Coping with / advice about depression and other mood disorders Books

Book SynopsisIf you've ever wanted mental health support but haven't been able to get it, you are not alone. In fact, you're part of the more than 50% of adults and more than 75% of young people worldwide with unmet psychological needs. Maybe you've faced months-long waiting lists, or you're not sure if your problems are 'bad enough' to merit treatment? Maybe you tried therapy but stopped due to costs or time constraints? Perhaps you just don't know where to start looking? The fact is, there are infinite reasons why mental health treatment is hard to get. There's an urgent need for new ideas and pathways to help people heal.    Little Treatments, Big Effects integrates cutting-edge psychological science, lived experience narratives and practical self-help activities to introduce a new type of therapeutic experience to audiences worldwide: single-session interventions. Its chapters unpack why systemic change in mental healthcare iTrade ReviewLittle Treatments, Big Effects carries a message of profound hope: that we all have the power to take small steps that will have a big impact on our journeys toward meaning, growth and mental health. Rooted in rigorous research, Little Treatments, Big Effects is full of powerful stories of coping and recovery -- Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO, Thrive GlobalLittle Treatments, Big Effects is a truly remarkable book with the potential to change the face of mental health treatments. These "little treatments" are amazingly short, widely accessible, rigorously tested and surprisingly effective. They are not meant to replace other treatments, but in this time of such great need and such little availability, programmes like this are game changers. The book is also riveting, filled with people's personal accounts of their psychological turning points-moments when they suddenly saw their path forward. Just about everyone will benefit from this book! -- Carol Dweck, professor of psychology, Stanford University and bestselling author of 'Mindset'Jessica Schleider's pioneering research reveals that not every psychological problem requires a lifetime of therapy. In this book, she demystifies the science and practice of how single-session interventions can lead to lasting change. It's a timely, important look at novel ways to manage our collective mental health crisis-and improve our individual wellbeing -- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ' Think Again' and 'Hidden Potential', and host of the TED podcast Re:ThinkingThe world of psychological treatment is about to change substantially, thanks in large part to Jessica Schleider, who is leading a new generation of therapists and making effective psychological treatment finally accessible to all. This outstanding book, from one of the brightest new stars in clinical psychology, represents the tipping point we need to offer affordable and effective treatment to everyone across the globe. For far too long, therapy has been more easily available to white, upper-middle class adults. Dr Schleider changes all of that with a new, scientifically-proven model for how we can finally help everyone benefit from what psychologists have known for years. Have thirty minutes? It may now be possible for you to feel much better, very quickly! -- Mitch Prinstein, professor of clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina and Chief Science Officer, American Psychological AssociationImagine that a person struggling with their mental health can get the help they need, when they need it, where they are, with a good chance of a quick resolution of their distress. That is the vision presented in this book, a compelling blend of the personal lived experience, innovative science and practical self-help tools which makes it an essential resource for global mental health -- Vikram Patel, Pershing Square professor of global health, Harvard Medical SchoolThis beautifully written book is an absolute must! Dr Schleider radiates compassion and her scientifically grounded message is as simple as it is profound: mental health can be reliably improved by brief, carefully structured experiences that can be made accessible to everyone. This is a deeply hopeful message for our troubled times -- James J. Gross, Ernest R. Hilgard professor of psychology, Stanford UniversityThis small book has the potential for a big impact. Beautifully written, it combines science with stories that together serve as the prelude for practical strategies to facilitate change. It is clear throughout that single session interventions complement existing provision but do not replace it. Transformative and ground-breaking, it is essential reading for anyone who has mental health difficulties, works in mental health or wants to help loved ones -- Roz Shafran, professor at UCL Great Ormond Institute of Child Health and author of 'Overcoming Perfectionism' and 'The CBT Handbook'

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Book SynopsisMost people diagnosed with bipolar disorder are sent home with the name of a doctor and multiple prescriptions. However, few people with bipolar disorder are able to find long-term stability with medications alone. Bipolar disorder researcher and expert Julie A. Fast, who was diagnosed with the illness at age thirty-one, and specialist John Preston, PsyD, offer the pioneering Take Charge program used around the world to help readers promote stability, reduce mood swings, increase work ability, decrease health care costs, and improve relationships. The book guides those with bipolar disorder and their loved ones toward a comprehensive personal treatment plan by incorporating:* Medications and bipolar-safe supplements* Lifestyle changes that help manage bipolar symptoms naturally* Behaviour modifications that reduce and prevent symptoms* Guidelines on assembling an effective support team By helping readers gather powerful strategies, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder delivers a dynamic program to treat this difficult but ultimately manageable illness.

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Book SynopsisBadass Affirmations for Women: the Coloring Book EditionBecca Anderson of Badass Affirmations created this coloring book for adults to empower women everywhere to relax, unplug, and refresh themselves!Beautiful adult coloring pages for every day. Becca Anderson believes in the power of affirming yourself to get out there and conquer the day, so each page has a beautiful design and affirmations for women to unwind and relax after a long day of hard work.Badass affirmations for women for every season. Positive affirmations can shift your mood and take your mind to the next level. Conquer each new season with these affirmations for women and coloring pages. Ignite your inner boss and find your inner peace with this coloring book for adults.Inside, you’ll find: Beautiful coloring pages and affirmations for women suitable for all ages and skill levels A collection of positive affirmations and quotes to empower you to thrive every day A coloring book for adults, free your mind from stress and just color in this book of peace If you're looking for adult coloring books or fun games for adults, add this to your cart today! If you liked Bloom Adult Coloring Book, Out of Your Mind, or You Deserve Nice Things, you’ll love Badass Affirmations the Coloring Book.

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Book SynopsisShane Carthy writes frankly and eloquently about the downward spiral which saw him wake up in St Patrick's Mental Hospital only days after producing a man-of-the-match display in Dublin's 2014 Leinster under-21 final win over Meath. An inspiring story of resiliance and rebuilding.

