Coping with / advice about depression and other mood disorders Books
Allen & Unwin Beneath the Surface
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.
£19.96
Biblioasis The World at My Back
Book Synopsis"Books written out of great emotional distress are ... rarely great literature. Thomas Melle's [The World at My Back] is great literature because he pulls it off without a single false note."—Deutschlandfunk (German National Radio)A FINALIST FOR THE GERMAN BOOK PRIZE • TRANSLATED INTO EIGHTEEN LANGUAGESAddicted to culture, author Thomas Melle has built up an impressive personal library. His heart is in these books, and he loves to feel them at his back, their promise and challenge, as he writes. But in the middle of a violent dissociative episode, when they become ballast to his increasingly manic self, he disperses almost overnight what had taken decades to gather. Nor is this all he loses: descending further into an incomprehensible madness, he loses friendships and his career as a novelist and celebrated playwright, but the most savage cruelty is that he no longer either knows or understands himself.Vulnerable and claustrophobic, shattering and profoundly moving, Thomas Melle’s The World at My Back is a book dedicated to the impossibility of reclaiming what has been lost, its lines both a prayer and reminder that, on the other side of madness, other possibilities await.Trade ReviewPraise for The World at My Back “Such books as The World at My Back recount experiences of total frenzy from a vantage point of clarity and calm. What makes Melle’s stand out is that he seems aware of how blackly funny the intimate details of psychotic breakdown can be. His narrative skill, in Luise von Flotow’s translation, had me laughing out loud without my losing sight of the sorrow and loneliness behind the succession of outrageous incidents.”—New York Times"Melle’s illuminating memoir, translated by Luise Von Flotow, recounts three prolonged manic episodes he had between 1999 and 2010, events that profoundly affected his life and relationships. He conveys with wit and tragedy what it’s like to live with bipolar disorder."—New York Times"The World at My Back is in no way an easy read; instead, it’s a candid and frequently harrowing chronicle of its author’s struggles with mental health over the years, and the cyclical nature of its effect on his life. In von Flotow’s translation, this book becomes a source of insight into what its author went through—and what he gained and lost along the way."—Tobias Carroll, Words Without Borders“Thomas Melle’s book takes readers on an at times shockingly articulate tour of his ‘nuclear’ version of bipolar disorder.”—Globe and Mail"Melle's account of life with bipolar disorder is candid and surprisingly intelligible."—Literary Review of Canada"[Melle’s] goal in The World at My Back ... is to show what being mentally ill is really like from the inside. That he is such a talented writer allows him to pull this off powerfully."—Ottawa Review of Books"Books written out of great emotional distress are often embarrassing. They are rarely great literature. Thomas Melle's book is great literature because he pulls it off without a single false note."—Deutschlandfunk (German National Radio) "Haunting insights into a bipolar identity as seen from the inside … Precisely because it is not a question of fiction—even if there is much talk of literature, even of a 'failed novel of education'—but of a poetic of the authentic, The World at My Back is an impressive document."—Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung "The author of the book is Thomas Melle, his book is called The World at My Back, and it tells of a much greater conflict and a much greater shame than you, as a reader, will probably ever feel ... Manic-depressive disorder is the tragedy of Thomas Melle’s life. That we can read about it in this book in this way is a wrenching literary event."—Die Zeit "The World at My Back is a book that shakes and disturbs, one that wakes the reader with a punch in the skull, as Franz Kafka wrote ... Melle's text is unique because the author manages to draw you into the action and, as far as possible, give you a realistic impression of the illness … In spite of the desperation and darkness of the subject, you can hardly help but smile at the absurdities—even as they immediately stick in your throat. Added to this is Melle's lively storytelling style, which alone lifts the book well above the wide selection of memoirs of illness."—Literaturkritik
£12.34
Demeter Press Unexpected: A Postpartum Memoir
Book Synopsis
£21.38
The Mercier Press Ltd 52 Proverbs to Fight Depression and Trauma: Irish
Book SynopsisDiscover a powerful tool in your journey to overcome depression and heal from trauma with 52 Proverbs to Fight Depression and Trauma by Fiann Ó Nualláin. This exceptional book follows on from the successful 52 Proverbs to Build Resilience Against Anxiety and Panic. It merges the timeless wisdom of Irish proverbs with practical techniques in mindfulness, positive psychology, and cognitive behavioural therapy. Ideal for readers searching for practical books on depression and trauma, this self-help guide offers 52 proverbs, each a beacon of ancestral wisdom tailored for the modern struggle against mental health challenges. These sayings, deeply rooted in Irish tradition, provide insightful strategies and exercises for navigating through the complexities of depression and past trauma. Whether you're coping with depression and seeking to heal from past wounds or looking for a path to greater happiness and calm, 52 Proverbs to Fight Depression and Trauma is a must-read. Its unique blend of ancient insights and contemporary therapeutic methods makes it a standout choice for anyone looking to improve their mental well-being. Embrace the journey towards a more fulfilling and peaceful life with the wisdom of 52 Proverbs to Fight Depression and Trauma. Take the first step towards healing and resilience.
