Defend Yourself 101

Freedom from Fear: Taking Back Control of Your Life and Dissolving Depression rating: asin: 0975999605 binding: Paperback

This guest review was written by:
Mark Batterbury, author of:  The Broken Heart of God:

Although Peyton is a martial artist and self defence instructor by profession, this book is about depression: how to avoid it, how to recover from it and in particular, the role that fear plays in it. This book has value for anyone who wishes to live in a state of personal freedom.

It examines the causes of defeat and depression from a psychological point of view, with Peyton’s background in martial arts and violence in general serving to illustrate the journey. The main thrust of the book is a very real and honest look at fear itself, and how fear is the root cause of so much failure in life: failure in career, in relationships, in finding happiness and success, and failure to handle a potentially violent situation in a skillful way.

Freedom from Fear is written as a textbook with detailed chapter summaries and headings, and can be used as a reference book. I wish there had been more personal stories of the author’s own experiences with violence and crime because I enjoy stories and like to be entertained. But then I am one who has already taken to heart the message contained in this book in order to go through recovery and get my life back on track from a fearful depression. Trust me, Peyton knows what he is writing about, and his insights into the causes and ways to avoid or recover from depression are very valuable. They could prevent a lot of suffering if they are acted upon. Like learning a martial art, it takes practice to arrive at freedom from fear, and in this book we find out what and how to practice.

It is easy to hear such clever sayings as “feel the fear and do it anyway,” and perhaps agree, but without actually doing the work, nothing will change. Fear will still keep us small, keep us down, and perhaps keep us alone. I recommend this book as a guide to anyone who is interested in achieving personal success, and in particular, anyone who is interested in personal freedom and inner peace. No amount of meditation or sitting in satsang groups will do the trick if you have not faced and overcome your irrational fears.

The book begins with a forward on depression by Dr. Bryce Carter that is both intelligent and well written. In my opinion, unless you have experienced depression, you will not know much about it, and will not even be able to imagine how bad it can be, just how miserable it can make you feel. This introduction by a doctor who understands depression lets the reader know something about the adversary, debilitating depression.

The introduction kicks off with a description of something that Peyton calls “the frog brain”. This is the medulla oblongata, at the top of the spine or the base of the brain. It is the nerve center that controls instinctual functions. It is also the physical home of the subjective, emotional sense of self that we all have. It is the one part of the human body that cannot be operated upon. When the “frog brain” dies, we die. This is the function that suffers during depression, this is the area affected by deep depression until even the will to live is gone. This is also the part of our brain that gets activated when facing danger, the seat of the flight or fight reaction. The author’s personal expertise comes to bear on the subject of depression in general, and fear in particular, as he has a lot of experience facing danger and conflict. He opened the Rocky Mountain Training Center for his vision, Rocky Mountain Combat Applications Training (RMCAT)  that is designed to teach martial arts skills from the frog brains level.

Chapter One: the connection between the Frog Brain and the Self-Image.

I would say that the frog brain is the seat of what we feel to be our self, what is our self at the emotional, sexual and instinctual levels. Depression undermines all three of these deepest levels of self.

Chapter Two: Mind Controls Body

I have trouble here, because while there is clearly a relationship between mind and body, I cannot agree that mind controls body: it is not that powerful. There is a very good section here about cults, “the institutionalized enablers of human weakness and fear.” Having been in a cult myself, I agree wholeheartedly with Peyton’s insights.

Chapter Three: The Power of Mind over Health

Here the connection between mind and health is developed. We begin to see that what Peyton means by mind is in fact our whole psychology; emotional, spiritual and mental. He explores how fear can undermine us at every level. It is in this chapter that the author teaches effective skills for dealing with conflict and stress in every day situations: in the office; while driving; in a bar,anywhere. He makes an important distinction between rational fears and irrational fears, and makes it clear that while rational fears can save your life, irrational fears can destroy it.

Chapter Four: Substance abuse and addiction

The author traces how drugs and achohol can play a major role in enabling a stressed, fearful and depressed person to cope in the short term, but yet offer no real or lasting solution. There is a section on the author’s personal experience with prescribed medications in his recovery from depression. I liked this, as it is clear that while a mild depression can be healed without medication, in more serious episodes they can be essential for our survival. The informed use of anti-depressants, tranquilizers and sleeping pills can help in recovery, and there is plenty of time to slowly go off them when we are feeling better.

I work in the self-help area of counseling, and I am not interested in working with people who are not looking for real solutions. This book is full of real solutions and I recommend it.

Good work, Peyton, and thank you.


This guest review was written by:
Mark Batterbury, author of:  The Broken Heart of God: A life of wandering in the spiritual jungle.


Mark is a taiji brother and a friend who searched for many years for peace of heart and mind. He introduced Pam and I to the good Red Path of the Sweat Lodge which he keeps in Sooke, BC.