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Book SynopsisThis book attempts to do justice to the depth and complexity of depression – as to its causes and its treatment in psychotherapy. It challenges the reductive medical view of depression as a serotonin deficiency resulting in a collection of undesirable symptoms to be dispatched with antidepressants or CBT exercises. Rather, it locates the origins of depression in childhood adversity, primarily caused by unattuned, cold, critical, hostile or abusive caregiving. Insecure attachment interacts with other elements of a stressful life history as well as with genetic makeup to pave the way for depression. Such a childhood has long-term impacts on the setting of the stress and threat responses of the nervous system. Depression fundamentally indicates a weak and non-resilient sense of self, coupled with limited capacities for trust and either autonomy or intimacy in relationships. These are the issues that must be tackled in psychotherapy. Since depression carries a message for the sufferer, it must be investigated for its meaning. Why has the individual withdrawn from life and what are they being asked to change in how they live and relate? Before this reparative and creative phase of therapy can begin, however, we must remember that depression is not just ‘low’ mood but also ‘stuck’ mood. Rigid beliefs and processes that block therapeutic engagement can be gently questioned by helping the client see that they are held by only one part of the self, whereas other ‘for growth’ parts carry hope and a willingness to play and explore. Overall, it is crucial in working with depression to see and to relate to the client as a whole person; not simply a bundle of cognitive shortcomings to be corrected, but as an emotional, organismic, relational, existential and spiritual being. Depression: An Introduction presents a biopsychosocial model, combining developmental and attachment perspectives with genetics and neurobiology. Its therapeutic orientation is humanistic and integrative but has much to offer anyone wanting to know more about this widely known but little understood condition.Trade Review‘The plainness of [the] title belies the freshness, rigour and creative synthesis of up-to-date thinking in the book. Both broad and deep in perspective … Dowds does justice to the complexity of depression. … This is a truly fascinating read and will be of great interest to anyone who really wants to understand what depression is’ -- Roz Carroll, co-editor with Jane Ryan of ‘What is Normal? Psychotherapists Explore the Question’‘The most helpful book I’ve ever read about understanding and working with depression … skimps on neither scope nor substance. Dowds covers everything from evolutionary theories of depression to the impacts of globalisation and social media, taking in epigenetics and economic status, gender and gut flora. She conveys a strong sense of the emotional, cognitive, somatic, existential and relational qualities of depression, and shares many practical ways of engaging with its different dimensions. And she still finds space to recurrently sound, and deepen, her key developmental themes.’ -- Isobel Todd, psychodynamic counsellor, SCAP no. 141 (Summer 2021) sussex-counselling.co.uk‘The focus on depression as an immediate and common experience that is on the increase (while being hard to work with), marks this book out as essential reading not just for therapists and trainees, but for anyone interested in deepening and expanding their knowledge and awareness of the impact of depression, its evolution and manifestation within the context of contemporary society.’ -- Pauline Macey, MIACP, IJCP Vol. 21 Issue 3 (Autumn 2021)‘well worth reading for anyone who wants to reacquaint themselves with the theory and practice in relation to depression and also those who may want pointers as to how to keep up to date with the latest thinking in the field.’ -- Eleanor Dunn IAHAP, ‘Inside Out’ Issue 95 (Autumn 2021)Table of Contents Acknowledgements About the author Foreword by Roz Carroll Preface Part I Incidence, causes, and consequences of depression CHAPTER 1 An anatomy of depression CHAPTER 2 Biological causes and consequences CHAPTER 3 An application of neuroscience CHAPTER 4 Childhood origins and adult triggers Part II Psychotherapy: mobilisation and meaning CHAPTER 5 The message from within: moving towards authenticity CHAPTER 6 The therapeutic challenges of stuck mood CHAPTER 7 Repairing the self, building resilience CHAPTER 8 Brigid’s story Final thoughts Glossary References Index

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Book SynopsisIt's time to break free from the perfectionism that drives your depression.Many of us were raised to believe that mental illness of any kind is a weakness, or worse-a sign of failure. And if you're a perfectionist, a people pleaser, or judge yourself harshly, admitting that you have a real problem with depression can be extremely difficult. You may not have admitted it to yourself.The problem is that-no matter how much you try-you can't hide your depression forever. And you shouldn't have to. You deserve to be genuinely happy; and the only way you can cultivate that kind of happiness is to deal with your problems head on. It won't be easy. But this book will help guide you, every imperfect step of the way. With this compassionate guide, you'll:· Gain greater awareness of your depression· Make the difficult commitment to the healing process· Confront the belief systems of your life that keep you paralysed· Connect with long-suppressed emotions in an accepting, healthy way· Change your life for the betterAdmitting that you need help isn't a sign of weakness. In fact, it's a sign of deep self-awareness and strength. With this book, you'll learn to face your fears of being "imperfect," move toward healing your depression, and gain the self-acceptance you've been missing for so long.

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Book SynopsisFor even the fittest, healthiest, and most vibrant among us, the truth is there are inevitable challenges that come from growing older. Major life transitions such as retirement, the loss of family or a partner, changes in our bodies, and changing social roles in everyday life can lead to feelings of uncertainty, loss of control, and even anxiety and depression. But aging doesn't have to be a negative thing. You can carve out your own path. This book will show you how to live with more vitality and joy-at any age! The Positive Aging Handbook offers proven-effective, evidence-based skills drawn from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help you learn the art of flexible thinking and feel more empowered and engaged with life. You'll discover strategies for managing anxiety and depression, as well as lifestyle tips to help reduce symptoms in the future. You'll also learn how your brain changes as you age, and find a wealth of strategies for managing these changes and making the most of your life. If the changes you face as you age leave you feeling anxious, sad, or stressed, let this handbook guide you to take charge of your own aging process-and your mental health. You are worth it

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Book SynopsisAn accessible guide for coping with depression for Pagans, witches, and magical people of all sorts