£13.29
Octopus Publishing Group To Love and Let Go: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and
Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Yoga Girl and "international force in the world of yoga" (Allure), a moving and inspirational memoir on how to cope with tragedy, adversity, and change through yoga. To love and let go, love and let go, love and let go...it's the single most important thing we can learn in this lifetime."Rachel beautifully illustrates that loving fiercely and grieving deeply are often two halves of the same whole. Her story will break you down and lift you up." -Glennon Doyle, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Love Warrior and founder of Together Rising"Take the time to clear your mind and mellow out with Rachel Brathen's endearing and inspiring memoir of a misspent youth, rebirth on the mat, and epic adventures in the Costa Rican jungle. Along the way you'll find . . . yoga routines and healthy recipes."-Bustle"An international force in the world of yoga."-AllureWhile on her way to a yoga retreat in the Caribbean, Rachel Brathen collapsed in the airport and was rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. When she opened her eyes following the surgery, her boyfriend was at her bedside weeping and she immediately knew something terrible had happened. She soon discovered that at the same time as her collapse, her best friend was killed in a car crash. Over the next two years, which should have been the happiest time of her life with her engagement and growing career, Rachel experienced trial after trial. From the overwhelming loss of her best friend, to the illness and death of her grandmother, and a shocking suicide attempt by her mother, Rachel found herself in a deep depression. When she discovered she was pregnant, Rachel decided to use her pregnancy as a time to heal and an opportunity to be reborn herself. Now, in this evocative and remarkable memoir, Rachel shares the tools she used to cope with and overcome her depression. She invites you to share in her eye-opening epiphanies and realizations about life and death, love and fear, what it means to be a mother and a daughter, and the restorative power of yoga. Perfect for fans of Gabrielle Bernstein and Glennon Doyle, this unforgettable memoir will move and enlighten you.Praise for To Love and Let Go"Breathtakingly honest, Rachel beautifully illustrates that loving fiercely and grieving deeply are often two halves of the same whole. Her story will break you down and lift you up."-Glennon Doyle, author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller Love Warrior and founder of Together Rising Praise for Yoga Girl "Take the time to clear your mind and mellow out with Rachel Brathen's endearing and inspiring memoir of a misspent youth, rebirth on the mat, and epic adventures in the Costa Rican jungle. Along the way you'll find . . . yoga routines and healthy recipes." -Bustle "The book was like a perfect yoga class-it left me inspired, relaxed and at the same time gave me tons of ideas." -Elephant Journal "An international force in the world of yoga." -Allure
£11.69
Rethink Press A Life Without Fear: How to release your
Book SynopsisDepression and anxiety are as harmful as physical health issues. This book is dedicated to enable true freedom from these unnecessary limitations to joy. Discover how to release your depression and anxiety.
£11.69
Ebury Publishing A Cure for Darkness: The story of depression and
Book Synopsis'Boldly ambitious, deeply affecting, and magisterial in scope' Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes'Expansive and thoughtful, it illuminates the complexity and elusiveness of his subject' New StatesmanDepression is a leading cause of disability around the world today, a growing health crisis that affects us all. It is a complex and diverse condition. But it is also highly treatable.In this profound and sweeping history, Alex Riley charts the macabre, ingenious, and often surprising developments in the science of mental healthcare over the last 2000 years. In the pursuit to understand his own experiences with mental illness, Riley interweaves his own family history with fascinating stories of biological and psychological treatments which illuminate the past, question the current state of diagnosis, and investigate the hype and hopes for future treatments.From the re-emergence of long-forgotten therapies to a group of grandmothers who stand at the forefront of a revolution in mental healthcare, A Cure for Darkness is an essential exploration of one of the most pressing problems of our time.
