Customer Reviews

Depression: Out of the Shadows

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While some of the information in this DVD has been around for a while, there is also quite a bit of new, interesting data included. Yes, depression has a stigma and often needs to be talked about in an open, treatment-minded style. I found the work on brain surgery as a treatment for some types of depression very interesting. Since I am a college student studying attachment theories and post-partum depression, I particularly found the work done with babies and mothers interesting and relevant. PBS shows are seldom a waste of time, and the discussion by a CEO from The Fortune 100 business world was worth the price of this DVD. I recommend it.

What can I say that others haven't already expressed very eloquently? The movie reviews the diagnosis of Depression, along with most of the treatments currently available, and most importantly, includes excellent interviews with a wide variety of people from all walks of life, who suffer with this illness. Because of my own history with this illness, this was an extremely ACCURATE AND COMPASSIONATE documentary. I feel, in fact, that it should be shown in "health education" classes in high schools, just as we have "sex education". Many young people suffer from mental illness, but have no way to identify it, or "name" it. A truly wonderful, informational, documentary. Highly recommended. I would recommend this to my patients, and the families of patients, with Major Depressive Disorder.

Our 19yr. old daughter has been going through depression with some ocd. We have been trying to get her to seek counseling but wants to try to battle this on her own for now. It seems her depression comes and goes in a cycle every few months since Sept. Watching this video has given my husband and myself more insight and information about the illness. We especially liked the info. that Jane Pauley gave at the end. I just hope my daughter will consider watching this also. I would recommend this to anyone that is seeking more info. on depression because it gives real life accounts of people's situations.

A book for all to read who has or knows anyone who has mental illness. A great watch, I recommend to everyone!

Although this is a 90 minute DVD, it really could be watched over two sessions -- there is a LOT of information in it.

This presentation makes very clear that depression has many forms, many treatments and that not everything works for everyone. It interviews people from all walks of life who have (and have had) despressive episodes -- including teens, adults and older adults, black, white, gay, straight, etc. The DVD addresses depression that is "caused" by trauma, post-partum depression, and depression which seems to come from nowhere.

This is an excellent introduction to the world of depression. It would be particularly useful for watching with someone who knows little about depression and/or some who has some misconceptions or mis-information about the topic.

Importantly, the presentation does not advocate any particular treatment, but instead explores how some sufferers have used medication, others used talk therapy, some used shock treatment, some used in patient treatment, and some used a combination of these. A key point that is well made is that most who have used medication find that they must try several different medications before they find one that works well for them.

Great survey on current thinking about this devastating, but so often treatable, illness. As another reviewer noted, don't skip the Jane Pauley interview of some experts at the end.

From my experience, I am a fan of long-term psychotherapy as a remedy for depression rooted in childhood trauma as the case of Dashaun Jiwe Morris indicated, although it does take patience and money (or good insurance, which also requires money). I do think meds may be warranted and helpful in certain cases, however, especially when needed for stabilization early in treatment even if not needed later as healing is progressing. I also have found the Swiss sociologist-psychologist Alice Miller's books helpful in understanding how childhood trauma produces adult depression. Terry Real, a U.S. psychotherapist, also has some good books that tackle especially well the issue of trauma to boys and how male-female dynamics in patriarchy have caused this but can be repatterned.

Although the DVD is excellent, the DVD might have been improved by looking more at the sociological issues such as:

1. Women's and minorities' lesser status (especially traditionally before the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Movement but still, alas, true to some degree today - hopefully not forever) making them more prone to depression;
2. CEOs and other high-ranking people perhaps falling prey to a common fallacy in our cultural thinking that being at the top will fix everything in your life (when it in fact can make you more lonely, "it's lonely at the top," no?);
3. Workaholism being used as type of dysfunctional self-medication;
4. The fact that fathers can suffer from new infant depression too.

I also suspect our very wealthy country's focus on competitive achievement, especially in work environments, without setting any boundaries on this for parenting and family life for BOTH sexes, plays a huge role in this problem.

Maybe we'll fix this this century? To me fixing it would mean both (a) successfully treating more people who get it, and (b) preventing it more successfully by getting at some of the mother/father-attachment & support, family system and sociological issues that create it (as noted in the DVD, only 30% of depression appears to be genetic in origin; environmental causes trigger it and make it worse).

Refreshing! This video scratches the surface. However is packed with useful information to help explain depression to those that have no clue. The first time I watched it I was in tears. The explanation that author gave was dead on. This does not blame the person in fact gives a name to what's going on. I would have giving five stars if it would have giving more info of what to do. Overall a must see.

The video lived up to and beyond my expectations for the purpose it was purchased. The delivery time was excellent and the price was reasonable. I highly recommend this video for anyone wishing to educate themselves or others on the topic of depression.

I think the movie is really great if you want to understand how it feels as one who are suffering from the illness.

The very first scene is someone crying and sad music, and it just stays the same from thereonout. We watch
this to learn about depression, not to get more depressed- SKIP
this one.