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Book SynopsisWe live in an age when reality TV shows climax in a tearful finale. But feeling sad genuinely sad is still taboo. Yet, sadness happens to us all, sometimes in heartbreakingly awful ways. If we don't know how to be sad, it can be isolating for those experiencing it and baffling for those trying to help others through dark times.Today, most of us know intellectually that sad' is normal. But we're not always brilliant at allowing for it, in practice. Sadness is going to happen, so we might as well know how to do it' right. And it's time to start facing our problems and talking about them. Positive psychology may have become more accepted in mainstream culture, but rates of depression have continued to rise.We're trying so hard to be happy. But studies show that we could all benefit from learning the art of sadness and how to handle it, well.We cannot avoid sadness so we might as well learn to handle it. Helen Russell, while researching two previous books on happiness, found that today most of us are terrified of sadness. Many of us are so phobic to averse to negative emotions that we don't recognise them.Trade Review'So brilliantly researched and written with great energy. And boy, did it make me think – I must have turned down 50 pages to come back to later!' Pandora Sykes ‘This is such an important subject and we would all be better off if we absorbed Helen’s robust research and kind advice and allowed ourselves to be sad’ Cathy Rentzenbrink 'So brilliant, so heart warming, so extraordinary, so vulnerable and uplifting… wonderful. Should be compulsory reading for everyone' Helen Thorn 'Helen Russell is back with another cracker of a book exploring how our relationship with sadness affects our happiness' Psychologies ‘In any human life there are going to be periods of unhappiness. That is part of the human experience. Learning how to be sad – is a natural first step in how to be happier’ Meik Wiking, CEO, The Happiness Research Institute ‘I didn't think I wanted to read this book until I read it. Then I couldn't stop. An absolutely gorgeous and insightful and intelligent and necessary book’ Hollie McNish ‘A very persuasive account of how accepting sadness as a key part of our human experience can lead to more fulfilment and ultimately more happiness. Full of moving personal insight and brilliant research. This book reframes feeling sad’ Anna Jones ‘Helen brings an entirely unique combination of research, interviews, transparency, and story-telling to every book she writes. Thank you, from all of us’ Joshua Becker, founder of Becoming Minimalist

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Book SynopsisAn exhilarating journey into the unfathomable depths of the human mind, from the acclaimed author of Let Me Not Be Mad.What does it take to care for a stranger? Really care.The Case for Love is a reflection on a career treating patients with brain trauma - people whose thoughts and feelings are largely unknowable - and how and why those treatments failed.It is a reconstruction of three haunting cases in which the patients were tragically misunderstood - and an attempt through the power of the imagination to understand and make amends.It then describes the author's abandonment of his career and his tumultuous quest for healing and redemption.It is also a story of intimate relationships, pets, fatherhood and heartbreak, culminating in a moment of psychedelic transcendence and rebirth.It is about the overpowering need for connection - and how, increasingly, we are trapped in ourselves.It is a meditation on empathy and an act of atonement.It is a unique, hybrid work of clinical case study and pure invention that destroys the boundary between fact and fiction in order to bring us face-to-face with the shocking, liberating truth.__________Praise for Let Me Not Be Mad'Imagine a gonzo Oliver Sacks communing with Edward St Aubyn's Patrick Melrose, R.D. Laing and the spirit of Kafka's 'The Country Doctor', and you still won't quite have the flavour of this wild and strikingly original book' William Fiennes'Stunning: clever, troubling, restless, honest, dishonest; one of the best portraits of madness and clinical practice I've read' Olivia Laing'A perfectly extraordinary - not to mention extraordinarily perfect - tense Hitchcockian psychodrama. I have rarely read a more haunting and enthralling account of a descent into madness. An important, profound and fascinating book' Stephen Fry'Blackly comic, warmly compassionate, a unique take on the human mind offering uncomfortable universal truths' Stewart Lee'A slow-burn belter of a book ... terrific ... so finely described, the result has the terse force of a classic short story' Roddy Doyle'Exhilarating ... dazzling ... a miraculous feat' GuardianTrade ReviewPart memoir, part case study, part work of fiction ... exhilarating ... this is really what he means by love: one mind truly knowing another ... rich ... claustrophobic ... Benjamin is at times a virtuosic writer ... an artful book, and there are moments of sublimity ... beautiful and moving -- M M Owen * Times Literary Supplement *Benjamin writes beautifully and with exceptional insight, a tormented soul who knows the truth of the worst torments -- Andrew Anthony * Observer *A blindsiding dissection of the poetry of pain, dazzlingly scripted, with craft and integrity. Compulsive and shocking -- Iain SinclairWith clinical precision, coupled with the sensibility of a poet, A K Benjamin lets the reader imagine the inter-twined world of a neuropsychologist and his patients -- Caroline Elton, author of Also Human: The Inner Lives of DoctorsAt first I thought this an exceptionally well written book in the genre of medical story telling. The more I read the more I realised it's an exceptional book in a genre all of its own. Insightful, wonderfully well observed and beautifully written -- Suzanne O'Sullivan (on Let Me Not Be Mad)A treasure of a book. Intricately woven and deeply intimate, it reveals things that astonish, surprise and improve us -- James Rhodes (on Let Me Not Be Mad)A truly astonishing journey into and out of the mind. Not content to pin you down with the intense intimacy of his storytelling Benjamin dramatises some of the most profound and intractable issues in neuroscience and psychiatry. I've never read anything like it -- Professor Mark Lythgoe, UCL (on Let Me Not Be Mad)A mental-health memoir like no other ... a genre-defying wake-up call of a book ... compelling ... clever humane ... holding back a sly twist for the end * Observer (on Let Me Not Be Mad) *Like a meeting of Oliver Sacks and Hunter S Thompson ... this is not a simple narrative of striking cases written by a far-seeing practitioner. It's a turbo-charged race -- Lisa Appignanesi * New Statesman (on Let Me Not Be Mad) *

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Book SynopsisFrom 2008, Charlotte Reed suffered from crippling depression. She decided not to take antidepressants and to instead fight her depression by making lifestyle changes such as exercise, diet and acupuncture. In addition, she started an online ‘Thought for the Day’ – a positive thought she posted on Facebook each day. These daily thoughts became a massive hit among her friends and Charlotte credits them with playing a huge part in her recovery from depression two years later. She went on to publish them in a book, May The Thoughts be With You, which she has sold thousands of copies of at the world-famous Portbello Road Market in Notting Hill, London.  My Path to Happy is the story of her illness and recovery. Equally moving as it is hopeful, this beautifully illustrated book will resonate with anyone who has experienced depression – either as a sufferer themselves or as a helpless bystander. Written simply and illustrated appe

