Reviews (4)

Great book for friends and family
When I got diagnosed my family immediately began researching depression and learning all they could.I just discovered this book at my parents' house, full of yellow highlighted passages.It was so touching to learn that they care that much about me and that they know me so well.
good book; "light"; easy read
As someone who has suffered from depression for years, I found the book to be fairly accurate.It doesn't provide a lot of detail, but it gives enough information that non-sufferers can gain a little better understanding of the illness and how to deal with those suffering from it.At 200 pages it's a very easy read (I read it in two sittings).Not a bad book to get a quick overview on depression and some ideas on how you can help (and what *not* to do) when someone you care about is suffering.

Talking to Depression Review
First and foremost, Talking to Depression by Claudia Strauss is a map.It's a map for travelers in a tricky and sometimes dangerous land.If you have a family member, friend, or co-worker who suffers from depression, then this guidebook will serve as your navigator through troubled waters. While it offers an overview of depression in general, and a list of resources to contact at its close, its greatest strength lies in the concrete, down-to-earth tips it has to offer to individuals who are trying to help a depressed person.From conversation starters to non-verbal shows of support to "gifting," no avenue is left unexplored for the person desperately trying to cope with a depressed person on an every day basis.Read more

Subjects:  1. Depressed persons    2. Depression    3. Depression, Mental    4. Emotions    5. Family Relationships    6. Interpersonal Relations    7. Popular works    8. Psychology    9. Self-Help    10. Coping with personal problems    11. Popular psychology    12. Self-Help / Depression   

Subjects:  1. Depression    2. Depression, Mental    3. Health/Fitness    4. Psychology    5. Psychopathology - General    6. Treatment    7. Coping with personal problems    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Psychotherapy   

Reviews (5)

Add magnesium for success, please read this review
While this book may help some people, an even better book is Dr. Carolyn Dean's book The Miracle of Magnesium. Here is a quote from Dr. Dean's book regarding magnesium in the treatment of depression: "With proper amounts of magnesium, nature makes sufficient serotonin and you experience emotional balance. But when stress depletes magnesium, a vicious cycle spins out of control and depression can occur. The body needs magnesium in order to release and bind adequate amounts of serotonin in the brain. The pharmaceutical industry has focused its research for the treatment of depression on serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac to capitalize on serotonin's chemical effects instead of giving serotonin what it really needs -- magnesium...Magnesium deficiency is a potential cause for every type of depression. All treatment protocols should begin with adequate doses of this valuable mineral." If you are suffering from depression, I beg you to acquire and read Dr. Dean's book and take supplemental magnesium daily as Dr. Dean recommends. You may find that this important nutrient is the solution you have been seeking.

FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIAN BASED THERAPY
This book is written from a Christian perspective.God, church, and fundamental Christian values are an integral part of the therapeutic method.If such an approach is not appropriate for you, DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK.

It Makes You Think...
I was pleasantly surprised by this book.Usually I buy books based on recommendations from others or from Amazon.This book I bought spur-of-the-moment because it was so inexpensive and I was looking for any and all workbooks at the time.I have Bipolar Disorder and, though it does not address mania much, I found this book extremely helpful in picking apart my poor defense mechanisms.It made me realize why I act and react the way I do to certain situations.The questions the book posed really made me think about my depression in ways I had never tried.The only problem I had with the book was the poorly written case stories.As an English major, I just had to accept that the author is a wonderful technical writer but possibly lacks experience in the creative fiction area.However, the quality of the rest of the book was so beneficial that I could overlook these flaws (and it was easy to flip over the short case studies that began each chapter). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Depression    2. Depression, Mental    3. Popular works    4. Psychology    5. Psychopathology - General    6. Self-Help    7. Self-help techniques    8. Coping with illness    9. Religion / Christian Life   

Reviews (15)

The most helpful book on depression I have ever read
I borrowed this book from my local library before purchasing it to be sure it wasn't just another one of those preachy books encouraging those of us who struggle with depression to just get over it, that it will eventually subside.David Karp is honest about depression as an illness, which is totally on-point considering he suffers from it himself.The words he has written echo through my head each day, and have helped me in a tremendous way.He analogizes depression as a sort of mental arthritis, something we will just have to learn to live with.He doesn't make false promises of overcoming the problems associated with the illness.He is honest, and describes his own experience in ways that I related to immediately.One of the hardest things about depression is a feeling of isolation because not everyone in our immediate circle of friends can understand it if they've never experienced it.The narratives in this book have helped me more than I can put into words here in the mere fact of knowing I am not the only person to feel this way.I highly recommend this book to anyone who suffers with depression.

