
“Maisel is a meticulous guide who knows the psychological land-
scape that artists inhabit.”
— The Writer magazine
Praise for Brainstorm by Eric Maisel and Ann Maisel
“Presents a new way of thinking about how to turn brain potential
into passion, energy, and genuine accomplishments.”
— Camille Minichino, physicist and author of the
Periodic Table Mysteries
“All too often people overlook the basics of a productive life, dis-
tracted by multitasking, marketing, and information overload.
With this provocative departure from the usual lifestyle manual,
the Maisels are out to break us of those tendencies.”
— Publishers Weekly
“[Brainstorm] is a book that should be read by all who want to live
their life in a way that is vital and leaves some kind of legacy. It’s
not about fame and fortune, but rather, about ensuring that this
brief span that we have on Earth is one that has value — where
we leave some kind of impression. There’s nothing that matters
more.”
— Seattle Post-Intelligencer
rethinking
Depression
Also By Eric MA isEl
nonfiction Write Mind
Affrmations for Artists A Writer’s Paris
The Art of the Book Proposal A Writer’s San Francisco
The Atheist’s Way A Writer’s Space
Become a Creativity Coach Your Best Life in the Arts
Now!
Brainstorm fiction
Coaching the Artist Within Aster Lynn
Creative Recovery The Blackbirds of Mulhouse
The Creativity Book The Black Narc
Creativity for Life Dismay
Deep Writing The Fretful Dancer
Everyday You The Kingston Papers
Fearless Creating Murder in Berlin
A Life in the Arts
Living the Writer’s Life journals
Mastering Creative Anxiety Artists Speak
Performance Anxiety Writers and Artists on Devotion
The Power of Sleep Thinking Writers and Artists on Love
Sleep Thinking
Ten Zen Seconds meditation decks
Toxic Criticism Everyday Calm
20 Communication Tips Everyday Creative
at Work Everyday Smart
20 Communication Tips
for Families home study course
The Van Gogh Blues The Meaning Solution
What Would Your
Character Do?
rethinking
Depression
How to SHED
MEntAl HEAlt H lABElS
AnD CREA tE
PERSonAl MEAning
eric Maisel
New World Library
Novato, California
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way
Novato, California 94949
Copyright © 2012 by Eric Maisel
All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical,
or other — without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who
may quote brief passages in a review.
Portions of chapter 7 from The Van Gogh Blues by Eric Maisel. Copyright © 2002 by Eric
Maisel. Reprinted by permission of Rodale Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098.
Portions of chapter 8 frst appeared in The Atheist’s Way by Eric Maisel. Copyright © 2009
by Eric Maisel. Reprinted by permission of New World Library.
The material in this book is intended for education. It is not meant to take the place of
diagnosis and treatment by a qualifed medical practitioner or therapist. No expressed or
implied guarantee as to the effects of the use of the recommendations can be given nor
liability taken.
Text design by Tracy Cunningham
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Maisel, Eric, date.
Rethinking depression : how to shed mental health labels and create personal meaning /
Eric Maisel.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-60868-020-7 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Depression, Mental. 2. Mental illness. 3. Psychiatry—Philosophy. I. Title.
RC537.M333 2012
616.85'27—dc23
2011041631
First printing, February 2012
ISBN 978-1-60868-020-7
Printed in Canada on 100% postconsumer-waste recycled paper
New World Library is a proud member of the Green Press Initiative.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Ann,
thirty-fve years into this adventure
C o n t e n ts
introduction: The Reality of Unhappiness 1
part one: rethinking Depression
chapter 1 Creating Mental Disorders 9
chapter 2 What Do “Treatments” Really Do? 27
chapter 3 Fifteen Reasons Why People Believe That
“Depression” Exists 39
part two: Your existential plan
chapter 4 The Existential Ideal — and Its Reality 49
chapter 5 You Look Life in the Eye 63
chapter 6 You Investigate Meaning 69
chapter 7 You Decide to Matter 75
chapter 8 You Accept Your Obligation to Make Meaning 83
chapter 9 You Decide How to Matter 89
chapter 10 You Honor Your Wants, Needs, and Values 97
