Subjects:  1. General    2. Mood Disorders    3. Psychology   

Reviews (5)

One of the better books on this subject.
[...]
Tattered Tapestry
Very well written and an important piece of work for those suffering from Bipolar disorder and for their caregivers.

Much more informed
I found this to be a very heart-wrenching, nail-biting, thought-provoking, informative look at a very long yet very short point in time for a family suffering from the effects of Bipolar disorder.Disease and death of one's child are extremely terrible and almost impossible to outlive.I grew tremendously throughout the 48-hour period I occupied between my start and finish of this book.I have marked several passages from the book and intend to quote Tom, Karla and Kevin often in my counseling work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Children with Special Needs    5. Mental Illness    6. Personal Memoirs    7. Abnormal psychology    8. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (5)

The Crazy Inside
The Crazy Inside is a book of emotions both ordinary and untoward:the shadings of ecstasy, anguish, lust and rage.Each poem gives you a chance to crawl into the mind of a person that has lived through the madness of mental illness.The sheer realism of it all will draw you so deeply into the author's life that you end up crying with her.Alicia Birmingham speaks directly to her reader, using fierce emotional imagery to capture a sort of desperation, a passion more vivid than despair but more urgent than desire.It seeps into you through eyes and fingertips, evoking feelings in a way that only captivating writing can entice.These poems are the best that language can give us.

The Crazy Inside
My daughters fight for life with manic depression has opened my eyes to what is is to live with this illness.
A Belles Lettres about Mental Illness
Alicia Birmingham is a gifted writer and poet. In her first anthology of poetry, she traces the gritty real path to self-destruction of her manic-depression. This volume is as much a belles lettres as it will help to de-stigmatize the illness. As a manic-depressive, myself, I related to every word she writes as she takes us through the dark horrors of mania to feeling zoned out and losing her muse on lithium. I look forward to more works by this author for I suspect she will do what Kay Redfield Jamison did for her generation scope out the illness with her writing from a voice that is young, hip, and punk. Haunting photography goes along with the poetry in this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Poetry    3. Poetry / General    4. Poetry texts & anthologies    5. Bipolar Disorder    6. Manic depressive illness   

Reviews (32)

Will help some people
The author and I agree philosophically that moderate to severe depression or bipolar disorder is probably best treated with medication.However, the lack of solid information about psychotherapy in this book is something I don't agree with.And the quality of writing isn't that great, either.Nonetheless, the author has a somewhat unique approach to treating mental illness that is worth hearing.Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

Win the Battle : The 3-Step Lifesaving Formula to Conquer De
This is a great book to read. It is very easy to understand. Once I started, I had to finish it that night. I lived with a person for 15 years that suffered from bi-polar-I wish I could have read this 15 years ago. I think the most important lesson that I got from this book is never give up trying. If you give up hope, then you have indeed lost. Bob Olson never gave up and now I hope others will benefit from his story. I highly recommend it.

A first aid kit!!!
Thank God there are people like Bob out there to share theirRead more

Subjects:  1. Depression    2. Depression, Mental    3. General    4. Manic-depressive illness    5. Mood Disorders    6. Popular works    7. Psychology    8. Self-Help   

Subjects:  1. Diseases - Nervous System (incl. Brain)    2. General    3. Health & Fitness    4. Mental Disorders    5. Psychology    6. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction   

Subjects:  1. Cognitive Psychology    2. Cognitive Therapy    3. Mental Disorders    4. Mental Illness    5. Physiological Psychology    6. Psychology    7. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Medical    3. Personal Memoirs    4. Specific Groups - Special Needs   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Personal Growth - General    3. Psychology    4. Self-Help    5. Self-Help & Practical Interests    6. Self-Help / General   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Depression (Psychology)    4. Depression, Mental    5. Health & Daily Living - Diseases    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Manic-depressive illness    9. Mental illness    10. Social Issues - Depression & Mental Illness   

Subjects:  1. Mental Illness    2. Psychology    3. Abnormal psychology   

Subjects:  1. Mental Illness    2. Psychology   

Reviews (18)

Life-changing
This book completely changed my life!I've been in therapy and on medication for depression for about 20 years with no lasting success.It wasn't until I read this book that I realized that I was suffering from bipolar disorder, not simply depression. With the help of this book, therapy, and medication specifically for bipolar, I am a healthy, happy adult now and am so thankful for Dr. Wider.

Not Good Enough
I bought this book hoping it would give me insight into why I was feeling depressed. But it didn't. It gave pratical advice and just wasn't good enough.

Gaining a REAL Insight to some of your lifetime problems
My father saw an ad in a local newspaper that the author, Paul Wider, was speaking at a nearby Borders bookstore.I listened to his presentation and purchased his book.Having listened to him speak and as he lives nearby,I was able to see him regularly.Read more

Subjects:  1. Depression    2. Manic-depressive illness    3. Mood Disorders    4. Psychology    5. Self-Help    6. Self-Help / Mood Disorders    7. Treatment    8. Bipolar Disorder    9. Depression, Mental    10. Healing    11. Mental Illness    12. Popular works   

Reviews (35)

An Amazing Journey
I am also a "family" member, although married in as Sel did. I felt compelled to read this book as a historical novel of part of our family tree and as a member of a family who deals with depression in all sorts of ways. I think reading about other family's secrets, and the pain of their dealing with it, and the help they received-or how they helped themselves, delves deeply into the heart of this book. We all need helps in life and seeing the tragedy of one family (and not knowing of it as it was happening) helps us deal with our own pain. I think that Sel is a courageous and strong woman and her family's anguish dipped deeply into my heart both physically and mentally. I think her references and self helps were unselfishly cataloged and there for the taking. Everyone in my family who read it, and everyone I loaned it to felt the power of this book and its tale. Thank you Sel for being so candid.