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Book SynopsisA breathtaking memoir of recovery told from the crux where birth trauma and sexual trauma meet.Trade ReviewA hauntingly beautiful and unflinching, yet graciously shared experience of birth and mother hood. I savoured every word from the very first page, and half way through, was calling my best friends and asking them to pick this up and read! * Abi Daré, author of The Girl with the Louding Voice *An unflinchingly honest exploration of birth trauma, and ultimately a redemptive tale of the power and wisdom of women's bodies * Leah Hazard, author of Hard Pushed *This is a magnificent book which is an odd thing to say about the work of such acute sorrow. It is also a work of truth, understanding, scholarship and hope. A major contribution to women's experience. * Susie Orbach, author of In Therapy *An astonishing memoir. It is about the intersection between birth trauma and sexual trauma, medical misogyny, and trying to find a way to be a mother while dealing with something unspeakable. It is hugely important, courageous, and beautifully written. A rallying cry. * Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, author of The Tyranny of Lost Things *A feat of strength. Jessica Cornwell doesn't shy away from the conflicting forces at work on women's bodies. She is open about the struggles faced during pregnancy and in early motherhood; has searched for answers to explain a legacy of undisclosed trauma in maternity care; and shows the jagged, uncomfortable journey towards recovery that PTSD survivors undertake if they are to live in the present, fully themselves. Her story is impossible to ignore. So many women will feel less alone after reading this book. * Katie Ward, author of Girl Reading *Cornwell puts words to experiences that are often rendered beyond words because they are of traumas that are minimised, shamed or shunned. Her prose is presented with with arresting beauty and I know her book speaks for countless others. I'm so glad she wrote it. * Julia Bueno, author of The Brink of Being *Birth Notes is a riveting and deeply moving examination of birth trauma and post traumatic stress in a world where new mothers and their needs are too often ignored or dangerously minimized. The misogyny laden origins of psychiatry and the medical profession are also explored, vignettes and historical information interspersed throughout a memoir as skilfully and beautifully written as I have read. * Michelle Bowdler, author of Is Rape a Crime? A Memoir, an Investigation and a Manifesto. *A luminous, visceral reel of life after birth and trauma. At once devastating, validating, tender and raw, Cornwell guides us through the foundations of the hardest moments of her life with honesty and invitation. Despite its sensitive contents, I often found it impossible to put down, her words endlessly comforting in their openness. I'll be taking her words forward with me, as a talisman for what may be waiting around the corner for many of us. Anyone interested in personal histories of birth, trauma and embodiment should read this vital book for its company and consolation. * Caitriona Morton, author of How We Survive *While reading this stunning book, a sentence from Virgina Woolf's Room of one's own came into my mind, for Birth Notes "lights a torch in that vast chamber where nobody has yet been". Jessica Cornwell explores a chamber unspoken of, cornered with spiders and nightmarish visions, where blood and milk blend, where mothers are denied words and care. This book will change lives, for it is a quest, a fight, a light, casting away hundred-years-old shadows. It is a book of love. * Adélaïde Bon, author of The Little Girl on the Ice Floe *Vivid, beautiful and brave, this book undid me - and filled me with hope. * Dr Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell Women *

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Book SynopsisYou left the doctor''s surgery before you could ask the things you really wanted to know. You''ve googled your question about anxiety and had 75 answers, all contradicting each other.You asked your best friend - but they looked at you strangely.You have so many questions, but no idea where to start finding the answers. Here they are. In this book you''ll find the definitive, expert responses to all your FAQs: On Anxiety. No question is too simple, too embarrassing, too rude or too offbeat to be included, and each one has been asked by thousands of people just like you.Can anxiety make you vomit?Will I lose my job because of anxiety?Are anxious people weak?All these questions, and hundreds more, are covered in this short but powerful, helpful, practical guide to managing your anxiety. Read at your leisure, or dip in and out when you most need the support or to shine a light on the thoughts

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Book Synopsis'Poignant and fiercely intelligent, this is the best work of creative non-fiction I have read in years' FIONA MOZLEY'Profound, moving and courageous' NICHOLAS ALLEN, IRISH TIMESIn April 1931, modernist poet Hart Crane arrived in Mexico City. Between mood swings, dire financial difficulties, and a rotating series of personal estrangements, Hart was struggling to make the parts of a fragmentary world cohere. This move to Mexico was one in a long list of attempts to find security. In just over a year he would be dead.In July 1932, Grace Crane picks up the morning paper. Scanning the headlines, she is halted on page five. Her son's eyes stare back at her, tinted pink by the thin paper: 'POET LOST AT SEA FROM SHIP'.Hart Crane's death has accrued a morbid mythology, often overshadowing discussions of his work. In Stronger than Death Francesca Bratton focuses instead on Hart's vivid life and his turbulent final year among the vibrant artistic and political communities of Mexico City. Interwoven with Hart's story is that of his mother, exploring Grace's lifelong frustrated creativity and, after his death, her attempts to reach him through seance. Finally, the book explores Hart's legacy as a queer man and as a poet, informed by Francesca's responses to his work during her own periods of mental illness. Part-memoir, part-biography, Stronger than Death is a profound and lyrical meditation on grief, mental health, enduring love and the power of poetry.Trade ReviewBrilliant and unsettling . . . Bratton's observations of Crane, mental suffering and re-entry to the world as being like the sight of the white tip of a rolling wave, are profound, moving and courageous -- Nicholas Allen * Irish Times *Francesca Bratton is a brilliant writer on Hart Crane * Shane McCrae *I wholeheartedly recommend . . . this interesting, very modern and compelling, emotional reading of a poet's life -- Will Burns

