Depression Books

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (5/07)

Depression is one of those illnesses that can strike anybody at just about any time. Its causes are diverse and the symptoms not always easy to recognize. Worst of all, it is so difficult to "get back on track," or as Mrs. Southerland aptly termed this, to get out of the pit of depression.

It is refreshing to see a book on this difficult subject, written by somebody who has been through it and who managed to get out of the pit. It is even more refreshing when such a book is written with ample common sense and spiced up with a large dose of humor. While it is clear that the book is geared towards women; to be more precise, actually Christian women, it is by no means something other people suffering from depression could not use - and with good results. Mrs. Southerland does a great job explaining what could possibly lead us into depression, how we could recognize the symptoms and how we could deal with them and finally overcome depression. She lists the common fears and the common problems that could get us depressed. She also included some quite useful exercises at the end of the book. Each chapter contains some concise and uplifting words of wisdom and on most every page you will find something to laugh or at least chuckle about. Take this example,

"The spoken word is powerful, and spoken words of encouragement can bring great comfort. The idea is not to speak many words, but the right words. Consider this:
· The Lord's Prayer contains 71 words.
· The Gettysburg Address contains 272 words.
· The Ten Commandments contain 139 words.
· The Declaration of Independence contains 1323 words.
· A U.S. government order setting the price of cabbage contains 26,911 words."

Quite frankly, I wish this book would have been available to me years ago when I was in one of those bottomless pits myself. I certainly would have climbed out of it faster using the techniques and advice in Mary Southerland's "Hope in the Midst of Depression," which is very aptly subtitled "How to Embrace Life Again." Between the practical, sound advice, flowing writing style and positive attitude, this is a winner. I would highly recommend it to anybody struggling with depression - or just wondering if what they are going through could possibly be depression. While this book is clearly geared towards Christian women, I feel that it transcends the genre and religious affiliations and could be of great help to just about anybody.

This is social history at its best, linking a time and a culture in a clear and concise manner. It is about what came to be known as "modernism" yet written in a surprisingly engaging and easy to understand style. Highly recommended.

The same advice a kid would ignore from his parents, he'll embrace from this book.



Here's an excerpt: "You've got funny ears, a big nose, or a big butt? So what! (Hey, that kind of rhymed.) Seriously, does that prove you're a bad person...Write down how worrying about other people's opinions of you is making your life better."



It's got true/false questions, and fill-in-the-blanks that kids are used to from school, but it's all about them. How could a kid resist?



You'd never know it's based on a serious, well-proven therapy technique. To a kid, it's just a means to feel understood, less alone, and more aware of their own power.



As an author myself of a book (for adults) based on the same technique, I believe this book is a valuable tool for depressed kids to find their way to happiness.

I rented this book from the library not even comprehending what a wonderful marvel, touching book this is. I immediately fell in love with it. Carole Gift Page truly has a gift for writing. I am so into this series that I can't wait to read the rest of the Heartland Memories books.

I began reading this book and never laughed so hard! I would certainly not want to be on these guy's "enemies" list. Some of the methods they describe to keep ahead in the divorce game just made me wince (in between laughs). Kudos to the the authors! How To Make Divorce Fun

I thought that this book is great. It helped me in finding ways to treat, and prevent it. I thought that this is a great book to read if you have any questions, this is a great find. I highly recommend it.

Could not believe the first time I listened to the audio tape and followed the suggestions how totally relaxed and better I felt. The relaxation lasted throughout the evening and I had the best sleep in a month. Could not wait to play the tape again. Feeling noticably less burdened. Thanks for the assistance on the road to my old self. I missed her.

A very interesting and well written description of the severe trials and many important triumphs of a Pastor (starting out as a drinking smoking fast car driver but converting in his 20s to follow Jesus) who because of severe back and other health problems lived all of his ministry in terrible pain. The wisdom drawn from his knowledge of the Bible and given out from the standpoint of a person who has "been through it" should be a help to all who suffer, as well as those who wonder why if God is good there has to be suffering. One of the best first-hand accounts of struggling with adversity that I have ever read, and deserves a reprinting and wider distribution.

The book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Is a book that takes you to the life of Maya Angelous childhood. It really goes trough alot of emotions and the characters are so real and and life like. This book goes by so fast and the characters are so real it feel like you are watching a movie. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone above the age of thirteen it has something that can grab you and suck you into this women's extraordinary life.
"His shoulders were so wide I thought he'd have trouble getting through the door. He was taller than anyone i had ever seen,...his clothes were too small too. They were tighter and woolier than was customary in stamps. And he was blindingly handsome." This is a quote by maya Angelo describing her father the first time she sees him. The description for me really made this man come to life it left room for me to imagine his face but it really shaped his character and how he was. Maya does this throughout the book creating a characters character but leaving you room to imagine the rest. This really allows the characters to come to life. When you first meet a character in this book she medially describes them setting a tone of the character. I know when I read a book and the writer brings in a character and describes there description later it really messes up my first impression of that character. This is really what made this book come to life for me even when the book was in a dull part it still was easy to read through because to me it was like watching T.V. the characters were so alive it made it that much more interesting that is why i enjoyed this book so much.The book for me really showed emotion and when an emotion was set weather it be anger, hatred, or sad when she feels it in the book you feel it as you read. This is another reason why the book was so easy to read, you felt like it was like you going trough all of this and it makes it so easy to read and it make it go by so fast. This book was one of the most life like filled book i've ever read in my life.
Everyone who reads this book will enjoy it Maya really keeps emotions rolling and it really makes you feel like you are there in Stamps Arkansas.

Erma Bombeck was, hands down, the funniest humor columnist to ever grace newspapers and bookstores. Even now, years after she passed way, her writings are still funny and topical.

In "I Lost Everything in the Post-Natal Depression," as with most of her books, Erma Bombeck takes snippets of her life, her husband, and her three kids and relates them to us in a way that only she can. Everything from her husband's inability to start a fire in the fireplace to her own inability to cope with turning 40, nothing is sacred or forbidden when Erma writes about her life.

This book is funny, witty, relevant, and an easy read. If you're life is busy and complicated, take some time out to read this book. Erma has a way of making your life seem not so bad. If nothing else, it's a great way to spend a few minutes each day.