A Joyful Life
How to Use Your Creative Spirit to Manage Depression
About the Book
Michèle Swiderski’s mind was disintegrating.
Trapped in a cage of clinical depression and anxiety, Michèle was forced to leave her job and embark on the grueling process of rebuilding her life by retraining her brain, re-energizing her soul, and reconnecting with Higher Spirit.
Over the course of a decade, she fought her way through mental illness by weaving together her passion for creativity with her belief in the creative power of Spirit. Through simple practices such as journaling, meditation, and crafting, she rediscovered the power of the creative spirit to rebuild her life.
In A Joyful Life: How to Use Your Creative Spirit to Manage Depression, Michèle eagerly shares her hard-won wisdom to guide others who are mired in depression. Reconnect with your best self and take your first steps to a place of health, hope, and happiness.
Listen to the Author
Michèle Swiderski is interviewed about A Joyful Life on CHEX TV’s morning show.
Endorsements & Reviews
“Refreshingly honest, this book offers a firsthand grappling with one of the most insidious afflictions of our time. This is not about theory, but a painful, raw struggle and how Michèle Swiderski saved her own life using a constructive, hands-on approach. By laying bare her own intimate journey, she has laid down a practical wisdom that offers genuine hope.”
“This moving, personal account of overcoming depression is both a memoir and playbook for using creativity to cope with challenges.
In a book that highlights the serious consequences of clinical depression, Michèle Swiderski recounts the year in which her mind “checked out” and she was unable to live normally. It led to her development of a recovery plan, grounded in spiritual strength and creativity, that not only brought her out of her depressed state, but helped her to effectively manage her illness for over a decade.
Swiderski is at times painfully candid in discussing her breakdown, but the bulk of the book is devoted to the process she went through to climb out of her misery. She describes the steps in detail: meditation, visualization exercises, journal writing accompanied by frequent communes with nature, physical exercise, blogging, playing imagination games, and using Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) techniques.
Swiderski’s learning moments come across loud and clear, with reflective insights such as, “Letting go is something I had to learn. And it turned out to be the most important, because it was the very thing that set in motion the true healing process.” She also provides exercises throughout the book to encourage readers to follow her path to self-discovery and healing.
One of the most interesting aspects of A Joyful Life is the author’s realization that creativity could become a driving force in overcoming depression. In Swiderski’s case, her creativity manifested itself in her ability to visualize positive outcomes. Writing about her feelings and recording her progress became a key therapeutic aspect of her overall treatment.
Embedded in the text are a number of helpful sections for those searching for solutions to problems. “My Joyful Life Action Plan,” for example, is a 13-point list of specific items designed to keep one moving forward in a positive direction.
Michèle Swiderski’s skill at expressing herself, as well as her fortitude in taking a difficult time of her life and turning it into a learning experience, makes A Joyful Life motivational, uplifting, and inspirational.”
“The book is very easy to read and not overwhelming. The overall feel is positive without being too positive. Now, if you’ve ever been depressed and read a self-help book, you’ll understand me when I say that some books try to sell you a happy little unicorn wrapped in glitter paper with a bow on top. It’s not real. Michèle takes you on her own personal story of finding herself – on what worked and what didn’t. That made it real for me, and I could connect with her on several levels.”
In the News
These Boomers Prove You’re Never Too Old for Tattoos (Zoomer)
10 Things I Learned From 10 Years of Struggling With Depression (The Mighty)
9 Techniques to Help You Manage Your Depression (Zoomer)
Interview with Dr. Pamela Brewer (MyNDTalk)
What I Wish I’d Known about Depression and Creativity (Womanly Woman)
9 Steps for Building Self-Esteem (Womanly Woman)
Mental Health Checklist: 13 Things To Do If You’re Feeling Blue (Mind Body Green)
Peterborough Woman Shares Her Spiritual Story of Managing Depression (Peterborough This Week)
About the Author
Michèle Swiderski is a creative. When not weaving, spinning, sewing, or knitting, she enjoys connecting with nature at her cabin in the woods. Over the past fifteen years, Michèle has struggled with depression and feels she is a better person for it. Recently retired from a career in public service, she is dedicated to raising awareness for mental health and shares her insights on her blog at micheleswiderski.com.
Ordering Information for Bookstores and Libraries
A Joyful Life
$18.95 ISBN 978-0-9977222-1-5 (paperback)
SELF-HELP / Mood Disorders / Depression
Please call 937-483-4204 for special pricing and shipping information for bulk orders.
A Joyful Life is distributed by Independent Publishers Group.
