Practical, day-to-day ways to manage your depression.
Some call it the blues or a storm in their head. William Styron referred to it as "darkness visible." Whatever the description, depression is a disorder of the mind and body that affects millions of adults at some point in their lives. In Take Control of Your Depression, Dr. Susan J. Noonan provides people experiencing depression with strategies to take stock of their mental state, to chart a course toward emotional balance, and to track their progress on the journey to well-being.
Writing from her personal experience as both a recipient and a provider of mental health services, Dr. Noonan explains how to obtain care from professionals, outlines what medical options are available, and lists everyday things people can do to feel better. Integrating medicine, psychology, and holistic care while exploring the basics of mental health, she touches on diet, sleep habits, physical activity, and mindfulness techniques.
This useful and compassionate workbook, which is specifically designed for people who find it difficult to focus and concentrate during a depressive episode, includes
• proven relapse prevention and resilience techniques
• targeted cognitive exercises
• daily worksheets that can be used to track your progress and response to therapy
• the fundamentals of Cognitive Behavior Therapy
• advice on dealing with family and friends
• guidance from remarkable people on depression
• a discussion of how technology and social media can be used to manage well-being
• a section on treatment-resistant depression
• specialized tips aimed at women, men, adolescents, the elderly, and people dealing with chronic illness
The only workbook on depression that combines a discussion of medical options, talk therapy techniques, and established self-help strategies, Take Control of Your Depression empowers individuals to participate in their own care, which offers them a better chance of recovery and of staying well.
Praise for Other Books by Susan J. Noonan
"This practical and compassionate handbook is perfectly suited to individuals living with depression: in accessible language, it offers firm, specific advice and quick cognitive tests and self-assessment metrics that even those in the deepest of doldrums will find helpful and relevant . . . a valuable volume for those suffering from depression, as well as for loved ones who are fighting the fight by their side."—Publisher's Weekly
"From defining a baseline of depression to charting moods and preventing relapses, this workbook is a top pick for any depression sufferer!"—Reference and Research Book News
"This practical guide is an important contribution to the growing genre of self-help works on this topic."—Library Journal
"This text is a much-needed addition to mental health literature, as depression is stigmatized and few understand how to support friends and loved ones who frequently do not obtain help on their own."—American Reference Books Annual
"This book offers useful insight for any health professional working within mental health . . . It is of enormous value to the layperson, hungry for knowledge about how best to interact and help their loved one face the dreadful ravages of depression."—Nursing Times
Table of Contents:
Foreword, by Jerrold F. Rosenbaum, MD, and Timothy J. Petersen, PhD
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1. Mental Health Basics
The Basic Steps
Sleep and Depression
Sleep Hygiene
Diet and Nutrition
Physical Exercise
Routine and Structure
Avoid Isolation
Chapter 2. Mood Disorders
Major Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Making the Diagnosis of a Mood Disorder
Symptoms of Depression
Symptoms of Elevated Mood
Mood Chart
Depression and Anxiety
The Stigma of Mood Disorders
Fatigue and Depression
Chapter 3. Common Obstacles in Depression
Feeling Defined by Depression
Fear of Getting Better
Rumination
Chapter 4. Defining Your Baseline
Chapter 5. Managing Your Mood Disorder
Follow Your Treatment Plan
Talk Therapy
Medications
Inpatient Care
What to Do When You Can't Afford Treatment
The Relationship with Your Therapist
Managing Depression and Bipolar Disorder
Additional Tips for Managing Your Mood Disorder
Chapter 6. What Is the Goal?
Wellness as the Goal
Steps to Wellness
Chapter 7. Relapse Prevention
Overview of Relapse Prevention
Triggers
Warning Signs
An Action Plan for Relapse Prevention
What If I Feel Suicidal?
Chapter 8. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors
How You Think about the World Affects How You Feel
How You Think and Feel also Affects How You Act
Should Statements
Challenging and Changing Your Thoughts
Evidence For and Against
Pleasure and Mastery
Chapter 9. Strategies to Get You through the Tough Times
Coping and Stress
Mindfulness
Distress Tolerance
Communication Skills
Talking with Your Doctor
Tips for Family and Friends
Chapter 10. Dealing with Family and Friends
Family and Friends Who Are Supportive
Family and Friends Who Are Not Supportive
People You Choose Not to Tell
When to Disclose Your Illness
How to Disclose Your Illness
Managing Relationships Can Be Tricky
How to Survive the Holidays with Family
Chapter 11. Pulling It All Together
Chapter 12. Collective Wisdom
Advice from Some Remarkable People
Technology in Mental Illness
Helpful Websites
Books of Interest
Conclusion
Appendix
Glossary
References
Index
About the Author :
Susan J. Noonan, MD, MPH, a part-time Certified Peer Specialist at McLean Hospital, is a consultant to Massachusetts General Hospital and CliGnosis, Inc. She is the author of Managing Your Depression: What You Can Do to Feel Better and Helping Others with Depression: Words to Say, Things to Do. Jerrold F. Rosenbaum, MD, is the psychiatrist-in-chief at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Stanley Cobb Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Review :
The book is well written and engages the reader in both medical knowledge and the personal account of the author as to what life is like living with depression. Each chapter is brimming with compassion and encourages the reader to consider how depression can impact on the ability to 'be yourself' and the need to appreciate self-worth.
—Jennie Walker, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nursing Times
