Living with Depression: Why Biology and Biography Matter along the Path to Hope and Healing [Hardcover]

Deborah Serani (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 16, 2011 | ISBN-10: 1442210567 | ISBN-13: 978-1442210561

One out of four Americans will experience mental illness in their lifetime; major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the United States for ages 15 through 44. However, only a fraction of those suffering will seek treatment; 25 percent will seek treatment for symptoms. Stigma claims the other 75 percent, wedging depressed individuals into a life of silent suffering.

In Living with Depression, Serani outlines the various forms of depression, describes the different treatments, and outlines methods for living with depression and getting the help you or a loved one needs. Tips on how to choose a good therapist, negotiate the labyrinth of healthcare, and minimize stigma are addressed, as is learning how to use biology and biography as tools of empowerment. Listings of national and global resources make this a ready resource for everything you need to know about depression.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Serani courageously reveals her own lifetime struggles with serious depression - and devastating thoughts of suicide. The book has nowhere to go but up from there, and it delivers - with details about her own depression and treatment woven into a useful primer geared to the suffering and their families."  -- Newsday

"Living with Depression" offers the kind of insight and perspective that only can come from a professional who has gone through the same battles as the patients she treats. Savor that first chapter, because it's one of the best in the book.

--- John Grohol, Psy.D. CEO of PsychCentral

Serani offers a guide book with a soul. She clearly writes of the trials of major depression and the promise of science. She does so as a gutsy clinical psychologist who shares the wisdom made from her suffering, not just her training. She rarely shrank from the challenges of mental illness however they appeared, which will serve as an inspiration to most readers. Her comments on the roadblocks of stigma remind us that the pain of depression and most mental illness arise not solely from the illness, but from the harsh response society has to people with these disorders...
--Patrick Corrigan, Psy.D. - Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Research in the Institute of Psychology at the Illinois Institute of Technology

As someone who has lost a loved one to suicide, I know the accompanying journey of depression and hopelessness well. I also know the fear of sharing that journey with others. Deborah Serani courageously shares her path of despair to hope and healing with the intent of helping others from what she has learned and experienced. She also does it to continue to break the stigma that needlessly surrounds mental illness. In Living with Depression, she succeeds with her messages of hope. May this book reach the far corners of both people who suffer from mental illness and those who need to understand it.
---Dr. Michelle Linn-Gust, Ph.D. -President, American Association of Suicidology & Author of Rocky Roads: The Journeys of Families through Suicide Grief

I found Living with Depression to be not only fascinating but, since the author suffers from depression herself, also compassionate, understanding and informative. Bravo!
---Jessie Close

Sometimes, with the best of intentions and efforts, psychological professionals can't get across essential information to their patients. Living with Depression bridges that gap in communication. I wish this book had been around when I first began to deal with depression-and I will still use it as a guidebook in the future. Patients can benefit from the doctor's perspective and doctors can learn from their patients. That both are the same gifted author is a blessing to all who deal with mental illness. ---Delta Burke, actress

New York psychologist Serani helps patients understand their depression by first understanding what depression is, and then how to navigate the complex system of seeking effective treatment. In the first chapter, Serani shares her own experience with debilitating depression with hopes that her experience 'will serve as an encouraging reminder that depression can be treated.' As she moves into the more scientific sections of the book, she uses examples from her personal and professional experiences to provide more rounded explanations. She understands and acknowledges the reserves people have about using medication and consciously addresses the different treatments with that in mind. The aim of this book is to help patients come to terms with the diagnosis and the attendant stigma attached....Much of the focus is on being proactive and utilizing available resources. --Publishers Weekly


Psychologist Serani shares her own experience and related research in an effort to help all those suffering from depression to understand the disease and negotiate the labyrinth of health-care options and stigma attached to depression. She advocates knowing one's triggers, avoiding toxic people, staying connected with support systems, and making a plan to thwart suicide attempts. Serani offers validity and help to those who suffer from mood disorders but feel ashamed or don't know where to turn for help. This is a valuable resource with the potential to save lives. ---Library Journal

About the Author

Dr. Deborah Serani is a psychologist in private practice in New York. She has appeared as an expert on various media outlets including MSNBC.com, MedScape.com, ABC News, All You magazine, Newsday, Baby Talk magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, USAToday.com, Wall Street Journal Health Blog, Washington Post Health Blog, HealthCentral.com, and many more. She has also published articles in academic journals.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (July 16, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1442210567
• ISBN-13: 978-1442210561
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.6 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #561,902 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Postpartum Depression

More About the Author

Deborah Serani, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist and certified psychoanalyst in practice for over twenty years. She is also an adjunct professor at Adelphi University and has been published in academic journals on the subjects of depression and trauma.

