What I Do to Get Through: How to Run, Swim, Cycle, Sew, or Sing Your Way Through Depression

by James Withey (Editor), Olivia Sagan (Editor), Cathy Rentzenbrink (Foreword by)

Overview

"It might sound odd, but I can honestly say knitting has saved my life."

When mental illness strikes, we need tools at our side to help make things better, that give meaning, relief and dare we say...happiness. From wild swimming and mindful running, to community singing and everyday yoga, the inspiring stories in this book reveal the power of activities and hobbies to distract, exorcise and calm, helping us to heal and recover from depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses.

From the team behind the bestselling The Recovery Letters, this honest, uplifting and motivational book will help you to discover the activity or hobby that will transform your life and make every day that much brighter.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781787752986
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	02/18/2021
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.04(w) x 7.72(h) x 0.79(d)

About the Author

Olivia Sagan is the Head of Division Psychology, Sociology and Education at Queen Margaret University, Scotland. She co-edited the bestselling book The Recovery Letters and has previously published Narratives of Art Practice and Mental Wellbeing and Narratives of Loneliness.

James Withey is the founder of the internationally renowned The Recovery Letters project. He is the author of the best selling book How To Tell Depression to Piss Off: 40 Ways to Get Your Life Back and co-editor of the The Recovery Letters. James lives with depression; he writes and speaks about mental health.

Table of Contents

Foreword Cathy Rentzenbrink 9

Introduction James Withey 12

Sea Swimming Virginia Jones 16

Yoga Kelly Jensen 21

Birdwatching Paul Brook 24

Singing Ruth Routledge 28

Pottery Felicity Jacques-Diwani 31

Art Orna 37

Meditation Charles 42

Knitting Nicola Rossall 46

Gardening Elisabeth Basford 50

Poetry Lorraine 54

Cooking Ellen Kanner 57

Dogs Kate 65

Sewing Sue Arnott 69

Singing Georgina Woolfrey 73

Filmmaking Alice Evans 79

Meditation Cassy Nunan 84

Cycling Fatima 86

Mountaineering Sarah 90

Horae Riding Niki 97

Mindful Running Rachel 103

Surfing Marigny Goodyear 107

Birdwatching Matt 114

Natural Open Spaces Olivia 121

Cycling Sarah Strong 126

Knitting Lynne Cobb 130

Art Making Drew Walker 135

Writing Carolyn 138

Horsemanship Sally Rigg 148

Knitting James McIntosh 157

Sound and Music Thomas Brown 161

Quilting Ami 164

Photography Mel 168

Puzzles Caitlin 176

Afterword James Withey Olivia Sagan 180

Additional Resources 183

Editorial Reviews

This is a great big hug of a book. It's like chatting to an old friend who's wise, funny and says exactly what you need to hear.

Dave Chawner

What a beautiful thing this little book is, packed with honest accounts of what people do to make themselves feel better.

author of The Last Act of Love and A Manual for He from the Foreword by Cathy Rentzenbrink

A love letter to hobbies, this book is full of powerful stories of joy-sparking activities that cut through the fug, lift us up and make each day a little brighter. It's a manifesto for learning and laughing that gives us permission to exercise a brilliant form of self-care.

internationally renowned child and adolescent ment Pooky Knightsmith