Beautifully written and profoundly insightful book
David Karp's book on depression is written in beautifully simple prose.His own battle with depression is interwoven throughout the stories of others, and the humanity and gentleness with which he portrays both speaks of a generosity of vision which preserves the sanctity of each person's story.There's no sociological-ese to distract from the stories, which is a delight for someone who- though an academic- tires of its exclusionary language.The courage it took to write this book-- as it is a "coming out" book of sorts-- is extraordinary, and that thought rests in the back of your mind as you read it, gathering inspirational power.As someone who has struggled with depression throughout my life, I felt a "resonance" with the souls represented in this book which at times had me in tears.Highly recommended-- both for those suffering from depression as well as academics.

Academic View of Illness
Karp is a sociologist who examines depression from a cultural point of view.Folks looking for a "quick cure" are not likely to be satisfied with this particular outing.However, folks looking to understand how society views those with depression, how folks with depression view society, and how the illness can also impact family members ... this is the place to go.I read this book as part of a medical anthropology curriculum ... an ethnography of an illness ... and found it to be quite enlightening.I have been in and out of treatment for depression myself over the years, and finding that so many people had similar experiences of reconstructing their self-view as a result of the illness was quite useful.Again, this book is definitely not a "quick fix" or "feel good" kind of book ... it's one that looks at the nitty-gritty of one of the country's most prevalent illnesses and examines the minutiae therein. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Medical    3. Psychiatry - General    4. Psychology    5. Psychopathology - General    6. Social Psychology    7. Sociology    8. Gambling addiction    9. Psychiatry    10. Psychology | Clinical    11. Self-Help / Depression   

Reviews (28)

Socratic Method
If I follow the thesis then the ideal might be to stand up, go to the pine forest, drain the tree of sap, drink the hemlock and imitate the philosophy that advocated ultimate integrity.
not bad
this book is not nearly as bad as some here seem to think, and it's not nearly as good as some others think. It's okay, presents a fairly interesting thesis, even if it's forced and formulaic, it still jarred my thinking at least a little.

Lou: a very arrogant man
Another glaring example of a book about depression by someone who has obviously never been depressed in his life.
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Subjects:  1. Depression    2. General    3. Philosophical counseling    4. Philosophy    5. Psychology    6. Philosophy / General    7. Popular psychology   

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Antidepressants    3. Chemotherapy    4. Consumer Health    5. Depressed persons    6. Depression    7. Depression, Mental    8. Diet / Health / Fitness    9. Health & Fitness    10. Health Care Issues    11. Health/Fitness    12. Mental Health    13. Coping with illness    14. Health & Fitness / Health Care Issues    15. Popular psychology   

Reviews (4)

VERY HELPFUL book!
I read this book more than 15 years ago and I still use the strategies today.In fact, now that my own teen is dealing with depression issues, I've taught him to use the strategies as well.I read the book after about 2 years of psychotherapy. While the therapy was VERY helpful, this book gave me very concrete skills and within a month, I no longer felt the need to continue therapy.If you faithfully complete the exercises, you can learn great techniques that make a difference.

at least a few good points, too much to evaluate easily
Here's what I like: most helpful book i ever read...
i have a copy of this book i have referred to many times since the 80's.i do not know the authors, nor do i have any vested interest in a submitting a complimentary review. i have never submitted such a reviewbefore.i attest that this book is the single most helpful self-help bookthat i have ever had the good fortune to read.in one's darkest hour, itcan help you INSTANTLY...i am happy it is still available, and i am buyinga copy for a friend in need (not wanting to part with my own!) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Affective disorders    2. Depression    3. Emotions    4. General    5. Motivational & Inspirational    6. Physiology aspects    7. Psychological manifestations of general diseases    8. Psychology    9. Self-Help / Motivational   

Reviews (3)

Practical!Profound! Timely!
This easy to read book is a practical guide to a godly way of looking at pain, meds, and our hearts.It's pages are filled with hope and grace for those who suffer from troubling emotions.Full of diagrams, testimonies, and thought provoking questions; this book is a must read for understanding what the Bible says about your pain and the pain of those you love

Incredible Resource
This is a long awaited book by two women who know the problems we face with emotional pain and are thoroughly equipt to address this issue in an understanding and knowledgable way both from the scriptures and medically.I laud Moody Press for making it available!It offers real hope and definitive answers to those who suffer.It is an incredible resource that I will be referring to myself and sharing with many others. I can't recommend it highly enough!I agree with Dr. Newheiser and give it 5 stars.

