Chapter 6: Happiness, Depression and Self-Concept
History and Gender Factors in Depression
The Signs of Depression
What is meant by happiness?
How do we become happy?
The Interaction of Happiness and Depression
Martin Seligman’s Thesis on Happiness
Forces Affecting Happiness and Depression
Seligman’s Suggestions for Increasing Happiness
Which life circumstances change our happiness level and which don’t?
More promising routes to happiness
Theories about the Causes of Depression
The result of losses
Poor social skills = no fun
Helplessness and hopelessness
Exercise: How do you explain things?
Unreasonable thinking and faulty conclusions
Anger turned inward
Sooty Sarah: A fairy tale
Impossible goals or no goals
Shame: feeling ashamed of yourself has to be depressing
Lacking self-control causes depression
Summary of the Causes of Depression and How to Use Them
Sad Times in Our Lives
Barriers to getting treatment
Rate of suicide by special groups
Predicting suicide is very complex and very difficult
Possible warning signs
Prevention and treatment
Intensive individual psychotherapy
Finding helpful and useful information
The selection of a method—injury or suicide?
How do people stop hurting themselves?
Loss of a relationship: breaking up; estranged from parent
Self-help methods for reducing loneliness:
Loss of Status: Failure and Disappointment
Low Self-Concept and Feelings of Inferiority
Perfectionists and Worriers
Guilt and Regret
What to do about Destructive Guilt
Exercises for understanding and reducing shame
Boredom, apathy, and tiredness or exhaustion
Methods for Coping with Depression
The Use of Anti-depressants
Level I: Behavior (see chapter 11)
Level II: Emotions (see chapter 12)
Level III: Skills (see chapter 13)
Level IV: Cognitive Methods (chapter 14)
Level V: Unconscious factors (chapter 15)
Conclusion: Final words of advice
© 1996-2007 Clayton Tucker-Ladd & the Self-Help Foundation.
All rights reserved. ISBN 1-890873-00-4
free and updated regularly!