Dr. Serani is a go-to expert for psychological issues. Her interviews can be found in Newsday, Psychology Today, The Chicago Sun Times, Glamour Magazine, The Associated Press, and affiliate radio station programs at CBS and NPR, just to name a few. Dr. Serani has also worked as a technical advisor for the NBC television show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and easy to gain understanding of depression June 22, 2011

By Sharon Sanquist

Format:Hardcover

Through storytelling and her personal experience, the author engages us in what it is like to experience depression. By feeling connected to the author in this way, reading this book was effortless and you walk away realizing how much you have learned.

I can see this book being used as a required reading for a class, or for family/friends who deal with someone struggling with depression. For example, Ms. Serani describes various types of treatments available as well as discussing the different types of medications and how they affect the brain. Additionally, I was impressed with her chapter on suicide- a topic that most shy away from. This book is rich in resources, has a glossary of terminology, and I love how she included a long list of notables in society who have depression.

Lastly, throughout this book, Ms. Serani talks about stigma with having a mental illness and/or dealing with someone who struggles with depression. She points out the importance of people sharing their stories as a way of bringing awareness that many people who do deal with depression can manage their symptoms and lead productive satisfying lives. A great read!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Important Resource for Family and Friends November 17, 2011

By jde

Format:Hardcover

As someone who has had loved ones suffering from depression this is a book I wish I had been able to read over twenty years ago! That was not possible, of course, and much has changed for the better in our society's understanding of depression.

A lot of us tend to believe that the depressed person just needs to "get over it" already or that drugs are only for the weak. This book helps explain why "getting over it" is not possible for many people with this illness without real help and probably a combination of tools. Pharmacological help can be a GREAT thing and she explains how it works. The book not only reveals Serani's moving personal story, she explains in clear terms what depression looks like and the range of treatment available. For those of us who seek to understand our loved ones this book is a great resource. Serani's book is one I'll gladly be giving away to those I feel will benefit from it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Helpful Book on How to Live with Depression March 25, 2012

By C. Wong VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Living with Depression by Deborah Seranti is a must read for anyone who has depression and for those who treat depression. I believe that it would also be helpful to have friends and family of anyone depressed read it.

Deborah Serani is a psychologist with a private practice and in this book, she tells of her own plans to commit suicide. But medication, psychotherapy and research by herself she is able to live with depression. I am interested in this book because I too, have major depression. It runs in my family.

She explains that depression is not a nature vs. nurture question but is the result of nature and nurture. Stress and the lack of a support system can throw you over to suicidal thoughts.

But this book is not a gloomy, recital of facts that contribute to depression. Rather it is a message of hope and healing.

Society needs to recognize that depression is a chronic illness. This is something that we have to live with through our lives. Stigma is a great problem; this can prevent people from getting help. Mental illness is not something to be laughed at but rather means that person may need medicine, counseling and support. In this book, Deborah Serani, gives ways that she personally confronts stigma.

I have two favorite parts of this book. First are the twelve pages of well know people who have lived with or have some form of depression. On that list, you will see Mark Twain, John Quincy Adams, Alex Baldwin, and Dick Clark to just name a few. She put them in this book to show that even though you have depression, you can still be successful.

The other part that enjoyed was about healthcare officials and the ways that they employ tactics to either avoid or delay payment.... I had experiences some of these and had not realized that they were intentional.

In this book are steps for a personal "Suicide Prevention Plan" and information on "Living with Depression". I was very happy to see that some of tips were ones that I had figured out for myself, like refraining from watching violent TV shows and movies, and staying away from noisy environments.

Again I strongly recommend this book to anyone dealing with the chronic illness of depression and their friends and family. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars hope February 23, 2012

By bkbhere

Format:Hardcover

There is so much compassion behind this nuanced book about uni-level and bipolar depression. The science in the
book is written in a way that is readable for those who are not in the field of science. The author's experiences
are very compelling. She works hard to dispel myths and fight stigmas. There is so much encouragement and hope
in this book for those who suffer with depression that they can improve with treatment.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read and understand; Incredible resources within the book October 9, 2011

By Danna

Format:Hardcover

Dr. Serani, who is a psychologist and practicing psychoanalyst, candidly shares her lifelong struggle with depression and how depression severly impacted her life and those around her. She vividly describes her personal experiences with depression, and the path she took to take back control of her life. She's an experienced, gentle, insightful author and I'm sure anyone who knows her is proud of the courage and perseverance she possessed to publish personal experiences in her life to help others. In addition, she helps the reader to understand that a variety of people in the world have depression, and live their daily lives proud and successful while "Living With Depression". The enormous amount of resources in this book are beneficial to anyone who has depression, and anyone who knows someone with depression. I also follow her online at "drdeborahserani.blogspot.com" and "psychologytoday.com". This book is a must have on your bookshelf !