Mental Health and Wellness

You've done what you can: you've seen your doctor, made an appointment with a therapist, picked up the prescription for the antidepressant and swallowed that first strange pill. But it can take four to eight weeks for the meds to start to work, and it might take two or more tries before you and your doctor find the ones that work best for you. When you're in the midst of terrible depression, those weeks can feel like an eternity. You just want to feel better now. This book is for those who are in the long night of waiting. It does not promise healing or deliverance; it is not a guide to praying away the depression. It is simply an attempt to sit next to you in the dark while you wait for the light to emerge.Drawing on the wisdom of spiritual figures from the past and present--including Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Barbara Brown Taylor, Bunmi Laditan, and many others--The Long Night is a comforting and inspirational companion for anyone in the midst of depression. Writer, editor, and minister Jessica Kantrowitz has been where you are. As a mentor and friend, she will walk with you on this journey toward life and light.

Some twenty percent of us are afflicted with common anxiety and depressive disorders - not just brief bouts of nervousness or sorrow, but painful dysfunctions without obvious benefit. Why do so many people suffer from angst? In this path-breaking volume, engagingly written for the general public, psychiatrist Jeffrey Kahn reveals that angst ultimately results from our transformation, over tens of thousands of years, from biologically shaped, almost herd-like prehistoric tribes, to rational and independent individuals inmodern civilization. Kahn looks at five basic types of modern-day angst - Panic Anxiety, Social Anxiety, OCD, Atypical Depression, and Melancholic Depression - and shows how each derives from primeval social instincts that once helped our ancestors survive. For instance, the "panic disorder" whichprevents some people from flying may have originally evolved to keep our tribal ancestors from traveling dangerously far from home. Likewise, the increased emotional sensitivity to social rejection that now triggers episodes of "atypical depression" may have helped maintain polite behavior andsocial harmony in our ancestors. Our distinctly human civilization and rational consciousness lets us defy these social instincts. But those over-ridden instincts can resurface as stressful emotional disorders. Kahn notes that some of us painfully tackle this distress head-on, in ways that can advance intellectual creativity,social performance and productivity. He also describes the interplay of instinct with the advance of civilization, and on how evolutionary perspective explains why modern treatments work. Ranging from Darwin and Freud to the most cutting-edge medical and scientific findings - drawing from ancient writings, modern humor and popular lyrics, and with many amusing cartoons - Angst offers us an exciting new slant on some of the most pervasive mental health issues of our time.

Mild depressions are so insidious that sufferers often don't seek help. They think, "That's just the way I am. There's really not much I can do about it." As Dr. Michael Thase and science writer Susan S. Lang reveal in this wonderful new book, the good news is they can do something about it. Persistent mild depression, which afflicts up to 35 million Americans, can be readily and permanently cured. Thase and Lang show how chronic mild depression can be relieved by learning strategies that help us to recognize negative and distorted thinking patterns that lead to a downward spiral of pessimism. They reveal that a combination of medication and therapy has been shown to be the most effective treatment for mild depression, with an impressive 85% of patients experiencing full relief. They discuss when you should seek help from a therapist and what kinds of therapy seem the most effective (therapies that focus on the here and now seem to work best); outline the safer new antidepressants that are helpful for both mild and severe depressions, detailing each drug's strength and weakness; and examine alternative therapies, including stress management (meditation, relaxation, massage, biofeedback), physical exercise, acupuncture, supplements, and other mind/body therapies. Finally, they provide in-depth discussions of mild depression in children, adolescents, college students, and elderly parents, as well as those with chronic stress. Throughout, the authors use boxed text and charts to make the key ideas immediately accessible and easy to use. Beating the Blues is an inspiring and empowering book, filled with the information and encouragement you need to turn your life around and begin to feel renewed pleasure and joy. Book jacket.

Nearly one in six people will develop major depression, and teens are just as susceptible as adults--if not more so. Serious depression afflicts more than two million teenagers each year in the United States alone, but it can often be difficult for teens to recognize their ailment and get help. Clearly, teens with depression are not alone, and it is important that they realize the condition does not have to be "forever" but is something they can work toward overcoming. In Depression: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Tina P. Schwartz helps teens and young adults learn how to deal with this often debilitating affliction. Throughout the book, teens tell their personal stories of living with depression and other mood disorders, describe what treatments were successful and what were not, and share how they are coping today. Topics covered in this book include warning signs and symptomsinternal and external triggerscoping mechanismsstigmas of mental health issuespreserving relationshipshelping a sibling, parent, or friend who suffers from depression Aimed to support teens and young adults who might otherwise feel helpless and hopeless about their situation, Depression: The Ultimate Teen Guide is a valuable resource. This book will benefit not only teens dealing with depression but also their family and friends.

