Trials and Tribulations of Depression: Haiku, Quotes, and Thoughts of the Soul

Trials and Tribulations of Depression
Tanisha L. Herrin
Lulu Press
ISBN: 1-84728-357-3
Poetry
Reviewed by John Thompson

Trials and Tribulations of Depression by Tanisha L. Herrin is a book about depression and steps on living through it, and you walk into this book knowing what it’s about- from the title, but you don’t realize how strong the book is going to be in the outcome.
Mostly haiku, this book steps over boundaries that soar high into the air and makes you realize what people lives through and forces your emotions to get involved! The first section has pages of haiku and each one deals with the structure of pain and isolation and wanting to run away! it lets you crawl into the head of a depressed person and it shows the feeling and emotional stage they are in and you want to escape. A lot of the haiku have overwhelming emotion, and it hits the spot very well of wanting to hide, and loneliness is bliss and it packs a heavy weight on your chest. One that really spoke to me: which I go through a lot myself, being depressed is:
“ IT’S EASY TO SAY THE WORLD WOULD BE BETTER OFF NOT SEEING MY FACE” this one, and the statement is really tragic. And it stood out really strong and it was emotional because so many people, including myself, have to fight this! And so many of her haiku in this book, really hit the spot over and over, like a hammer pounding a nail into your head.
The second and third part has intense quotes on depression. Some shocking words are wrapped up in these sections! There isn’t much more to be said but once you start reading them you’ll fly into a different world. I would place this book in two category’s: depression and recovery.
The last bit of the book, is about the recovery steps of life, and how to overstep depression! The good outcome of life, and the lies your mind tells you! It helps you understand that life is not just about being depressed and not about the ability not to do anything. It lets you know you can step up and you do have courage and you can walk forward and not stumble backwards day after day. This book is very emotional and very strong. I would recommend it to anyone! And it’s very easy to read!