Insiders: Outsiders [Paperback]

In this candid and courageous account, Steve Scott - a long-term sufferer of severe clinical depression - describes the nightmare he and his family have lived through for so many years. He looks back to his teenage years, where he believes his depression began, and describes hos his illness affected both his job and relationship with himself, his wife and his family. He also enlightens readers as to how he has emerged from some very dark places with the realisation that his depression is a gift to help others in similar situations. Also included in this book are some stark and frank accounts from fellow suffers - 'Insiders', and how people who have lived with or cared for suffers -'Outsiders' have been affected by the illness. Finally, there is a very interesting perspective from the eyes of a professional and experienced psychotherapist, which helps explain how and why the illness is manifested and perpetuated.

Personal Journeys Through Depression From Both Sides of the Divide.

In this candid and courageous account, Steve Scott - a long-term sufferer of severe clinical depression - describes the nightmare he and his family have lived through for so many years. He looks back to his teenage years, where he believes his depression began, and describes how his illness affected both his job and his relationship with himself, his wife and his family. He also enlightens readers as to how he has emerged from some very dark places with the realisation that his depression is a gift to help others in a similar situation.

Also included in this book are some stark and frank accounts from fellow sufferers - `insiders', and how people who have lived with or cared for sufferers - `outsiders' have been affected by the illness.

Finally, there is a very interesting perspective from the eyes of a professional and experienced psychotherapist, which helps explain how and why the illness is manifested and perpetuated.

About the author
Steve Scott was born on a tough council estate in Gosport, Hampshire, in 1958 and this is where he spent the first part of his younger life. With his family, he had three-year spells in both Gibralter and Malta, his father being in the Ministry of Defence. He eventually moved to Plymouth in 1970 where he completed his education and began his career in retailing. With his wife, Jennie, he moved to South Africa in 1982, initially on a 3 year contract with a major South African retailer. Because they enjoyed the climate and the lifestyle they decided to stay on an extra 2 years but the call of `home' beckoned and they returned to Plymouth in 1987. Steve resumed his career in retailing, concentrating on logistics this time, a job that he initially loved and was passionate about. In 2005, Steve had a major breakdown and had to give up this job but has since reincarnated himself as a self-employed life and business coach.

The Shorter Oxford Dictionary definition of Depression is:

1. "The action of pressing down, or fact of being pressed down. The action of lowering or process of sinking, the condition of being lowered".
2. "A depressed formation on a surface, a low place".
3. "A lowering of quality, vigour or amount; the state of being lowered".
4. "Reduction to a lower degree or power".
5. "Dejection"

You will notice that aside from No.5, Dejection, there is no direct mention of depression being a state of mental illness but the definitions, whilst referring to other meanings for the word, could equally apply to how a depressive could feel. Dejection, on the other hand is defined as:

1. "The action of casting down, the fact of being cast down".
2. "Casting down, abasement, humiliation".
3. "Depression of spirits, dejected condition".
4. "Lowering of force or strength".
5. "That which is dejected".

I suspect that those of you who are reading this book who have or have had depression will resonate with these definitions of both depression and dejection but in no way do they adequately or accurately describe how you feel, think or behave.

I must admit to being surprised at the lack of a clear definition for the mental state of depression but, at the same time, not surprised in that to each person with depression it will mean something completely different, a state that defies proper and meaningful definition in something as bland and inhuman as a dictionary.

My intention in compiling this book is to share with you my own personal experiences of depression, how it has affected me and the people I share the world with. I have also included accounts from other people, people who are not rich or famous but are very special and unique who have either been affected by depression themselves, the insiders, or have lived and cared for people with depression, the outsiders.

There are many books available on the subject of depression, reference books, medical books, self-help books and books documenting personal journeys through depression, usually by well know public figures. The accounts in this book are deeply personal to the contributors and they have shown great courage and enlightenment by sharing their experiences of painful times with a wider audience. Writing my own account proved to be an extremely cathartic exercise in the ongoing personal management of my severe clinical depression and has become an effective self-developmental process in ending the struggle and dancing with life.

This book is unusual in that I have attempted to combine accounts of what it is like to live with depression and what it is like for those that live and care for depression sufferers. You will discover that there are many facets to depression and each contributor has their own unique experiences and stories to tell. It is hoped that those of you who read this book who have or have had depression, will gain a greater insight and understanding of the impact on those around you, particularly those who are closest to you, and the anguish and the pain they go through as they watch you in your dark days. It is also my wish that those of you who are the carers will learn more about the inner feelings, thoughts and emotions of those who walk alongside the black dog. For those readers who have never yet experienced depression, either as a sufferer or a carer, will hopefully take away an insight to help you better understand a condition that is so common yet so misunderstood.

None of the words in this book, however, can really be a substitute for the actual experience each person affected by depression goes through, either the cared for or the carer. They will hopefully, inspire you to alter your perspectives on the illness and make you think and behave differently in a way that can support and encourage the goal of lessening the power of depression and to bring light and laughter to those dark days when all seems lost.

The power of love, understanding and positive belief is unlimited and we must strive to maximise their potential so that it may negate the power of anger, frustration and dark thoughts. Believe it is so and it will be realised, seek and you shall find.

This is not the first start in my journey through life, this started with the onset of my depression some 30 years ago, but it is the start of my understanding that my depression is a gift to me in order that I may help others in a similar place. A gift, I hear you say. Yes, the moment I realised it as so it changed my perspective completely and I have now embraced it and believed it to be my destiny and this has given me my true purpose in life. How many people can say they truly know what they were put on this earth for? It is better to embrace your foe than to fight them for you shall find a friend that can teach you many things about yourself you otherwise would not have found. Use this friend to take you to a higher level of understanding, enlightenment and empowerment. I am doing so and I am now starting the second journey through my life, one in which there will be no insiders and no outsiders.