In Feeling Good, eminent psychiatrist David D. Burns, M.D. outlines the remarkable, scientifically proven techniques that will immediately lift your spirits and help you develop a positive outlook on life. Recognise what causes your mood swings. Nip negative feelings in the bud. Deal with guilt. Handle hostility and criticism. Overcome addiction to love and approval. Build self-esteem. Feel good everyday.

This book develops acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a revolutionary and exciting new direction in psychotherapy, into step-by-step exercises readers can use to get relief from emotional pain. Written by ACT's founding theorist, the book offers a self-help program proven to be effective for coping with a range of problems, from anxiety to depression, eating disorders to poor self-esteem.

Clearly defines and clarifies the common forms of anxiety, panic, and depression. The book also presents an overview of all the main approaches to these problems and how they have succeeded.

The Overcoming self-help guides use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to treat disorders by changing unhelpful patterns of behavior and thought. CBT is internationally favored as a practical means of overcoming long-standing and disabling conditions, both psychological and physical. This fully revised third edition has been extensively updated and rewritten to reflect over ten years of new research on understanding and treating depression, particularly the importance of developing compassionate ways of thinking, behaving and feeling. Overcoming Depression outlines Paul Gilbert's compassionate approach to a very common disorder. One of the world's leading psychologists, Gilbert outlines a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based program which contains user-friendly step-by-step suggestions, case studies, and practical ideas to help sufferers of depression take control of their lives.

This book covers all the issues that are known to be problematic in depression in the clear, user-friendly format that is associated with the "Overcoming..." series. The interactive questions and worksheets are a key feature of the series and they are plentiful and appropriate in this new title. Using the established Five Areas Assessment model of depression, the book provides a clear model of intervention using the proven cognitive behaviour therapy evidence-based approach. It is empowering and supportive, helping readers make changes to their lives in a planned and achievable way. The workbooks also provide an invaluable resource for counsellors, general practitioners, nursing staff, psychiatrists, social workers, and others working with people suffering from low mood or depression.

This nonfiction essay collection combines photos of semicolon tattoos with individuals' own words about their struggles with mental illness. The book reveals dozens of never-before-seen portraits and stories from people of all ages talking about what they have endured and what they want for their futures. This represents a new step in the movement and a new awareness around those who struggle with mental illness and those who support them. At once heartfelt, unflinchingly honest, and eternally hopeful, this collection tells a story of choice: every day you choose to live and let your story continue on.

Depression can feel like a downward spiral, pulling you into a vortex of sadness, fatigue, and apathy. In The Upward Spiral, neuroscientist Alex Korb demystifies the intricate brain processes that cause depression and offers a practical and effective approach to getting better. Based on the latest research in neuroscience, this book provides dozens of straightforward tips you can do every day to rewire your brain and create an upward spiral towards a happier, healthier life.   Whether you suffer from depression or just want a better understanding of the brain, this book offers an engaging and informative look at the neuroscience behind our emotions, thoughts, and actions. The truth is that there isn't one big solution to depression, but there are numerous simple steps you can take to alter brain activity and chemistry. Some are as easy as relaxing certain muscles to reduce anxiety, or getting more sunlight to improve your mood. Small steps in the right direction can have profound effects--giving you the power to become your best self as you literally reshape your brain, one small change at a time.

This new mood management toolbox brings together the powers of mindfulness, CBT, and positive psychology for teens to take control of their distressing thoughts and over-the-top emotions. With over 30 years of clinical experience, Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein shares high-impact tools for teens' biggest demands -- school, social connections, body-image, and family dynamics. Inside you'll find 150 downloadable activities and worksheets to take control of: -Confidence and self-esteem -Overwhelming assignments -Schedule demands -Friend drama and pressure -Body-image struggles -Test anxiety -Self-sabotaging behaviors -Family frustration and conflicts

This book is designed to help readers understand depression and make positive changes to overcome it. Dr. Aihan Kuhn teaches a unique tai chi form that combines elements of Chen and Yang styles as well as qigong and meditation. The form is easy to learn, easy to remember, and easy to practice. Dr. Kuhn's multidisciplinary approach to mental health also focuses on positive thought, a healthy diet, and self-confidence. Dr. Kuhn instructs readers on a unique tai chi form that is perfect for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. The circular movements create better energy flow in the body. The martial character empowers the mind, strengthens the body, improves stamina, and increases self-esteem. Slow, symmetrical movements promote balance and calm.