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Book SynopsisAt the age of twenty-seven, married, living in New York, and working in book design, Mary Cregan gives birth to her first child, a daughter she names Anna. But it's apparent that something is terribly wrong and two days later, Anna dies, plunging Cregan into suicidal despair. Decades later, sustained by her work, a second marriage, and a son, Cregan reflects on and attempts to make sense of this pivotal experience. Weaving together literature and research with details from her long-buried medical records, she writes of her own ordeal and the still-visible scar of a suicide attempt- while considering it as part of a larger history of our understanding of depression. She investigates the treatments she underwent, from hospitalization and shock therapy to psychotherapy and antidepressants. At once intimate and scholarly, The Scar illuminates a too often stigmatised affliction with compassion and intelligence and offers hope to all those who are still struggling.Trade Review‘The book will be passed from person to person, within families, from doctor to doctor. It will really help people ... What makes the book stand out is the sheer clarity of the writing, the personal fragility and the wrestling with demons emerging here with a kind of grace, a hardwon heroism.’ —COLM TÓIBÍN ‘The Scar is a memoir unique in my experience: intensely personal, warmly and unflinchingly intimate, yet wide-ranging, informative, even scholarly – beautifully and persuasively written. Unlike any other memoir I have read touching on psychological vulnerability and the risk of suicide, The Scar reaches beyond its immediate subject to provide a cultural and historical context for that most mysterious of afflictions, “depression” ... making it particularly valuable at the present time.’ —JOYCE CAROL OATES ‘What makes this immensely helpful and beautifully written book so moving is the way the author keeps unpeeling one layer after another of her experience, with such exquisite patience and intelligence that it is impossible not to care or identify with her’ –PHILLIP LOPATEA searingly honest and riveting book … This is a book that will really matter to anyone who has been through the experiences of depression. What makes the book stand out is the sheer clarity of the writing, the personal fragility and the wrestling with demons emerging here with a kind of grace, a hard-won heroism. * Colm Toibin *[Sufferers of mental illness] can tell us about it in raw narrative form. But they cannot be trusted to interpret it through research and scholarship and all the disciplines that require a cool and methodical objectivity. And this of course is deeply wrong. For many, many travellers do indeed return from the country of the deranged mind. If, like the Irish-American writer and academic Mary Cregan, they are scholars and thinkers, they return to those very disciplines. Yet how are they to write? Subjectively within the frame of memoir – this is what happened to me? Or objectively within the frame of academic expertise – this is what my experience means when seen through the lens of history, literature and culture? It is very difficult, and indeed quite subversive, to do both at the same time and it is Cregan’s ability to manage it that makes The Scar so remarkable and so important. -- Fintan O'Toole * The Irish Times *Cregan writes lucidly of her illness and offers hope as well as valuable insights for those living with depression. * Publishers Weekly *In providing kinship to its fellow traveler, The Scar becomes the best sort of memoir — one that serves a higher purpose. -- Leslie Kendall Dye * Los Angeles Review of Books *

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Book Synopsis***As recommended by Josh Widdicombe on the PARENTING HELL podcast"It's staggeringly honest but also really funny - I laughed out loud several times. It felt like hearing from a friend. A book that will make a difference, I am sure of it" - Sarah Turner, author of The Unmumsy Mum"Her memoir is brave, honest and shows how friends, family and the NHS got her back from the brink." - The Sun"Something To Live For vividly, brilliantly depicts a descent into mental illness, and what it feels like. It's funny, brutally honest - but uplifting too, because it shows how, with the right treatment, she recovered." - The Telegraph____What readers are saying:***** "What a tremendous read. A big-hearted, painfully honest and utterly joyful story."****** "Cannot put this book down. A rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish but even in the darkest moments Laura manages to find an uplifting way to talk about them...An incredible read no matter what your circumstances are."***** "Such a moving and important read bringing light to a topic that is not spoken about enough. Laura writes so candidly and emotively...I have recommended this inspiring and brave account to so many people!"____Laura Canty is a new mum. She has a beautiful baby boy, Arthur, and a wonderful husband. She has new mum friends on the local WhatsApp group, and everyone in her life is supportive and happy for her. But Laura doesn't see it this way.In the weeks since her baby was born, like 1 in 5 women, Laura has developed Postnatal Depression. In fact, she has decided that the only way out of her current situation is for her to kill herself, or her baby...A moving and refreshingly honest memoir to finally lift the lid on PND and the mental health problems so many mums face. Full of truth and hope, Something to Live For is a special book about the little discussed realities of the illness - and how Laura overcame it.Trade ReviewIt's staggeringly honest but also really funny - I laughed out loud several times. It felt like hearing from a friend. A book that will make a difference, I am sure of it. * Sarah Turner, @TheUnmumsyMum *Her memoir is brave, honest and shows how friends, family and the NHS got her back from the brink. * The Sun *Something To Live For vividly, brilliantly depicts a descent into mental illness, and what it feels like. It's funny, brutally honest - but uplifting too, because it shows how, with the right treatment, she recovered. * The Telegraph *A very candid memoir... you are drawn into her story. * JUNO *

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Book SynopsisKeith Earls started out in senior rugby as a teenage star and during the course of his long career has become one of the most admired and respected players of his generation. A British & Irish Lion at the age of 21, he is now closing in on his 34th birthday and still playing at the top of his game. He has won 93 caps for Ireland and played 179 times in the famous red of Munster. He started every game of the 2018 Six Nations campaign that culminated in an Irish Grand Slam victory. A lethal finisher blessed with thoroughbred speed, Earls is the second-highest try scorer of all time for his country. With Munster he is one try short of the all-time total and looks set to break that record next season. Behind the glittering success, there is another story to be told. He has achieved these milestones whilst being racked by private battles with his mental health for most of his career. A number of crises brought him to the brink of voluntary retirement from the game. A long series of injuries have taken their psychological toll too. A native of Limerick city, Earls grew up in one of its most socially disadvantaged housing estates. Moyross was blighted by crime and violence and he did not escape unscathed from the surrounding fear and trauma visited upon his beloved community. His natural sporting talent brought him into the privileged bastion of elite rugby union. His frank and fearless autobiography tells the story of his long struggle to reconcile the world whence he came with the world opened up by his brilliance with an oval ball. Earls has maintained a low profile throughout his career. For the first time he will talk in depth and at length about the inner turmoil that went unseen by team-mates, friends and fans. It is a confessional, intimate and courageous story of the pain that was a constant companion to the glory.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Mitchell's Mental Traveler combines a scholar's intellect with a father's intimate perspective on the life, work, and suicide of his son, Gabriel Mitchell. A kaleidoscopic and erudite memoir of madness and sanity, this is also, at its core, a stunning account of what endures in the wake of catastrophic tragedies: love, art, and vast stores of human hope."--Rachel DeWoskin, author of Banshee and Someday We Will Fly "A father's account, a humane case study of a person with schizophrenia, and above all a beautiful elegy for a bright and creative and troubled life lost, Mental Traveler is renowned scholar W.J.T. Mitchell's lucid memoir of his son Gabe's illness from early-onset in college to crisis, recovery, treatment, and finding a way in the world before his untimely death. Through a deep and clear-eyed process of attention and reminiscence, this book does a lot to dispel the stereotyping and scapegoating of people and families suffering from and with schizophrenia."--Greg Bottoms, author of Angelhead: My Brother's Descent into MadnessTable of ContentsPreface 1 “I Need to Become Homeless” 2 A MAD Tour 3 The Therapeutic Landscape 4 “There’s Something in My Head” 5 From Desolation to Da Jewels 6 Flying and Falling 7 Diagnoses and Detours 8 “He Killed the Future” 9 He Was Too Strong for His Own Good 10 Gabe’s Back Pages 11 Philmworx 12 The Immoral Career of the Caregiver 13 On the Case of Gabriel Mitchell Postscript Poems by Janice Misurell-Mitchell Gabriel’s Email to the Family, on Grammy’s Death Acknowledgments Further Reading and Viewing

