|
Lana Penrose, bestselling author of To Hellas and Back, Kickstart My Heart and Addicted to Love knows what it's like to be depressed. She has just published her fourth memoir, The Happiness Quest, and we have five copies to give away, but first, here's an insight into the author.
1. Tell us about yourself in 10 words or less.
I'm an everyday human being doing her best to care about other human beings. (You'll notice I also can't count)
2. Tell us about your new book
'The Happiness Quest' tracks my tricky, occasionally silly, but ultimately profound somersault through depression. After being diagnosed with major depression, I decided to throw everything I had at it and I documented and rated my findings along the way. I underwent CBT, schema psychology and EMDR therapy; I dabbled with meditation and medication; I courted charlatans, shaman and had a fireside chat with a close associate of the Dalai Lama. By doing so, I succeeded in not only overcoming a very difficult condition, but wound up feeling a gazillion times better than before.
'The Happiness Quest' is short, punchy and easy to digest … should you ever choose to eat it.
3. What inspired you to write The Happiness Quest?
I wrote 'The Happiness Quest' because I wanted to provide others with a realistic but not-too-heavy take on the illness. I wanted to write the type of book that I craved to read at the time – something non-clinical and not too … depressing! Being that I had already written a few books, it seemed like the logical thing to do.
4. In your book you comment on an A-Z of different treatments for depression, ranging from Western medicine through holistic. Which treatment/s worked best for you?
I have to say that I feel that every treatment played a part in my recovery, and I believe it was that dynamic, all-inclusive approach that helped me to claw my way out of the darkness. That said, getting myself to a point where I was meditating a little more seriously (and properly) and undergoing EMDR therapy to really home in on my demons were majorly conducive to my recovery. Recovery is a very subjective experience though. Different things work for different people, which is why I decided to sample everything I could and pass it on.
5. What is the most important thing you have learnt in your quest for happiness?
It sounds extremely clichéd, but happiness is derived through the simple things in life, particularly through appreciating who you are, what you have in your life (rather than what you have not) and just being thoughtful, compassionate, helpful and kind. I know … blah, blah, blah. We've all heard stuff like this a thousand times before, but it's what I actually discovered for myself, and being able to navigate my way through life with that new outlook has been a complete game changer.
6. What strongly-held belief did you have at eighteen that you do not have now?
Wow, what a question! When I was 18, I considered myself to be a fairly lowly, pathetic and non-deserving human being. I now believe we're all powerful beyond our wildest imaginings. Not in an Anthony Robbins kind of way - just inherently, humbly and quietly powerful.
7. What would you suggest to someone who is feeling down and worried that they might be depressed?
Number one - reach out. Often reaching out is the last thing on depression sufferers' minds. They don't like to upset anyone, or make people feel awkward, or to feel uncomfortable themselves, or be perceived as weak, or to be stigmatised. There are a million different reasons, actually.
Today I volunteer with Lifeline and it still surprises me when people who are on the brink of suicide tell me that they've kept how they're feeling to themselves for reasons such as the above when their very lives are in the balance. So I strongly recommend that people reach out, if not to close friends and family, then to organisations such as Lifeline or beyondblue, and/or to get themselves to a GP post haste to discuss their options.
If you're not sure whether you're actually suffering depression, go to the beyondblue website for information on signs and symptoms. And remember depression is an illness, not a weakness.
8. What are you reading right now?
It's a little strange, but you asked! I'm reading 'The Boy Who Saw True' which is a really old book, written anonymously in the Victorian era, which is basically the diary entries of a little boy who doesn't realise he's wildly psychic.
9. What is the number one thing to do on your bucket list?
I'd really love to re-visit Kenya, but more than that, I want to see if I can positively contribute to this planet a little more prior to shedding this mortal coil. I think it's the number one reason we're here.
10. Where can our members find out more about you?
www.lanapenrose.com.au
The Happiness Quest is Lana's journey to not only overcome her condition, but also discover the key to SUSTAINED happiness.
After going through a divorce and moving countries three times, Lana returned home to Australia and buckled like a soldier on a battlefield. The black dog bit hard and she was diagnosed with major depression.
Finding herself at a desperate crossroads, she took a sharp left and chose to fight for her happiness, star-rating her experiences along the way.
The Happiness Quest is a self-help memoir that is raw, real and funny and covers what the journey of tackling depression is really like.
Using herself as a human guinea pig, Lana tries almost every conceivable therapy: CBT, schema psychology, EMDR, acupuncture, meditation, medication, mindfulness, naturopathy, compassion, forgiveness, NLP, EFT, kinesiology, gratitude, visualisation and shamanism.
Open, warm and wise, The Happiness Quest is for all depression sufferers and happiness seekers alike. RRP $24.99.
Lana is a Lifeline crisis support volunteer and speaker with the beyondblue Speaker's Bureau: www.lanapenrose.com.au.
GIVEAWAY
We have five (5) copies of The Happiness Quest to give away. Just be one of the first five people to email us competition@careforkids.com.au and say 'I want a copy'.
|
