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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by cerodwen on July 5, 2003, at 16:07:16
I am looking for books with information about Bipolar, books on coping with depression and workbook-type books. Does anyone have any books they've read that they felt were really helpful? I already have the bipolar survival guide.
I am also looking for funny, laugh out loud books. Thank you!
-Deirdre
Posted by whiterabbit on July 19, 2003, at 14:14:51
In reply to Books on Bipolar, posted by cerodwen on July 5, 2003, at 16:07:16
"The Depression Workbook:A Guide for Living with Depression and Manic Depression" by Mary Ellen Copeland. Also, "Living with Depression and Manic Depression: A Workbook for Maintaining Mood Stability" by the same author.
"These companion workbooks have been popular with families and have much to commend them. They offer information and practical tips for improving your life if you have a mood disorder. Included are such topics as diet, exercise, meditation, light therapy, and enhancing one's self esteem, and extensive discussion of the benefits of psychotherapy, especially cognitive therapy...Of the two, the first is better. These workbooks also have shortcomings. The major one is that they are geared toward depression alone, saying relatively little about mania or psychosis...The books include almost nothing about medications...Concurrent substance abuse also gets brief mention. The books oversell psychotherapy, especially cognitive therapy, as essential...Finally and inexplicably, the second workbook recommends several antipsychiatry groups as useful resources.""A Brillant Madness: Living with Manic-Depressive Illness" by Patty Duke.
"Duke provides a candid, powerful account of her own illness...Duke illustrates how painful and destructive episodes of mania and depression can be...she deals directly with the question of creativity and refuses to romanticize the illness in any way...The writing throughout the book is of high quality. Overall, this is an essential book for manic-depressive illness libraries.""An Unquiet Mind" by Kay Jamison.
"This is an excellent subjective account of what it is like to have manic-depressive illness. Exceptionally well-written, the book describes the allure of mania and the depths of depression. Even more important, the author shares her experiences with stigma and her disclosure of her illness to professional colleagues...the book is essential reading for those affected with manic-depressive illness and their families and friends.""The Price of Greatness: Resolving the Creativity and Madness Controversy" by Arnold Ludwig.
"This is a very readable and interesting synthesis of the author's long experience in this field. Ludwig describes a detailed study of 1,004 creative individuals from the twentieth century and concludes that manic-depressive illness and other mental disturbances are more common in the creative artists.""Undercurrents: A Therapist's Reckoning with Her Own Depression" by Martha Manning.
"This is an exceptionally well-written and engaging account of severe depression, told by a psychologist who herself experienced it. With self-deprecating humor and insight, Manning chronicles her slow descent from normality...until she arrived 'at a room in hell with only your name on the door.' Failing to respond to all antidepressant medications, she was left with only two exits: suicide or a trial of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Manning opted for the latter, and responded to a short course...Insightful, thoughtful, and funny-sad, Manning's book is among the best accounts available of what it is like to experience severe depression.""Bipolar: A Guide for Patients and Families" by Frances Mondimore.
"As one of the first books written for individuals with manic-depressive illness and their families, 'Bipolar' has been most welcome. Its descriptions of the symptoms of the illness and its diagnosis are comprehensive and readable, and the case histories are useful. Treatment is also well covered, with the exception of the author's insistence that EVERY individual with manic-depressive illness requires psychotherapy...what is known about possible causes of manic-depressive illness is less well-covered...the book is also weak in terms of practical advice on how to handle day-to-day problems (e.g. the brief section on medication compliance emphasizes denial but includes no discussion at all on anosognosia - unawareness of one's illness because of brain damage caused by the illness).""Consumer's Guide to Psychiatric Drugs" by John Preston.
"This guide to drugs used for treating severe psychiatric illnesses is similar to Gorman's "The Essential Guide to Psychiatric Drugs", but each book has different strengths. The first half of 'Consumer's Guide' discusses general issues (e.g., "Managing Your Medications," "Seeking Treatment"), whereas the second half offers an extensive description of each drug listed alphabetically along with a directory by brand names that makes it user friendly. Also included is a useful chapter, "Nonpharmaceutical Approaches" that discusses such treatments as melatonin and St. John's wort.""Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness" by William Styron.
"This national bestseller deserves all the acclaim it has recieved. Styron details the onset of severe depression at age 60 with a precision and lucidity unmatched in personal accounts of this illness...Just short of suicide, Styron was finally hospitalized, and he recovered with antidepressant medication. The result is this book, a traveler's guide to Hell, and we are fortunate that Styron lived to write it."@@@@@@@
Alright, how's that for starters? Let me know when you're ready for more books or if you're looking for something very specific...there are more books listed but these all had a generally favorable review, while some of the books listed left the authors distinctly unimpressed.
These reviews are from the book "Surviving Manic Depression" by E. Fuller Torrey MD, and Michael Knable DO. They didn't review their own book but I found it to be fairly helpful.
-Manic Gracie
This is the end of the thread.
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