£10.44
Vintage Publishing pandemonium
Book Synopsis*A 'BOOKS OF 2021' PICK IN THE GUARDIAN, FINANCIAL TIMES AND IRISH TIMES CULTURE*After two prize-winning collections which examined the intimacies and intricacies of the physical body, McMillan's third book marks a shift: both inward, into the difficult world of mental health, and outwards into the natural and political world.Keeping his trademark breath-space and lower-case lines, but more formally experimental, incorporating sequences and sonnets, the poems in pandemonium explore the fragility and depth of the human mind - in its panic and its troubled retreat - and map this turmoil onto the chaos and abundance of the garden. Depression is mirrored in the invasive, seemingly untreatable knotweed that slowly suffocates the garden, while the sky conspires in its sudden, terrifying clarity, 'as though the root of the world were ripped clean off'.McMillan has been celebrated for his unflinchingly frank depictions of the body and sexual love, but these new poems are raw dispatches from a mind in freefall, a body in trouble. Addressing a period of acute depression, they are less about physical union and completeness and more about fracture and distance: tender, savagely moving poems which stare, unblinkingly, into the sudden havoc and hurt of this world, searching for - and finally finding - some redemption.Trade ReviewA moving exploration of mental health. * i, Entertainment to look forward to this Spring *A fascinating collection - troubling and moving to read... McMillan has mastered the art of self-reproach... [an] exceptional vigil of a book. -- Kate Kellaway * Observer, *Poetry Book of the Month* *
£9.50
Bonnier Books Ltd The Adulting Manual: Mental health, self love,
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.
£16.30
Octopus Publishing Group Help Your Child Manage Their Moods: 101 Ways to
Book SynopsisLearn to talk to your child about their big feelings We can all feel overwhelmed by big feelings, and this is especially true for children. They are still developing their emotional awareness and may struggle to manage their moods. While there’s nothing wrong with an emotionally sensitive child, it can make life a little more difficult for them if they become easily frustrated, cry more readily and experience low self-esteem and feelings of powerlessness. This guide will teach you the skills to nurture your child’s ability to notice, regulate and articulate their feelings in healthy, adaptive ways. Instil good sleeping and eating habits Help your child create a list of calming actions for when they feel angry or upset Introduce simple relaxation exercises Know when to seek support
£8.99
O'Brien Press Ltd Dark Blue: The Despair Behind the Glory – My
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.
£13.29
Troubador Publishing The Seventh Train
Book Synopsis“Ingenious, great fun, and wholly original” - Fay Weldon CBE, on The Seventh Train What if you can’t stand where you are because there’s nothing there? What if you don’t want to end up anywhere else in case that’s empty too? When life has lost its road map, sometimes the only way to get back on track is to get back on the rails. The Seventh Train is a ride - a ‘road movie’ on the railways. It’s a journey that Elizabeth invented; the only original thought she has ever had in her previously uneventful life. Unbeknown to her, she is not travelling alone. If only she’d pretended that the spare seat was taken. With a wonderfully eclectic cast of characters, The Seventh Train takes its passengers on a journey from the tragic to the strange, arriving finally at hope. By turns heart-breaking, thought-provoking and hilarious, this tale is a life-affirming exploration of the human spirit via the British railway timetable!
£8.54
Welbeck Publishing Group Love and Other Gods: Adventures Through Psychosis
Book SynopsisMichael Nangla was the first of his family to be born in England and has always been torn between two cultures; that of his mother''s homeland and that of the country he grew up in.Finding freedom for the first time at university, Michael discovered an exciting world of love and lust. But when love turned to heartbreak one too many times, Michael''s world shattered. Vivid hallucinations forced him down a road he had never been on before; through hospitalisation to cures from mystics.His identity fractured, Michael kept trying to find himself, turning to family, friends and love for answers.A brutally honest look at what it means to be bipolar and bicultural, Love and Other Gods is a journey through the mind of one man as he learns to define himself.