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Scialabba has spent most of his career watching his country fall apart: grandiose adventurism abroad, wealth concentrated in ever fewer hands, meanness and cruelty exalted as civic virtues. Somehow he has not given up hope of progress, and the battered optimism of his other books is all the more moving when read in light of this one...His experience, painstakingly recorded, is not remotely glamorous. He has been to hell, many times, but emerged with no unexpected insights, nor any confidence that he will not return there. The only comfort he has to offer is that depression, if it does not kill you, will eventually lift—at least for a time. " * The New York Review of Books *"A new memoir by George Scialabba, an unsung giant of criticism, is a gripping portrait of life under the spell of depression-and also a model of true intellectual inquiry . . . [O]ne is grateful for the characteristically insightful and socially committed thought that Scialabba brings to the thorny issue of clinical depression." * The American Interest *"[A] brilliant and unusual contribution to the literature of depression . . . . . . By sharing his struggles, Scialabba has provided not just a profound account of depression, but a reminder of how precarious our lives can be, and how much we need each other . . . Scialabba is one of the best social critics of our time." * Commonweal *"Scialabba has been one of the finest observers of American politics and culture since the 1980s; his essays and reviews, on everything from Vietnam to Christopher Lasch to the Bush/Cheney administration to the aftermath of the Great Recession, are a rich education..{T]his is one of the better books on depression that has appeared since the turn of the century, and it belongs in the Scialabba collected library that hopefully a scholar will compile someday."" * Los Angeles Review of Books *"Intentionally or not, this book is a devastating critique of psychiatry. At its center is a brilliant man struggling for decades with intractable depression. While he writhes in agony, his therapists toss out sometimes contradictory diagnoses, try every possible drug, and compulsively recalibrate dosages. But year in and year out, their patient's actual experience continues to elude them. Still, I finished How To Be Depressed with hope that psychiatry can change-if its practitioners are willing to listen, really listen, to patients like Scialabba." * Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Natural Causes *"This is the most shocking report on lifelong depression I have ever read: the depression intractable, the report heartbreaking" * Vivian Gornick, author of The Odd Woman and the City *"A remarkable achievement. Assembling a collage of essay, interview, and his own medical records, George Scialabba remakes the memoir of depression. I can't think of another book that is so successful in evoking the relentlessness of recurrent depression. We see it for what it is: painful, tedious, and debilitating, able to interfere with every aspect of life." * Peter D. Kramer, author of Listening to Prozac *

