WHY SHOULD YOU READ THIS BOOK when there are so many other books on DEPRESSION out there? Why? Because I have lived with depression. I am living with depression . And I will be living with depression tomorrow. I also assist others who have depression. Here is just some of what I discovered. Life is like a journey but why do you have all kinds of shit happening in your life with so many obstacles in your way, making it hard to move or focus, draining all your energy and throwing you off your path. Why do you feel like this? What the hell is going on? It can be a daunting challenge to say the least. So let me help you navigate through it. Alright, you may think I'm full of crap here.. If you do, I challenge you to throw the book down right now if you think so. To begin, what I found is life is like a journey. So here is a map, a path, a guide to help you navigate your way through all the confusion, and clutter such as endless books written, and advice from many health professionals who have never had depression and have never been through what you may be going through right now yet they are quick to judge, lecture and prescribe. Do they really understand? Here is a way to see through all the noise of personal feel good stories that never last long and advice that may not apply. People assure you are never alone but yet how come you still feel you are? Do you desire instead to not only understand depression better but actually know how to navigate through it and manage it? To start with I did not have a full understanding of depression. Ignorance truly was bliss for me. But it doesn't last. Having a loved one die as a result of depression triggered my own bouts anxiety, stress and into a downfall. It started me on a quest, for over two decades now to learn as much as possible about depression as I could. It was truly necessary to "get it" I had to get it! I realized I became depressed myself! I just had to find my way out. What way was that? I believe it is so important to not just talk the talk but to walk the walk. As a manager, registered nurse and first aid instructor a while back, from my own experiences, and from working in the mental health field now for over 20 years, I have shared my knowledge, skills, and tools acquired with others from preschoolers to seniors citizens. I have also created work shops and delivered numerous presentations. I have travelled to remote work sites to speak with men in their fields, and presenting at first nations communities to speaking in front of hundreds at mental health conferences in large cities, to leading break out sessions and delivering keynotes. Why am I telling you all this? What I am willing to share, I know people want and need to hear. Sometimes we need to hear the same message more than once or twice before it strikes a chord with us and we get that AHA! moment. When will you get your AHA! Moment? With that in mind I purposely laid it all out as if we were taking a trip, picturing it through the eyes and mind of a determined traveller with a specific destination in mind so that it would resonate with you. Alright, let's get started with your journey. What place is the starting point? Where are we heading? How are we getting there? What route are we taking? Who is coming? What are we taking with us? What do we need to leave behind? Are you ready? Grab your map. Let's begin.