£7.49
Karnac Books Perceptions and Possibilities: Strategic and
Book SynopsisThis book will assist therapists in easily implementing the concepts of strategic and solution-oriented applications into one’s therapeutic work with depressed clients. The focus of these brief therapy approaches is on the clients’ resources and potential rather than on their deficits and pathology. These ideas have their roots in the work of Milton H. Erickson, the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, and Bill O’Hanlon’s Solution Oriented Therapy. The methods and applications recognise the significance of how clients perceive their problems, the importance on assisting clients to be validated and understood in the realm of their experiences, and the creation of change in their views and actions concerning their individual situations. Perceptions and Possibilities is designed to assist therapists in finding new ways of moving their therapy sessions away from an entrenched focus on client pathology. Instead, therapists are encouraged towards brief and effective interactions with a focus on future-oriented possibilities. Paul Leslie presents established and cutting-edge research, colourful case studies, and stories told in everyday language to engage, educate, and aid mental health professionals. The aim is to enable them to understand how to easily adapt and apply creative and resourceful therapy interventions to help clients who are suffering from depression. This book is highly recommended for psychologists, counsellors, and psychotherapists, particularly those who are interested in exploring brief therapies, postmodern/Ericksonian approaches, and solution-focused, systemic, and strategic therapies.Trade Review‘In Perceptions and Possibilities, author Paul J. Leslie takes the reader into a realm of perceptual creativity and clinical intelligence. Using fascinating case examples that show how it is done, spiced with insights from respected colleagues, Leslie demonstrates unique ways to tailor treatment to the differential needs of each individual. Starting with clear descriptions of currently vetted modalities, the author guides the reader into a world where strategic possibility and solution-oriented approaches offer new hope. In Perceptions and Possibilities, you will discover clinical wisdom that will help your clients stop chasing their tails – and begin their recovery.’ -- Bette Freedson, LICSW, LCSW, CGP, author of Other Realms, Other Ways: A Clinician’s Guide to the Magick of Intuition‘This book is a breath of fresh air, in a time when research is weaponized, and used to persuade mental health practitioners to choose the best golden procrustean bed. Paul Leslie seems to hold the secrets of a flexible magic of change, which he generously and skillfully shares with us. Complex things are simply exposed without over-simplification, and Paul's optimistic and pragmatic vision energizes and gives hope. The book invites us to change our perceptions, by looking in between strategic and solution-oriented approaches, on the background of their Ericksonian roots, enabling us to discover new possibilities, simple and actionable strategies for mobilizing things from the stuckness of depression. I highly recommend this book to my colleagues and students.’ -- Bogdan Cezar Ion, PhD, lecturer, Department of Applied Psychology & Psychotherapy, Bucharest University‘Paul J. Leslie’s latest work on the phenomenology, genesis, and treatment of depression reads like an artful tapestry of interwoven materials: from psychoanalysis to behaviorist and cognitive approaches, the progression leads to Milton H. Erickson's solution-focused psychotherapy. Like all good hypnotherapists, he vividly and movingly describes cases, stories, and strategies, especially creative play with realities. This reminds us once again of the importance of the sensitive use of words. A stimulating, inspiring book that not only benefits clients, but also helps therapists to proceed in a lively way and – yes! – with joy, always remaining optimistic on this serious subject.’ -- Andreas Steiner, Dipl-Psych, MA, SEPT Institute CologneTable of ContentsAcknowledgments About the author Foreword by Bob Bertolino, PhD Introduction Chapter 1: Strategies, solutions, and depression Chapter 2: Theoretical foundation for a strategic and solution-oriented approach Chapter 3: Assessment and intervention planning Chapter 4: Changing perceptions Chapter 5: Altering and interrupting patterns Chapter 6: Using metaphors, analogies, and stories Epilogue References Index
£18.04
Trigger Publishing How to Help Someone with Post Natal Depression: A
Book SynopsisIf you are watching your partner, daughter, sister or friend struggle through postnatal depression (PND) it can leave you feeling powerless and unsure how best to help. This book shows you how to best support your loved one in this overwhelming and frightening time.Specialist maternal mental health psychologist Dr Jenn Cooper first explains what PND is and what it might look like. In many cases, the initial challenge is identifying that your loved one is struggling with something more than the 'baby blues'. Often mothers simply don't have the capacity to notice that what they're feeling is beyond the 'normal'. So, that is where you, as their support system, come in – with the benefit of some distance and objectivity that will allow you to see more clearly whether mum might be struggling.Dr Cooper then moves on to equip you with practical strategies to help your loved one, drawing on insights from mums with lived experience of PND. Through the advice in this book, you will learn how you can play a vital role in your loved one's recovery and, ultimately, help them enjoy motherhood in the way they deserve.