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Book SynopsisOut of the Crazywoods is the riveting and insightful story of Abenaki poet Cheryl Savageau’s late-life diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Without sensationalizing, she takes the reader inside the experience of a rapid-cycling variant of the disorder, providing a lens through which to understand it and a road map for navigating the illness. The structure of her story—impressionistic, fragmented—is an embodiment of the bipolar experience and a way of perceiving the world.Out of the Crazywoodstakes the reader into the euphoria of mania as well as its ugly, agitated rage and into “the lying down of desire” that is depression. Savageau articulates the joy of being consort to a god and the terror of being chased by witchcraft, the sound of voices that are always chattering in your head, the smell of wet ashes that invades your home, the perception that people are moving in slow motion and death lurks at every turnpike, and the feeling of beTrade Review"Out of the Crazywoods is a hopeful book. Prior versions of yourself may shatter, but you are not shattered."—Bruce Owens Grimm, Brevity"Styled as a series of vignettes, the episodic structure of Out of the Crazywoods creates an enthralling narrative."—Haydee Marie Smith, Disability Studies Quarterly“With lyrical language and powerful episodic storytelling Cheryl Savageau brings luminous clarity to her experience of navigating the Crazywoods. She draws us into an inner world, both mythic and mystifying, of being bipolar, which at times reflects the dynamic intricacy of New England’s recovering forestland but also illuminates the ongoing activity and struggle of alnôbawôgan, being and becoming human.”—Lisa Brooks, author of The Common Pot: The Recovery of Native Space in the Northeast“Cheryl Savageau’s memoir Out of the Crazywoods maps the experience of ‘bipolar’ again and again—defining and redefining, remembering and remaking, etching and resketching the shape, substance, sensation, and sentiment of her experience of ‘being’ bipolar and coming to that diagnosis and recognition. . . . Savageau’s luminous prose ripples, soars, and shines with grounded honesty, some biting humor, and richly textured sensory detail (some quite synesthetic). This is a compelling work of complex embodiment, complicated relations (with self and other), and careful narrative. It demonstrates how one writes identity and, too, how identity can be (well) written.”—Brenda Jo Brueggemann, editor of Disability Studies Quarterly“Abenaki poet and memoirist Cheryl Savageau’s stunning collection of braided vignettes leads us through the chaos many of us know, toward tenuous, hard-won places of compassion, joy, and possibility. Savageau writes, ‘I live on that edge between what is true, what is sacred and magical, and where madness begins.’ Yes, this memoir is disturbing, disruptive—and, reading it, we are stronger, heartened for this journey between spaces of identity, the cusps and edges of brilliance, becoming human.”—Deborah A. Miranda, author of Bad Indians: A Tribal MemoirTable of ContentsAbout This BookBagw and TekwUnder the CribThe Pivot PointLearning to SpeakWhat It IsAge Three—The Witch in the BagAngelsDiagnosisDirtShe’s Not Heavy, She’s My SisterThe TarotTiger ButterLOOKAge Seven—The Body BookPoppiesAt the Welfare OfficeExuberanceShoppingCrazy Lady in Grad SchoolIn Fourth GradeWhat’s Happening?Jungle RoadBlackoutsVoicesThe Bad MotherExceptional ChildrenThe Twirling SkirtCrazy Talk IThe Death TurnpikeLife in the Fast Lane: Am I Paranoid, or Are They Really Out to Get Me?MedsArthur LloydshadesThe Bra ThingI Am in Love with Rita MorenoCrazy Talk IIBeautiful DollThe Ugly YearKrishna, My LovePoetry for BreakfastCribbageTeaching CastanedaLosing ThemMeditation—The Barren RoadThe TasterHorse Dream IWretchedBabySunday Afternoon with Betty GrableIslands of Sanity: PoetryMy BookstoreThe New House at Center HarborWhen You Can’t Keep a JobDeniedIslands of Sanity: GrandsonsoCrazy Talk IIIGetting Fat on AntidepressantsTo Whom It May Concern:Memere Stories: Sing á MemereSunday DinnersPookiePeach CobblerFalling in Love with DianeTalk Doc: JulieGrand PoobahLand of Enchantment IStories and StormsNew York in AlbuquerqueLeavingThe Witch at the WakeLand of Enchantment IIChina DollMy Special OneAfter Dropping Acid on a School NightYeatsYou Bet Your LifeCrazy Talk: LonelyEating Worms IMy Mother’s SideCeremonyFalling into GraceA Paycheck AwaySeven MiceChristmas with Tarot CardsGeraniumsCitizens for CitizensWet AshesThe Eighth MouseGood morning:Memere Stories: PaintNot Connect: Abilify ManiaPianoMemere Stories: TalkingTalk Doc: KarenListeningsGiving Myself to BeautyThe Green QuiltMemere Stories: HowlingEating Worms IIGreeley Park, Nashua—The TreeMaura’s BagTalk Doc: The Real WorkRelearning the Habits of ChildhoodCrying for RealHorse Dream IIMath GamesMeditation—FernAmbien: The Butterfly, Lock, and KeySADNearly NormalMemere Stories: BaseballStigmaWhat It Is ForHappyAlnôbawôganAcknowledgmentsSource Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisOne mother’s fight to support her son and change a broken system In his early twenties, Mindy Greiling’s son, Jim, was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder after experiencing delusions that demanded he kill his mother. At the time, and for more than a decade after, Greiling was a Minnesota state legislator who struggled, along with her husband, to navigate and improve the state’s inadequate mental health system. Fix What You Can is an illuminating and frank account of caring for a person with a mental illness, told by a parent and advocate. Greiling describes challenges shared by many families, ranging from the practical (medication compliance, housing, employment) to the heartbreaking—suicide attempts, victimization, and illicit drug use. Greiling confronts the reality that some people with serious mental illness may be dangerous and reminds us that medication works—if taken. The book chronicles her efforts to pass legislation to address problems in the mental health system, including obstacles to parental access to information and insufficient funding for care and research. It also recounts Greiling’s painful memories of her grandmother, who was confined in an institution for twenty-three years—recollections that strengthen her determination that Jim’s treatment be more humane. Written with her son’s cooperation, Fix What You Can offers hard-won perspective, practical advice, and useful resources through a brave and personal story that takes the long view of what success means when coping with mental illness. Trade Review"An honest, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking story of the impact of a serious mental illness on an individual and their family. The book grapples with the tough subject of how to support and protect your son when he is symptomatic and vulnerable and yet live your life and promote independence and consequences for your son. Her story also underlines the importance of connecting with those who are traveling a similar journey, such as through NAMI, and the important role legislators have in building and improving our mental health."—Sue Abderholden, executive director, NAMI Minnesota"A searing, honest, chilling, and heartbreaking narrative. As an indictment of our ‘broken’ mental health system, it works. Sadly, the system isn’t broken because it was never built. After we closed the mental hospitals, we never built a system to replace them."—Megan R. Gunnar, University of Minnesota"Mindy Greiling’s riveting account pays tribute both to a mother’s inexhaustible love for a son diagnosed with schizophrenia and to the barriers families face as they struggle to help a loved one ravaged by the worst of mental disorders. Although deeply personal, Fix What You Can tells a much broader story as it exposes the difficulties families experience right now all across America. I have read hundreds of books written by parents about mental illnesses, and this one ranks among the best. This book is a well-written godsend for parents and those they love."—Pete Earley, author of Pulitzer Prize finalist Crazy: A Father’s Search through America’s Mental Health Madness"Mindy Greiling has written a very useful book about her son’s schizophrenia and substance abuse. Her descriptions of the raw reality of this all-too-common combination are among the best. She demonstrates how complicated it is for families to get adequate psychiatric care for their loved ones, and she uses her political position as a prominent state legislator to change Minnesota’s laws regarding the treatment of serious mental illness. I strongly recommend this book."—E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., author of Surviving Schizophrenia "Mindy Greiling’s passionate support for mental health has turned Minnesota into a national leader on the issue."—St. Paul Pioneer Press "Fix What You Can offers readers deeper understanding of mental illness’ toll and a keener sense that society can do better by those afflicted. Putting this book in citizens’ hands is in keeping with Greiling’s long career of public service—and if it is that career’s capstone, it’s a worthy one."—Star Tribune "Fix What You Can is a memoir that will offer hope, inspiration, and emotional resonance for parents, mental health professionals and lay readers who want to support affected families and friends."—Access Press "One of the most powerful, painful and, ultimately, valuable books I’ve ever read."—Joe Nathan, Elk River Star News "Greiling's book beautifully and painfully spells out the many attempts that she and her husband, Roger, made to get Jim help, as well as the numerous frustrating roadblocks they encountered." —Minnesota Alumni MagazineTable of ContentsContentsOur StoryProloguePart I1. The Call2. Alarm Bells3. Bum4. Psych Ward Silence5. Sharing the News6. Frustration Inspires Legislation7. Allies in Empathy and Action8. Angela Visits9. Advice from a Prisoner10. The Third Rail11. One of Them12. Early Intervention13. Tasks Unlimited14. Debating the Governor15. “This Bill Will Save Lives”16. Mind Over Fat17. Jim Is Amazing18. The Depths of DelusionPart II19. Vulnerable Adult20. Mother’s Day Turmoil21. Really Bad News22. ACT23. Celebrating in Mental Health Court24. The Risk of Hospitality25. Colleen26. A Better Job27. One Very Lucky Young Man28. Care Meeting Chaos29. Deny, Enable, Repeat30. Jail Instead of the Caucus31. Escape to Puerto Vallarta32. Relapse and Roses33. Treat to Street34. Where Will Jim Live?35. Hope in the Shadows36. Home, for NowEpilogueResources

