|
Depression Fallout - Book Review |
|
|
|
|
Book Reviews -
Women's Health and Psychology
|
|
Written by Jennifer Thompson
|
 Depression
Fallout: The Impact of Depression on Couples and What You
Can Do to Preserve the Bond, by Anne Sheffield
An estimated 19 million Americans suffer from depression. A staggering
number - and that means a staggering number of people are living
with and loving someone who is depressed. Ms. Sheffield's book,
Depression
Fallout, is a guide to help couples when one partner
is depressed. Two things make this book unique: the fact that
it is written for the non-depressed person, and the fact that
it draws on extensive real-life stories as shared on Ms. Sheffield's
web site for those dealing with depression.
"Depression fallout" is the phrase Ms. Sheffield uses
"to describe the emotional toll of depression on spouses,
parents, lovers, and children." Depression
Fallout covers such topics as understanding the "mind-brain
mysteries of depression", overcoming denial, "drawing
a line in the sand", approaching treatment as a partnership,
knowing when to mend and when to break the bond, and "life
beyond depression fallout".
From the back cover:
-
What you need to know about your partner's mental
health and what to do about it...for your own well-being.
-
What experiences, behaviors, and feelings are
"normal" when dealing with depressive illnesses.
-
How to overcome your sense of helplessness and
take charge of your life.
-
Ways to restore your optimism, peace of mind,
and sense of humor.
-
Where to find a community of peers to offer
ongoing support.
One thing I liked as I read this book is how genuine it is. Ms.
Sheffield shares real stories from real people, in their own words.
Ms. Sheffield herself talks of her own struggles with depression
in her introduction to the book. I appreciate this. When dealing
with depression, either your own or your partner's, it's easy
to feel isolated, to feel that you're the only one who knows what
you're going through. True, each person's experiences are unique,
but there are common threads and patterns, and that can be reassuring.
Whether you are currently in a relationship with a depressed partner,
or maybe working through your own depression, I think you'll find
this book a good resource for gaining insight into the world of
depression. As with all self-help books, Depression
Fallout isn't a magical cure that will whisk away
depression and all of its problems in its 270 pages. It can be,
however, a way to reach out and find help and solace from others
who have been where you are.
|