£10.44
Jessica Kingsley Publishers The DBT Workbook for Alcohol and Drug Addiction:
Book SynopsisWhen recovering from addiction and managing a mental illness, it can feel like both have the ability to take over your life. By applying the principles of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) to the 12 Steps addiction recovery approach, this workbook equips you with the tools to regulate your emotions, develop self-management skills, reduce anxiety and stress, and feel yourself again.DBT is a combination of CBT, mindfulness, and distress tolerance skills tailored to those who feel emotions very intensely. Exploring skills and strategies drawn from DBT that work in tandem with your recovery program, this book provides a new roadmap to reduce symptoms of emotional distress and to support your sobriety and mental health.Written by clinical psychologist, Laura Petracek, this ground-breaking workbook draws on the author's clinical and lived experience of addiction recovery, bipolar disorder, and other mental health challenges.Trade ReviewThe connection between mental health challenges and addiction is strong, complicates recovery, and is regrettably still associated with much stigma. In The DBT Workbook for Alcohol and Drug Addiction, Dr. Petracek helps readers to understand their struggles with mental illness and addiction, and to address those struggles through a combination of AA/NA and DBT skills. Drawing on her own personal experience, Petracek's warmth and compassion will make these ideas and skills more approachable for those in recovery and will remind people that they are not alone on their difficult journey. -- Sheri Van Dijk, MSW, RSW, Psychotherapist, international speaker, and author of several DBT books, including The DBT Workbook for Emotional ReliefDr. Petracek provides a step-by-step guide to DBT for anyone struggling with alcohol or drug addiction. This book is accessible, comprehensive and practical. A truly valuable resource! -- Elaine Beale, author of Write for Wellness: Write Your Way to Health, Happiness and HealingLaura Petracek, Ph.D.'s work on connecting the evidence based, effective psychotherapy treatment of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous is a great addition for extra tools for people recovering from addiction. The 12 Steps are predicated on giving oneself over the process and following the program, and adding in DBT skills can help provide additional tools for supporting one's work through the 12 steps and deepening one's understanding of the Steps. The author's use of her own experience and how DBT added to her recovery is a great use of the values of AA/NA of being open, honest, vulnerable and using one's own process to allow others to take what they need and leave the rest in finding their ways through the 12 Steps. -- W. Keith Sutton, Psy.D. - Psychologist - Director of the Institute for the Advancement of PsychotherapyTable of ContentsTable of ContentsForeword by Gillian Galen, PsyDPart 1: Introduction1. Pain is Inevitable; Suffering is Optional.......................................... 2. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Explained ...................................... 3. Core Concepts of DBT and the Twelve Steps .................................Part 2: The Twelve Steps and DBT1. Step One: I Can't Stop Drinking............................................................ 2. Step Two: Hope .................................................................................3. Step Three: Surrender ........................................................................4. Step Four: Finding Courage .................................................................5. Step Five: Integrity ............................................................................ 6. Step Six: Becoming Ready ..................................................................7. Step Seven: Humility ......................................................................... 8. Step Eight: Willingness .......................................................................9. Step Nine: Taking Responsibility and Making Amends ..............................10. Step Ten: Taking Stock ......................................................................11. Step Eleven: Seeking Prayer and Meditation .......................................... 12. Step Twelve: Carry the Message and Practice the Principles .....................Conclusion: A Life Worth Living Beyond Your Wildest Dreams ......................... Acknowledgements ...........................................................................
