LIVING BETTER: HOW I LEARNED TO SURVIVE DEPRESSION | BOOK REVIEW
Alastair Campbell (John Murray)
Very few of us can afford weekly sessions with a private psychiatrist. Gaining access to ‘talking therapy’ on the NHS, with waiting lists a mile long, is like trying to climb Everest in flip flops, so anything that can be of help is most welcome. Putting aside what one might think about the former Downing Street spokesman and strategist Alastair Campbell, there are some extremely useful tips to be found within Living Better: How I Learned To Survive Depression that do make a positive difference, when trying to cope with that damn dark cloud.
The first part of Living Better… is a candid telling of Campbell’s childhood, leading to ‘hitting rock bottom’ in 1986 with a breakdown, to his eventual recovery and continuing battle with depression. The second part is titled ‘My Search For A Cure’ which is full of advice on sleep, nutrition, exercise and ways of coping with stress and the constant feeling of powerlessness that the pandemic has brought. One golden nugget of information amongst many in Living Better… is the ‘life saving jam jar’ visual exercise, which is a brilliant way to bring everything into perspective and also something to build on during these challenging times.
Price: £16.99. Info: here
words DAVID NOBAKHT