Balanced and Compassionate
The authors address issues which concern many Christians: Are my emotional problems (depression, anxiety, or moodiness) a disease of the body or a problem of the soul?What can I do to feel better?
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Subjects:  1. Christianity - Christian Life - General    2. Christianity - Christian Life - Physical Health    3. Depression    4. Psychology And Christianity    5. Religion    6. Religion - Christian Life    7. Spiritual Healing    8. Religion / Christian Life   

Editorial Review

Psychiatrist Peter Kramer's book Read more

Reviews (32)

The Rest of the Story
This is a very famous and a very influential book. This was not the first time I checked the book out of the library but I now know much more about antidepressants and the related issues than I did when I first became familiar with Kramer's book. What I found on my quick survey of the book this time amazed me. This is not a book supported by research. It is a book of stories. The stories, one after the other, are about Kramer's patients (Kramer is a psychiatrist) and how taking Prozac dramatically transformed lives overnight. Consider these four examples.
The psychiatrist that launched the Prozac Myth
This is the book that launched the myth that pharmacology could do to the psyche what cosmetic surgery does for the human body. After all the hype and hoopla in the media the reality that SSRI's in general are breakthrough medications for depression have fallen to the sidelines. Prior to 1993 Prozac was handed out only to patients who had severe cases of ocd and depression. Although the SSRI's have a better side effect profile they are not more effective then older meds. Kramer claims to have witnessed miraculous changes in a handful of patients where no other doctor has.
A Good Book
This is a great book to read if you want to know about Prozac. It isn't written with all the medical lingo to where you don't understand. It is written for the average person and easy to understand and comprehend.Loaded with tons of great information. Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Depression    2. Fluoxetine    3. Moral and ethical aspects    4. Personality    5. Psychology    6. Psychotropic effects    7. Social aspects    8. Medical / Psychiatry / Psychopharmacology   

Reviews (14)

Trite, But Not Without Merit.
Bipolar Disorder Demystified is the third book I've read on the subject of Bipolar Disorder.It's an easily read book covering everything from depression to hypomania, medication to the importance of vitamin consumption.The information in this book is expansive almost to the point of unnecessary.The chapter on Biochemistry and Genetics was informative.The chapter on Personality and the "Quadrants" of Perfectionism was senseless.
An overly self-referential book without much research into the malady.
It's stunning to see that this book has earned a 4.5-star rating from readers, given the fact that only the first paragraph under each header has anything to do with BPD generally: the rest is all about how the author had sex with her car's stick shift (!), smoked pot or whatever else is related, if only tangentially, to the subject at hand. This makes for a very tedious read, as it appears she has done little, if any, research beyond a mostly regurgitated recollection of what she learned in her therapy sessions.
very helpful
i found the book to be very helpful and understanding; it was easy to read, which is very helpful for someone with bipolar disorder. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Depression    2. Manic-depressive illness    3. Mental Depression    4. Mood Disorders    5. Popular works    6. Psychology    7. Self-Help   

Reviews (2)

remembering garrett
The book was excellent. Very well written. An excellent story and eye opener of where depression and mental illness can lead if unchecked. I thouroughly enjoyed the book and will re-read it many times. cp

Heartfelt Tribute
I must admit. I didn't vote for Gordon Smith last time around. As a "dyed-in-the-wool" Democrat, I usually support my party candidates. Yet, he was re-elected, and is currently serving as a Republican senator from Oregon. In 2003, his son Garrett committed suicide, ending a long struggle with depression. Immediately my interest was peaked, as someone who suffering from episodic depression from time to time. With his usual composure, Senator Smith remained quiet about this intensely personal matter. And now, a few years later, Gordon Smith has written a book about his son, a stunning, personal memoir, "Remembering Garrett".
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography And Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Case studies    6. Death / Grief / Consolation    7. Death, Grief, Bereavement    8. Depressed persons    9. Depression    10. Family relationships    11. Mental Depression    12. Political    13. Suicide    14. Suicide victims    15. United States    16. Family & Relationships / Death, Grief, Bereavement   

Reviews (1)

I am Recovering
As a teenager with depression I selected this book, not knowing what it was like.Well I started to read it and it all made sence.Every chapter focuses on a differnt part of depression, what it does or what you can do.Some things seem a little easy for an older teenager, bur still helpful.I see that as being able to help all adolcents, at differnt ages.Easy to read and easy to understand. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Depression    2. Depression in adolescence    3. Depression, Mental    4. Education    5. General    6. Juvenile literature    7. Life Stages - Teenagers    8. Mental health    9. Psychotherapy - Counseling    10. Self-Help    11. Teenagers    12. Advice on parenting    13. Coping with illness    14. Counselling   