£16.14
The Lilliput Press Ltd The Scar
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 *
£14.25
Vintage Publishing The Case for Love: My Adventures In Other Minds
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) *
£15.29
Karnac Books Depression: An Introduction
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
£18.04
Octopus Publishing Group Something To Live For: A True Story of Love, Hope
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 *
£9.49
Reach plc Keith Earls: Fight or Flight: My Life
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.
£18.00
Exisle Publishing Dealing with Depression: Simple Ways to Get Your Life Back
£9.49
Carpenter's Son Publishing Inside His Locked Box: The Marshall Racing
Book Synopsis"Hey mom, I think I might be good at writing. One day, I think I'll write a book." ––John Marshall Foster, 2015 In her second book Inside His locked Box: The Marshall Racing Project 33, Susan E Foster gives voice to her late son, John Marshall Foster, who committed suicide following a miraculous recovery from a harrowing motorcycle accident. It was not the accident that led him to end his life. It goes much deeper. Marshall was battling thoughts of suicide long before the crash. Now through a series of revealing conversations, text messages and essays written by her son, Susan shares an in-depth and profound look inside his life. From his own written words, readers will learn what triggered Marshall's journey while also highlighting what his mother and siblings endured during a very difficult and tumultuous time in their lives. What followed piloted the launch of The Marshall Racing Project 33 (MRP33), a special event created in Marshall's honor benefitting Mental Health Awareness. The special event involved the surprise unveiling of Marshall’s wrecked motorcycle completely refurbished by the founder of Marshall Racing Project 33, Ever Gomez, who played an important role in Marshall’s life. Painted in Marshall’s favorite color green and numbered 33 for Marshall's birthday (March 3rd), Ever continues to race Marshall’s bike delivering the important message that when you feel most hopeless, you are positioned for your coming breakthrough, there is always a reason for hope and life matters. Your life matters. *A portion of sale net proceeds go to: The Marshall Racing Project 33 (MRP33) benefiting Mental Health Awareness
£17.09
Carpenter's Son Publishing Inside His Locked Box: The Marshall Racing
Book Synopsis"Hey mom, I think I might be good at writing. One day, I think I'll write a book." ––John Marshall Foster, 2015 In her second book Inside His locked Box: The Marshall Racing Project 33, Susan E Foster gives voice to her late son, John Marshall Foster, who committed suicide following a miraculous recovery from a harrowing motorcycle accident. It was not the accident that led him to end his life. It goes much deeper. Marshall was battling thoughts of suicide long before the crash. Now through a series of revealing conversations, text messages and essays written by her son, Susan shares an in-depth and profound look inside his life. From his own written words, readers will learn what triggered Marshall's journey while also highlighting what his mother and siblings endured during a very difficult and tumultuous time in their lives. What followed piloted the launch of The Marshall Racing Project 33 (MRP33), a special event created in Marshall's honor benefitting Mental Health Awareness. The special event involved the surprise unveiling of Marshall’s wrecked motorcycle completely refurbished by the founder of Marshall Racing Project 33, Ever Gomez, who played an important role in Marshall’s life. Painted in Marshall’s favorite color green and numbered 33 for Marshall's birthday (March 3rd), Ever continues to race Marshall’s bike delivering the important message that when you feel most hopeless, you are positioned for your coming breakthrough, there is always a reason for hope and life matters. Your life matters. *A portion of sale net proceeds go to: The Marshall Racing Project 33 (MRP33) benefiting Mental Health Awareness
£34.19
Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd A Good Day to Die: Inside a suicidal mind
Book SynopsisIn 2019, Singapore had 400 reported suicides, with an increasing number of young people choosing to take their lives. Synopsis It is estimated that 800,000 people globally kill themselves every year. Our post pandemic world, with its numerous disruptions, has also forced more people to seek help for mental health issues. While much has been said about the toll on mental health, there is little understanding of why people choose to kill themselves, especially when many, like celebrities Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade had so much to live for. Author Mahita Vas has battled suicidal thoughts for all her adult life. She even lost one of those battles and tried to kill herself, only to be rescued within seconds of breathing her last. It is difficult for those left behind to understand why their loved one would choose to die. A Good Day to Die offers readers an intimate exploration of an anguished mind, weaving personal experience with academic reports.
£10.44