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Book SynopsisWriting from his own experience as a pastor who has struggled with depression, anxiety and O.C.D., Paul Ritchie addresses some of the big questions that Christians with mental illnesses and those around them might ask. Although he deals frankly with the reality of mental illness in a fallen world, he shows how the gospel is good news for those suffering. He applies the truth of the gospel, assuring readers that they can take God at his word, even when their brain tells them to doubt. His final chapter also gives helpful advice for those who want to help friends or family who are depressed or anxious.Trade ReviewWhat a superb book. I so benefited from reading it. -- John Samuel (Pastor, Duke Street Church, Richmond, London)Honest, human and heart–felt, every page is borne of Paul’s own walk through the darkness. This is not a handbook of plastic solutions, but a companion to walking through the mess more closely with Jesus and in light of his grace. Immensely helpful and moving; essential reading for every believer. -- Mark Ellis (Pastor of Grace Church, Dundee, Scotland)There are books addressing depression from a clinical, personal or spiritual perspective. What sets this one apart is the fact that it addresses the issue from all three perspectives. You will be challenged by Paul’s honesty, his empathy for others and his ceaseless focus on the Gospel. In fact, you will never think about the issue the same way again. -- David Blevin (Sky News)This book is good! It feels very real – its credibility stems especially from the fact that its author has experienced being in this place himself. And it’s well written! A resource pastors can do well to have accessible on their shelves for when it’s needed! -- Pete Lowman (Former coordinator of Russian student CU movement )Written with grace, wisdom, and from personal experience, the book will carefully and gently help readers navigate some difficult pastoral issues relating to mental health. -- Peter Orr (Lecturer in New Testament, Moore Theological College, Sydney)Paul Ritchie writes with a pastor’s heart for Christians struggling with depression and anxiety – and for friends and relatives who walk alongside them. The pages are full of stories and a practical wisdom, rooted in the Bible, that speak into the emotional turmoil and troubling questions that many believers wrestle with (too often on their own). -- Patrick Mitchel (Senior Lecturer in Theology, Irish Bible Institute and author of ‘The Message of Love’)… deals with many of the misconceptions and misunderstandings that exist around these issues. The prayers at the end of each chapter that are based on the Psalms are so helpful. The overriding message of this book is that you can know God, the true God, as he has revealed himself in the Scriptures in whatever you are facing in life, and know his love and care. -- Joan Singleton (Lecturer in Pastoral Care, Irish Bible Institute, Dublin, Ireland)

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Book SynopsisAn osteopathic physician and practitioner of Integrative Holistic Medicine debunks the myth of neurochemical imbalances to explore the true roots of depression and offers practical wellness exercises to help readers nourish, heal and restore balance in mind and body. Original.

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Book SynopsisAustralians know Libby Trickett as one of our golden girls of swimming. Winner of multiple Olympic gold medals and setter of world records, Libby wasn't just a champion, she was Australia's girl next door, the humble superstar from suburban Brisbane with the infectious grin and sunny nature. Yet what we saw on the surface - the confidence, competitiveness and warmth that were her hallmarks - belied the very private battles she fought in her own head. Beneath the incredible achievements and that trademark smile, Libby suffered from crippling depression. During her swimming career she managed to keep her demons more or less at bay, but when an injury forced her to retire in 2013 Libby was suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar world. With few, if any, qualifications to handle it, her self-doubts began to overwhelm her. The birth of her first baby added further complications to her fragile mental health, and she suffered intense postnatal depression. When she finally recognised the depression for what it was, and sought help for it, it was a major turning point in her life.Libby's memoir is an extraordinarily candid, revealing and inspiring account of both her public life as one of our greatest swimming champions, and her struggle to overcome her mental health challenges.

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Book SynopsisAn interactive manual for when being an adult is a bit too much, featuring stickers and pull-out postcards.You know those things you're supposed to know how to do as an adult, but you really don't know? Ever been in that situation where you're looking for the adult in the room, and then you realise YOU are the adult? Yeah, that. There's adulting, then there's adulting for the messy mind. Sometimes you just need extra maps and a GPS. This manual is for adults that sometimes need a little extra help.From top small talk tips to use next time you're at the hairdressers to advice on how to ask for help, this interactive journal offers a safe place for people to explore their mental health and express themselves.Written by Milly Smith, a mental health and body acceptance advocate and public speaker. Milly uses her Instagram account @millykeepsgoing to send positive messages to her 170,000 strong following.Milly's wise words are accompanied by the whimsical and quirky illustrations of Katie Abey. Katie's motivational and pun-filled illustrations have a huge appeal to adults.Milly's wise words are accompanied by the whimsical and quirky illustrations of Katie Abey. Katie's motivational and pun-filled illustrations have a huge appeal to adults.

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