This Is Depression: A Comprehensive, Compassionate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Understand Depression

Depression sucks. It's a debilitating illness that affects the mind and the body--and chances are that you or someone you love will battle depression at some point in your lifetime. This Is Depression is your guide through the darkness. A widely respected authority on the diagnosis and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, psychiatrist Dr. Diane McIntosh provides all the information you need to understand and combat this serious and isolating disorder. Written in an accessible format with compassion and humor, Dr. McIntosh takes an evidence-based approach as she outlines the causes, impact, and treatment of depression and along the way provides encouragement that it can be overcome. This Is Depression reveals: - how life experience, genetics, and hormones factor into depression, and explores the common overlap between depression and other mental and physical illnesses- how all areas of life can be impacted by depression--home, school, work, and relationships- how to communicate about mental illness, whether with your doctor or your boss, a rude friend or nosy co-worker, or loved ones- critical information about every available depression treatment -- and those that are on the horizon--describing how antidepressants work, which treatments are worth taking, and which are useless... or even dangerous- when to consider psychotherapy, brain-stimulation treatments, mindfulness meditation, and exercise and what to expect from a therapeutic relationship- essential tools to support you in your recovery or your loved one on their journey. Depression can be a lonely, debilitating illness, but sufferers are not alone, and there is always a path forward. This book is the first step on that path.