Customer Reviews

Hide & Seek: How I Laughed at Depression, Conquered My Fears and Found Happiness

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Tracing her problems back to her non supportive family, the author embarks on a year long journey to close her 'misery gap'and help her anxiety and depression. While taking a series of self help classes, esteem building seminars, and creativity courses,she discovers that she is not alone in her feelings and that life is all a matter of perception. Along the way she also finds time to try speed dating,personal relationship counseling and weight watchers meetings. Aromatherapy and assertiveness training round out the search and add to the growth process. If this is not enough to contend with, there is her mother and the 'High Priestess of Marketing' at work. These chapters will have you laughing out loud. Although this is a work of non-fiction, it does not read like it. Ms. Aron treats a serious subject with a fresh perspective and her writing is incredibly witty and humorous. Definitely a recommended read! The bibliography includes ten sources for more information about mental health. There is also an extensive list of web sites and organizations that can help.

Finally- an inspiring and uplifting story told straight from the heart of a true depressive. Wendy Aron successfully describes the irrational thought processes that take hold of the depressive's mind while accurately detailing the way in which she came to challenge these destructive thoughts and behaviors. With her therapist as her anchor, Ms Aron embarked upon a one-year self-help journey to battle weight loss, low self-esteem, and anxiety to boot. Her humorous woes are chronicled through the myriad of classes that she attends and the realizations that arise from her experiences make the read all the more worthwhile! As a clinical psychologist I found this book both useful and entertaining.

We are all faced with problems and difficulties throughout our life. When we can cope with them through humor, we not only help ourselves but others. Wendy Aron has given us humor and also encouragement as we deal with our own issues. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to find a way not to take their problems so seriously. While depression is definitely a serious matter, isn't it so much better to laugh than to cry? Two thumbs up, Wendy.

As a Long Islander who went through very similar experiences with esteem-building classes, weight-loss meetings, and New Age workshops, I found myself saying "Aha!" page after page and thinking back, trying to remember if it was Ms. Aron who sat beside me in my own class, meeting, or workshop. She has nailed what life was like on the Island during those years for a young, unmarried woman carrying a few extra pounds, a few extra neuroses, and good helping of depression. Even more amazing, she has made me laugh about it! But don't get me wrong--you don't need to be a woman from Long Island to enjoy this book. Men and women, from Seattle, Tampa, or anywhere in between, can pick up some new insight, gain a new perspective, and enjoy a hearty laugh or two.

Rating: 4.5 stars

After years of suffering from depression and low self-esteem, Wendy Aron finally worked up the courage to sign up for a self-help course. It was called `Winning Ways' and its goal was to teach participants how to present themselves in social and business situations to get what they want. What may appear to be a small step to some, ended up being the stepping stone Aron needed to take control of her life and conquer her battle with depression. With some newfound confidence, Aron is propelled into action and sets off to learn how to relax, lose weight, cure her smoking addiction and become more optimistic. "Hide & Seek" chronicles Aron's year-long foray into the self-help realm and the lessons she learned along the way. Chock-full of hilarious flashbacks and amusing anecdotes, Aron's humor does not disappoint.

"Hide & Seek" provides a guided tour of many of the self-help outlets available, from the mundane to the outrageous. Some of the highlights include a Speed Dating adventure, a creativity retreat, aromatherapy and the exploration of her chakras (`energy centers of the soul) and a humor and learned optimism class.

While Aron was the one who embarked upon the life-altering journey, I couldn't help but feel like I was along for the ride as well. Even though this book is a memoir, I think it speaks to each and everyone of us and has much to offer. I must admit I learned a great deal from Aron's experiences and somehow felt a lot more positive after reading it. Aron uses her sarcastic humor as a means of entertaining her readers, instead of what was probably once used as a defense mechanism. Her witty humor is also what made me feel attached to her and by the end of the book, I felt like she was a close friend.

Aron is an inspiration, not only for those who have dealt with depression, but for anyone who has ever had obstacles to overcome. She set out to improve her quality of life and in the process, stopped the dependent relationship she had with her therapist, became more optimistic, and ultimately learned to accept herself. I only wish the book would have continued further and filled in the blanks between then and her life now as a married woman. Kudos to Wendy Aron for opening up about her journey and writing such a humorous and inspirational memoir.

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As a sufferer of anxiety and depression my entire life, I was drawn to this book while roaming through the local library. I must say that the author nailed it in certain places and I came away with a better understanding of my condition. I appreciate her efforts to bring this condition to light and the daily challenges we go through. I will recommend this book to my psychiatrist during my next visit. Thank you Ms Aron!

That being said, was this book self published? Being somewhat of a frustrated writer myself, I was irked to read several grammar errors, misplaced sentences, and meanderings that should have been worked through by a good editor. The ending left me somewhat frustrated as it appears that Ms. Aron did find a man she felt she could let down her guard and engage with and has since settled down to happy matrimony. This was never addressed in the book. I think I would have liked to see less of the new age encounters that we depressives...(a word I did not know until I read Ms. Aron's book!)...find ourselves in and more of the daily challenges Ms. Aron appears to have overcome.

Overall an insightful (and comedic) book for those of us with anxiety and depression. Thanks again Ms. Aron for sharing your story!

An engaging and well written account of one woman's journey toward self discovery. Wendy allows the reader to go along for the ride as she puts herself out there while attending self-help classes and seminars, all the while coming to terms with her struggle with depression and low self-esteem. Wendy's humor is refreshing and her perseverance is admirable. I look forward to her second book!

I honestly didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book. It's hard to think of depression as a funny subject, but somehow the author manages to find the humor in dire situations. Hide & Seek is among the most unique books I've ever read, because it couples honest insight with a peek into the absurd world of self-help seminars, and makes the whole thing relatable. As someone who worked briefly in the therapy field, I saw a lot of myself in this book. Some parts are laugh out loud funny, others are dark and poignant. An excellent read.

Hide and seek is a laugh out loud look at one woman's journey through depression to self discovery and acceptance. The poignant observations about some of the absurdities of life are pointed out with perfect self mockery and humor by someone whose pain is also evident behind the text. Aron's ability to continue seeking and struggling shows the ever present hope and optimism of a committed pessimist! A must read for anyone in search of themselves and seeking some belly laughs!Hide & Seek: How I Laughed at Depression, Conquered My Fears and Found Happiness

Two words that are oxymoronic to see together are "depression"
and "humor". Ms. Aron has managed to blend these words together and come out with an inspiring and laugh out loud memoir.
She is truly a courageous woman who has beaten her demons.