Reviews (7)

Life changing
I agree with review of Jill Wysong. I read this book in the 80s, and I saw myself. I am convinced that nearly all depression is anger turned inward (=self pity), and we need to accept God's plan for us in order to turn ourselves around permanently. Twenty years of continual low-grade depression evaporated, and I have had no major relapses since then.
LaHaye should actually understand what he's talking about before he speaks.
LaHaye starts out by describing his "experience" with depression.He describes a period of basically self-pity when he had disappointed expectations about the purchase of some property.That is VERY different than what a lot of people experience.
Desperately needs to get its facts straight
Admittedly, I didn't get through this book. What stopped me was the chapter on the "facts" about antidepressants. LaHaye obviously has a bias against medication, but I would respect him more if he would just admit it rather than dragging out every remotely possible side effect of medications that are not commonly used today. The end of the chapter, discussing Prozac, suggests that it's a new and experimental drug that will likely be as harmful as he claims the ones before it were. Well, Prozac was not exactly new in 1996, at the time of the last revision of this book. In fact, doctors were finding it, along with newer medications, to be safer and just as effective in treating depression. I suspect that LaHaye didn't want to ruin his scary story, but a book that claims to be the truth about depression should at least get its facts straight. Whether to use medication or not in treating depression is a personal choice of every Christian affected, but misinformation about antidepressant medication only complicates the issue. The selective revision of this chapter comes periously close to lying. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Depression    4. Depression, Mental    5. Inspirational - Protestant Self Help    6. Religion    7. Religion - Christian Life    8. Religious aspects    9. Christian Interest    10. Coping with personal problems    11. Religion / Christian Life   

Subjects:  1. Depression    2. General    3. Mood Disorders    4. Psychology    5. Self-Help    6. Coping with illness    7. Self-Help / Depression   

Reviews (27)

See New Updated 2006 edition
Please be sure to order the new, updated 2006 edition of Beyond the Blues, A Guide to Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression.ISBN0971712433.
very helpful and easy read
so many folks fall into depression during or shortly following pregnancy.changes in the body, hormone levels, neurotransmitters, SLEEP DEPRIVATION, changes in perceptions of who we are, what is expected of us, finances, support from family and friends, our bodily image, realization of the seriousness of the new responsibility ...it's natural to feel this depression, for many folks, for the first time in their lives.this book takes folks for where they're at, provides numerous treatments / techniques / exercises that many people have found helpful in pulling themselves out from post-partum depression.this was a fairly light read, welcomed, and motivating!good to very good content.many people have reported to me that this book has been helpful to them.i think that it is a very good book and is worth the price.some folks, especially those who've had episodes of depression or family histories of perinatal depression might consider reading the book as a way of reducing the likelihood of onset.it offers some helpful information for family and friends.

A good start
A great unbiased view of prenatal and postpartum depression.Well written as a good start for anyone looking for information on this subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Depression    2. Diet / Health / Fitness    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Pregnancy & Childbirth    6. Women's Health - General   

Reviews (4)

Talking about Talking
This is the how-to-do-it text for interpersonal therapy (IP). It's directed at fellow professionals rather than the general public In fact the last page suggests that you can learn to do IP just by reading the book, if you started off as an experienced therapist. A caveat is that the authors say they found that those who did best on a written examination based on the book were (in the authors' opinion) the worst therapists. Very Interpersonal
In regards to the first review (Interpersonal???), Klerman is the original developer of ITP.You aren't going to get any closer to "true" ITP than this. Teyber, Kiesler, and the other interpersonal dynamic writers (e.g., Ehrenberg, Levenson)are really just neo-Klerman.This is a great book.

interpersonal?
The version of interpersonal therapy detailed in this manual differs markedly from more truly "interpersonal" approaches such as those described by Teyber, Kiesler, or any of the interpersonal dynamic writers(e.g., Ehrenberg, Levenson).As manuals go, it's all right.But (likemany other manuals), it seems to present an overly simplified view ofpeople, their problems, and the process of change.And (most disappointingto me), it fails to use the interpersonal relationship in the therapy roomas a vehicle for understanding and resolving the client's difficulties. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Brief psychotherapy    2. Depression    3. Depression, Mental    4. General    5. Psychology    6. Psychotherapy - General    7. Neurology & clinical neurophysiology    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Clinical Psychology    9. Psychotherapy    10. The self, ego, identity, personality   

Reviews (8)

Very disappointing
I got this book in hopes of learning and understanding PPD. Instead I got a book written in bullet points with no real meaningful content. I certainly didn't gain and knowledge or insight that I was looking for.
A wonderful book
We looked so forward to the birth of our first child that I never imagined that his birth could turn our world upside down and leave my wife suffering from PPD. Try as I might,I just didn't know where to turn to find some answers and help. A friend recommended that I read this book. I was not holding out much hope, since no one else seemed to be of much help in this area. But it was filled with wonderful insight and information and ways to help my wife get thru this.
PPD is serious. This book isn't.

