Topic Title: book suggestions?
| |  "book suggestions?"
, Mon 8 Aug 15:12
One of the messages posted here recently got me thinking about good books to read about depression. There are lots of books out there that talk about drugs, herbs, interactions and so on from a largely scientific perspective. But sometimes these are a little dry... especially when you've already found a way to treat depression (ie., SJW or 5-HTP), without really examining the underlying cause.
More interesting to me are books that discuss overcoming depression through lifestyle, therapy, counselling, meditation, mental exercises, and so on. If you have some suggestions of books you've read on the subject that were useful, please reply here with your comments.
In the next version of this website I'm going to create a books section, along with a news section and various other areas of interest.
Thanks,
Kelly
Posts: 770 | | Registered: Thu 5 Oct 2000 21:48 |
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| | "Re(1):book suggestions?" , Mon 10 Oct 16:46
I have read a ton of self help books over the past five years...The best I have found are
Feeling Good --David Burns
Self Esteem -- Mckay
Comfort Trap -- Judith Sills
Excess Baggage -- Judith Sills
Funny though, for all of the 5+ years I have read these books (literally hundreds) I felt like I never made good progress (until now). I understood what they were talking about, but I could never consistently achieve contentment. I would always slip back into my dark, worried, morass.
I started a low carb diet and I noticed that the less sugar I had the better I felt (mood wise). This gave me a hunch that perhaps my mood problem could be chemically related. I guess I always resisted the idea of taking herbs/medicine for psychological pain. I always considered taking herbs "witches brew" and something that was faintly bogus. I started to take STJ about 5 weeks ago out of desperation and on my slight hunch and feel entirely different. I have never known such a prolonged state of relaxation in my life. I had always assumed that other people constantly worry about everything and that it was just "life". I now firmly beleive I am dysthymic. I can see now that my depression is largely genetic (my dad and grandfather were also similiar). The combination of the STJ, low carb diet, along with what I have learned from these books has largely reversed my depression (although I still have my times). I hope this helps other people out there.......
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Mon 10 Oct 2005 16:18 |
| | "Re(1):book suggestions?" , Mon 22 Aug 22:28
The Mood Cure. It's totally changed my life. I've had depression on and off for 15 years. SJW got me through a bad one 10 years ago. But the side effects got to be too much for me. I had PPD for 18 mos and went to my doctor who put me on Paxil. Then my hair fell out! So I found The Mood Cure, just by luck, and it's been a godsend. My husband is using it, too, and he is a new person. A few friends who are going through stressful times like it, too. I highly recommend this book.
Posts: 4 | | Registered: Mon 22 Aug 2005 22:13 |
| |  "Re(1):book suggestions?"
, Tue 9 Aug 06:02
Hi, Kelly!  All time favorite: Feeling Good by David Burns
Posts: 179 | | Registered: Sat 29 Sep 2001 10:2 |
| | | "Re(2):book suggestions?" , Fri 12 Aug 04:07
If you found Feeling Good helpful, "How To Make Yourself Happy and Remarkably Undisturbable" by Albert Ellis is also another excellent book which looks at the beliefs that create automatic thoughts in the first place, which had Burns gone into, in Feeling Good, would have made it one of the most influential self help manuals ever. Worth a try, really helped me.
Posts: 5 | | Registered: Mon 8 Aug 2005 9:49 |
| | | "Re(3):book suggestions?" , Fri 12 Aug 08:09:
I looked up Albert Ellis's book on line, and it looks really good also. I'm going to get a copy of it soon. Thanks!
A book I'm reading now, that seems quite good is: Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness, A self-help quide using cognitive behavioral techniques, by Gillian Butler.
And one I read a while ago that I liked is: The Highly Sensitive Person, by Elaine Aron The first half is really good, the last half seemed (to me) to be a bit repetitive.
[this message was edited by mmf on Fri 12 Aug 08:10]
Posts: 182 | | Registered: Sat 29 Sep 2001 10:2 |
| | | "Re(4):book suggestions?" , Fri 12 Aug 14:02:
Mmf, that book by Gillian Butler is one of the best books on social anxiety I have ever read. Highly recommended to anyone struggling with social anxiety.
Oh by the way, did Rhodiola Rosea or SJW help you at all with your social anxiety?
[this message was edited by robbiemerril on Fri 12 Aug 14:06]
Posts: 51 | | Registered: Wed 13 Jul 2005 1:13 |
| | | "Re(5):book suggestions?" , Fri 12 Aug 19:49:
I don't know if they helped.  I didn't take the Rhodiola long enough to know, I only took it when I was feeling Really low and depressed, for a couple of days or so, and then I felt good enough to get along without it....and the SJW, when I took it, it was for dark, hateful thoughts, and I wasn't paying attention to anxiety......I was wondering the same thing,'cause anxiety seems to be a problem for me now......maybe my dark thoughts and anxiety are one and the same........if so, the SJW worked well. I'm about ready to start taking SJW regularly again, as I've had a rough year, and I just can't shake the gloom.......
Did I get that book idea from you?? It could have been from someone on this site.  I ordered it from the library weeks ago, and they finally got a copy for me.
Edit: I've noticed that I have No desire to start up my fall/winter class that I normally do, and I had a hard time enjoying it last year because of the social anxiety part. Of all things, my class was sign language, where people Have to Look at you to see what you are saying!! I just want to Stay Home. And I really struggle with trying to decide, is it Bad that I want to stay home, or have I just gotten tired of the class, or is it just the Wrong class for me, or if I wasn't socially anxious, would I enjoy this class....?? 
[this message was edited by mmf on Sun 14 Aug 18:48]
Posts: 183 | | Registered: Sat 29 Sep 2001 10:2 |
| | | "Re(6):book suggestions?" , Sun 14 Aug 17:22
I recommended that book to someone on this forum. Anyway I'm glad you like it, it's a really excellent book.
Posts: 53 | | Registered: Wed 13 Jul 2005 1:13 |
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