MyShrink Guest Book

<p>Beautiful pictures and great affirmations. I work in a treatment centre with high-risk/high-needs patients and teach this concept often. Thank you - this is a great website.</p>

This site is a great idea. I have just started looking at it. I have 2 concerns though.

Your description of depression seems generalized, and your upbeat description of what worked for you does not take into account the experience of others (in particular the 10 - 15% of us who have "refractory depressions" I have found that different things work for different people at different times, and some people seem to respond to nothing. Also, depression is an almost meaningless word as it is used to cover such a variety of internal experiences.

At the bottom of some pages you ask what we think of the page, but provide only a drop-down chart. I find this frustrating because my tendency is to want to honestly answer the question, and invariably my answer is not there. I am curious why you've picked this method for feed back.
Thank you for providing this site.

I look forward to reading the rest of it.

Hi Dori, thanks for your thought-provoking comments. This was a good idea…posting in the Guestbook.

I hope that my upbeat attitude towards depression does not dismiss the obvious pain many people are in. My view towards depression comes from insights in neuroscience and clinical practice using somatic therapy. We have every reason to believe there is hope for all people suffering from depression.

That noted, there is no doubt that factors may limit the amount of improvement such as critical imprinting periods during the growing years and genetics.

It would take a book for me to describe and substantiate what I am saying here so please understand that I write in general terms. I also do believe that without a therapist who has a "regulated" nervous system that provides a safe, therapeutic relationship, it's almost unlikely some people could improve.

The way we understand how depression shows up in the brain suggests that there's not huge differences between different types of depression. The different types can be accounted for through the individual's own history, their attachment system and traumas that have occurred. (Brain injuries, diseases etc. are a different matter but some of the symptoms associated might be ameliorated by somatic work.)

All nervous systems can be seen to be on a continuum of increasing or decreasing dysregulation. As such, when regulation returns to the nervous system, symptoms of depression are greatly reduced--by definition. It's hard to imagine that there would be anyone who could not improve the functioning of their nervous system.

I n future, I hope to explain these ideas in more depth in other articles.

BTW, with regards to the website, one day I hope to see a post-a-comment throughout the site. The post-a-comment I have on some pages is a bit laborious for my current needs. But I'm glad you found your way to the Guestbook.


Thanks for your post.

Justified as a labour of love.

Hi Suzanne,
Excellent web site! And nice to make a connection once again.

Hi Suzanne and all,

The website looks great and is packed full of interesting and helpful information! What a great adjunct to therapy outside of sessions. Thank you for all the beautiful pictures and calming imagery and for all your hard work. Great job!