Michael D. Yapko - Breaking the Patterns of Depression

Other Books by Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D.

ESSENTIALS OF HYPNOSIS

SUGGESTIONS OF ABUSE:
TRUE AND FALSE MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL TRAUMA

HYPNOSIS AND THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSIONS

TRANCEWORK: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE
PRACTICE OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS
WHEN LIVING HURTS: DIRECTIVES
FOR TREATING DEPRESSION

BRIEF THERAPY APPROACHES TO TREATING
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION (ED.)

A hardcover edition of this book was originally published in 1997 by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. It is here reprinted by arrangement with Doubleday.

Breaking the Patterns of Depression. Copyright 1997 by Michael D. Yapko. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information, address: Broadway Books, a division of Random House, Inc., 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036.

BROADWAY BOOKS and its logo, a letter B bisected on the diagonal, are trademarks of Broadway Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Visit our website at www.broadwaybooks.com

The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has cataloged the hardcover edition as:
Yapko, Michael D.
Breaking the patterns of depression / Michael D. Yapko.1st ed.
p. cm.
1. Depression, MentalPopular works. 2. Self-help techniques.
3. Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. I. Title.
RC537.Y349 1997 96-1070
616.8527dc20

eISBN: 978-0-307-78607-4

v3.1

My wife, Diane,
and I recently celebrated our
twentieth wedding anniversary. Every time I think
I couldnt possibly love her more, I find I canand do.
So, who else could I possibly dedicate this to?

Writing this book has been an interesting, illuminating, demanding, and satisfying project. It brought new people into my life, and reaffirmed the value of those already there. It has been a privilege.

My wife, Diane, makes it all possible in many direct and indirect ways. I am extremely lucky to have someone so wonderful in my life. She is a natural and powerful antidepressant.

Linda Griebel has been my work partner for a long, long time. She is an invaluable and fabulous ally in helping make my professional life so gratifying.

A number of extremely wise and perceptive people shared their time and views unselfishly in agreeing to review and critique earlier drafts of my work. I want to thank the following people from the bottom of my heart for their support and direct involvement in helping this work reach a higher level of quality: Norma Barretta, Ph.D.; Marjorie Coburn, Ph.D.; Gary Elkins, Ph.D.; Madeline Harris; Lynn Johnson, Ph.D.; Jodi Kass; Ellen Kaye, Ph.D.; Michele Weiner-Davis, M.S.W.; and Diane Yapko, M.A.

My literary agent, Audrey Wolf, is a wonderfully skilled advocate for getting my ideas into print. I am indebted to her for her support.

My editor at Doubleday is Frances Jones, and my copy editor, Frances Apt. Both had the abilities to structure, restructure, embellish, and whittle down my work to the essentials. I admire their literary talents very much and feel fortunate that they used them in my behalf.

Finally, I want to thank my clients. In over twenty years of clinical practice, I have been in the position to learn what does and doesnt work in life, and how seemingly average people can learn to do extraordinary things. It has been deeply inspiring being with them. I have great respect and appreciation for my clients, whom I view as my greatest teachers. Thank you one and all.

Now, on the personal side. I have many wonderful people in my life, my family and friends. The Yapko and Harris families have always provided the best possible contexts for learning to be a good human being, a fact I never fail to appreciate. The Horowitz familyWendy, Megan (The Hugbug), and Richardis my other family. Weve been best friends since our early adolescence. It is an extraordinary thing to have lifelong best friends, another fact I never fail to appreciate.

Thanks, everybody, for everything.

The case examples throughout the book tell stories about men and women who have battled depression. In the case presentations, the mixed use of he or she is easy, deliberate, and purposeful. However, when I speak in general terms or in terms of principles, I use only masculine pronouns. Why? It is simply too clumsy and distracting to try to work both the masculine and the feminine into each idea. So, to make the book an easier read, I opted for the less-than-perfect choice of the traditional masculine. I hope you will understand that its a choice made not of ignorance or preference but of necessity.

G EORGE, A 67-YEAR-OLD, MARRIED MAN , recently suffered a medical crisis. Since then, he hasnt had any appetite. He feels no energy or enthusiasm for life, and his wife reports he seems withdrawn and unresponsive. When questioned, George says he feels hes just an old man and will probably never enjoy anything again.

Depression is a disorder that can strike anyone at any age. Young children and grandparents, men and women, teens in the midst of school crises or middle-aged executives with a long history of success and achievement, depression strikes across all barriers, making its victims miserable and robbing them of joy and satisfaction. Depressions strength lies in its ability to make you feel that nothing you do will ever bring back a sense of peace or satisfaction with life.

But here is the great secret about depressionits a sheep in wolfs clothing. It can be treated effectively and the treatments effects can make a difference that will last a lifetime. In the case of George, he saw improvement after just six sessions with a therapist. Now, he and his wife go for walks, he enjoys gardening and working around the house, and he takes pleasure in visiting his grandchildren. He feels that he has a new lease on life.

Contrary to popular belief, most treatment for depression need not last a long time. Many patients recover in less than twelve sessions, many others do well in under twenty sessions; we are not talking about spending your life on a couch exploring your childhood. Today, much treatment for depression is action-oriented, focused on the here-and-now, and looking toward the future.