Our Journey from Darkness to Light contains a rich assortment of tools and resources that I have used to walk through bouts of depression and anxiety. It also contains the stories of fifteen women - and their authentic and vulnerable stories of their own journey.

"You've just got to listen to what Patricia has to say, she's so experienced at depression!" my friend Joann declared to her Women's group. I never graduated from college.

The truth is, I only attended one year and during that time I focused almost entirely on the social scene. However, if degrees were awarded for full life experiences, I guess I may have earned some kind of "experience" degree in depression.

I've lived through three major depressions and countless minor ones. I guess I must have been a slow learner because it wasn't till the third depression, when once again, I was down for the count, that I included medication.

Although I still have my ups and downs and I have to work daily to maintain a balance, I do take my medicine and use tools contained in this book and continue to learn and apply others. They help me stay in recovery from depression.

My first dysfunctional depression was in 1981, the second in 1987 and the third in 1998. In between bouts of depression, public speaking, writing and teaching became a way of solidifying my lessons and giving value to the nightmare I lived through.

It also allows me a chance to continue progressing. I am a people pleaser and an approval addict.

Yet, I find healing in helping others, as well as myself, so our tunnel of darkness doesn't have to be so long. .