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Subjects:  1. Depression    2. Health & Fitness    3. Health/Fitness    4. Husbands    5. Marriage    6. Miscellanea    7. Postpartum depression    8. Pregnancy & Childbirth    9. Psychology    10. Treatment    11. Women's Health - General    12. Marriage, family & other relationships    13. Pregnancy, birth & baby care   

Reviews (8)

A comprehensive and "user-friendly" survey and study of the diverse treatments
Expertly co-authored by Michael E. Thase (Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Director of the Mood Disorders Module at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine) and Susan S. Lang (an award winning Senior Science Writer at Cornell University), Beating The Blues: New Approaches To Overcoming Dysthymia And Chronic Mild Depression is an informative introduction to a variety of therapeutic treatments for the psychological condition of chronic depression. Informatively guiding readers through a comprehensive and "user-friendly" survey and study of the diverse treatments, Beating The Blues aptly addresses such issues as of when it becomes appropriate to seek help from a therapist, which therapies are most effective, safer antidepressants which are helpful for differing levels of depression, and the employment of alternative therapies, including stress management, meditation, relaxation, massage, acupuncture, physical exercise, supplements, and more. Thoroughly accessible for the non-specialist general reader, Beating The Blues is to be given high praise for its easy-to-follow guidance and is very strongly recommended for anyone struggling with their own depression and who are searching for the right treatment approach for their dysthymia or depression.
A Clear, Concise, and Friendly Book on Dysthymia and Mild Depression
I really like Thase and Lang's Beating the Blues. It gets to the point and clearly and simply answers lots of questions I've had. For example, what to look for in a therapist. It goes through the symptoms and shows how dysthymia, mild depression, and major depression differ from each other. It also addresses a few other similar conditions like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Once it gets to the "so what should you do about it" section of the book, it takes many approaches from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in terms of analyzing what you're thinking and how that affects your feelings. A basic assumption is that our thoughts generate our emotions, and we can tend to use somewhat distorted thought patterns that set up a feedback loop with feelings of tiredness, apathy, feelings of self-worth. It pulls a good deal of material from Feeling Good: A New Mood Therapby by David Burns, though I prefer this book's tone and style. Then, the Beating the Blues compares three types of approaches: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy, and Problem Solving Therapy. The last part of the book deals with specific sub-groups: children and adolescents, women, and the elderly.
Now I know what to call my problem...
This book provides a much needed overview of dysthymic disorder.For many years I have suffered from this disabling form of "minor" depression, unaware of what was going on with me.I just knew I was always tired, felt negative, wasn't happy with myself etc...Friends and family were annoyed when I would rather stay in a hotel and sleep than go out exploring when on vacation.Others viewed me as lazy and unmotivated.I began to believe these things about myself.I began to explore depressive issues this year.I found this book, which convinced me I was suffering from dysthymia.I sought help from a mental health professional, and I finally have hope that I will improve.This book will give you a start in understanding what is going on if you are suffering from this condition.I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Affective disorders    2. Depression    3. Depression, Mental    4. Dysthymic Disorder    5. Emotions    6. Health/Fitness    7. Mood (Psychology)    8. Mood Disorders    9. Popular works    10. Psychology    11. Coping with illness    12. Medicine | Psychiatry & Psychology    13. Popular medicine    14. Self-Help / Depression   

Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - Christian Life    3. Depressed persons    4. Depression    5. Depression, Mental    6. Inspirational - Protestant Self Help    7. Religion    8. Religion - Christian Living    9. Religious aspects    10. Religious life    11. Christian spirituality    12. Coping with personal problems   

Reviews (12)

Van gogh is not to be found......update to Frankl's classic.
I think despite being an update to Viktor Frankl and carrying the same existentialist message, this is a much better book than Frankl's classic, man and Meaning.
This is ME!!
I love this book! It addresses how depression differs for creative people who are trying to make meaning of life and their lives. I always had this kind of depression and remember trying to explain this concept to a therapist many years ago. He just didn't understand. I wish I'd had this book to show him then.

Nothing new, but well-packaged
Although there is, strictly speaking, nothing new in this book, it is somehow packaged in such a way that it made me sit up and really think about the meaning of my life. I have read a lot of inspirational b