Author's courage to speak out
I admire the courage of the author to speak out and tell her account, share her most intimate thoughts and feelings and provide the layperson an informed message about Bipolar Disorder and suicide."You have provided a great service to the public, that no professional mental health provider could--a look at the legacy of this mental disease and suicide."
People are so entertaining
I also "borrowed" this book from someone and couldn't help but wonder how big this Sel's head must be.I haven't heard so much self pity and "look at me now" in my life.When I read the review that states it should be made in to a movie I absolutely laughed out loud.I didn't find much "comfort" from this since I was too sick of hearing how wonderful this person thought she was.I'm very glad that I didn't spend any money on her parade. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Christianity - Christian Life - Family Relationships    6. Christianity - Christian Life - General    7. Illinois    8. Judges    9. Manic depressive persons    10. Psychotherapy - Couples & Family    11. Regional Subjects - Midwest    12. Religious    13. Biography: general    14. Christian life & practice    15. Counselling    16. Family & relationships    17. Psychology-Psychotherapy - Couples & Family    18. Religion-Christianity - Christian Life - Family Relationships   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Psychology   

Reviews (1)

Excellent source for therapy options
This book was immensely helpful in my practice. Dealing with affective disorders can be trying, but this book lays out different methods for those with bipolar disorder to cope effectively. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Clinical Psychology    2. Cognitive therapy    3. Manic-depressive illness    4. Mood Disorders    5. Psychology    6. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    7. Treatment    8. Cognition & cognitive psychology    9. Psychiatry    10. Psychology & Psychiatry / Clinical Psychology    11. Psychotherapy   

Reviews (3)

outstanding graduate level introduction
This is the best book on bipolarism that my (bipolar I) wife and i have ever read.It combines readability with many references to academic/medical studies and snippets from interviews of bipolars.The book is informative and detailed as well as compassionate.The anecdotal pieces are not vague musings about being bipolar, but rather personal experience to complement the scientific data of any given topice.The book does not forever dwell on what bipolarism is, but instead quickly details the disease then moves on to how to continue living with the highest possible quality of life when you have the disease.Like any good graduate text, it starts with the most basic information and quickly helps the reader up the learning curve of the topic to discuss the most advanced and recent research on how to deal with the illness.This book is outstanding.

Excellent book for taking control of mood swings!
I bought this expecting some kind of basic book on bipolar but it is so much more. The mood charts & advice on medicines and natural health are something I should have had years ago. Left me asking why I had to buy a book to find out these things, and thinking about buying another copy for my doctor.

This book is mislabled
Except for 2 Chapters in the book the bulk talks about areas other than Bipolar illness. This would be good as a dictionary if you wanted a paragraph or two only on something related to different topics that cover mental illnes. It does introduce the novice to wide variety of possible treatments and physical illness that might cause a misdiagnoses of Bipolar illness. Its a good starting point for futher reading. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Affective disorders    2. Depression    3. Depression, Mental    4. General    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. Manic-depressive illness    8. Mood Disorders    9. Psychology    10. Vision    11. Coping with illness    12. Family & Relationships/General    13. Popular medicine    14. Psychiatry    15. Psychology & Psychiatry / Mental Illness    16. Self-Help / Mood Disorders    17. Self-Help/Depression   

Reviews (6)

An alternative view
An excellent, well written book that provides some balance to the idea that bipolar mania is simply an abnormal mental disease. Provides some grounding and knowledge for those who have experienced spiritual "enlightenment" during their mania.
Excellent Attempt to Make is without Medication
This is an excellent account of a journey and struggle with Manic Depressive Illness. This book is in a conversational easy to read format. Robert keeps the interest of the reader from front to back cover of thisbook. Robert expressed all my fears, denial of the illness, and doubts. This book gave me a foundation on some of the things that can insight andepisode of mania.I am now attempting to devise my own fitness and dietplan to combat the illness.Thanks Robert.It is really unfortunate forothers struggling with the manic depression that this book is almostimpossible to obtain.I am happy I already own a copy.

Review of Manic-Depression : Illness or Awakening
I read this book before it went out of print about 8 or 9 months ago.I felt that the author made some really good points.As a manic-depressive myself I felt good that he was able to function well enough to shelve themedication.I am working up to that myself.Like Kelly I don't feel thatthe Mental Health Establishment has all the answers in fact I think thatthat is far from the case.Often times they are trying to grasp the wind. Where Kelly and I differ is that I allow Christ to guide me and Kelly usesa host of other things like Eastern and Native American religious beliefsand the studying of some of the great minds of psychiatry in the past andpresent and a third thing being both yoga and TM. Like Kelly I want tocontrol my own destiny and I have strong beliefs just as he has even ifthey are different.It was great to see a book that was new and fresh fora change like this one was.I think Mr. Kelly is a bright light in adarkness that is the current Mental Health Establishment ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. General    5. Manic-depressive persons    6. Manic-depressive psychoses    7. Patients    8. Spiritual life    9. Kelly, Robert E    10. Mental health   

Subjects:  1. Health    2. Manic Depression    3. Mental Health    4. Mental Illness    5. Psychology