Customer Reviews

Dealing With Depression Naturally

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Forget about "touchy feely" talk about herbal remedies. If you're a skeptic, this book will change your mind about St. John's Wort and what BRAND you buy. Covers a staggering number of therapies in great detail: some you probably know like electric shock therapy, Prozac and cognitive therapy. Other lesser known therapies include Omega-3, 5-HTP, SAM-e, and Tyrosine. The author did his homework. Citing numerous clinical trials, studies, and on-line news groups, I found this reading a bit overwhelming or too dry at times, but only because of the author's thorough investigation. All in all, it was well worth it. Makes your doctors sit up and take notes when you talk about how YOU want to treat your depression. (that alone is worth it). An excellent reference that grows with you as your treatment for depression evolves.

This book covers everything, and I mean everything in the realm of non-drug and non-electroshock therapies for depression. Each chapter goes into great detail both on background and practical application for each therapy, whether it's nutritional supplements, cognitive therapy, bodywork, or medical causes and their treatments. Even if you want to continue with drug therapy, this book is useful for the "what next?" or "what can I do in addition?" stages. It's also well-written, with very human flashes of humor.

This book covers many alternatives to treating depression, most of which employ readily obtainable vitamins and herbs, or feature cognitive or exercise programs. The author urges readers to rate the options as they read each chapter, and to return to those that appeared promising. Many treatments are accompanied by bullet lists to help readers assess their applicability to their present situation. While the author does not go into very much depth, he does help readers sort through options and determine plans, as well as locate additional material for each alternative

If you're looking to treat depression without using drugs, this is the book to get. The book is packed with almost every type of therapy known to cure depression. If there's any academic research on the subject, Baumel mentions the study and also tells us whether it's an uncontrolled or controlled study (something I appreciate as an academic). He usually explains how the study was conducted in enough detail that it can be replicated at home. This means that he included supplement dosages and length of time needed to see results. He also mentions how to purchase St. John's Wort and light therapy devices, which could save hundreds of dollars.

The way to use this book is to read the therapy, see if it matches your symptoms, decide whether you're willing to make the commitment (e.g., am I willing to take B6 for the next 6 months?), and then to try it. I had to try several different therapies until I found ones that worked for me. If one didn't work for me, I would read another section of this book and choose a new therapy to try. One problem with the book is that it covered some therapies in limited detail, and sometimes I needed to look up additional information in other sources.

Before getting this book, I tried looking up information online, but there was too much noise rather than real information to get any use out of what I was reading. This book cut through the noise and gave a concise summary of therapies that I could use to help myself.

In summary, the book is well-researched and an excellent resource. Using this book plus some free online information, I cured my moderate chronic depression in three months without drugs. Thank you, Syd Baumel, for writing this book!

As a psychologist wanting my clients to be educated on the biochemistry of depression and possible solutions, I have found this to be the best of all the alternatives I have read. It discusses all the treatments rather than focusing on one alone, as many books do. It is well written, easy to understand, and treats the reader as if he or she is intelligent enough to grasp a good deal of information. I think this book would help everyone in therapy, and would also help therapists in their attempts to help.

This is defintely an overall positive book on a very negative topic. The author here explains a lot of different ways that you can get the serotinin back to normal without having to deal with drug therapy.

The one problem about this book is that at times it is hard to get thru. The author throws in a lot of information that I'm sure a lot of us wont understand. I wish it was just a little more simplified. FOr example, in one chapter, he explains how a vitamen b6 can be more effective then an antidepresent in treating severe depression. However, he doesnt list the dosage or the amount of vitamen b6 that might be required to take. (that can be a bit of a problem for some).

Yet, this book is amazingly written, anaylized, and hopeful. Its good to know that someone really researched all of these facts and figures. He had a much different outlook on the whole deal as he broke down several vital stastics that the mass media and drug conpanies would never want to admit.

Despite its uplifting appeal, This is more of a book for a professional therapist rather then a client. I'd suggest for the client to read some important parts of this book to the therapist. A lot of this information is complicated and since Syd doesn't list the dosages and the "How exacltys" to get rolling on the correct bandwagon. Almost all of these methods are hard to persue solely.

But again this is a good book and I hope it gets more recongition then it has gotten in drugged america.

This gives lots of information on diet,herbs,and practices.
To aid you in lowering your depression,like any new venture.
I takes a while to feel results,usually other will see the
changes before you do. Positive feed back form other works
wonderfully,remember to set realistic goals. Its like putting
one foot in front of the other. Little bye little you will
break down your wall of depression.

I haven't read this entire book yet, but I have been skimming it using it more as a reference for certain things and have been pleased with what I have found. I have really appreciated that the author has compiled the information on possible helps, but does not seem to have personal bias of his own. I was also very pleased that the side effects or drawbacks of these natural "cures" were also listed to help me make an informed decision of my own. I would definitely recommend adding this to your library if this is an issue you deal with.

The best book available for anyone desiring to treat depression naturally.