Lonely, Sad and Angry [Paperback]

Barbara Ingersoll (Author), Sam Goldstein Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1996

All children experience occasional feelings of loneliness, sadness, and anger. However, when these feelings are so strong and so prolonged that they appear to overwhelm the child, the possibility of childhood depression must be considered.



In Lonely, Sad And Angry, authors Barbara D. Ingersoll and Sam Goldstein define depression in straightforward terms and explain how depression differs from the normal "ups and downs" of life. They describe what kinds of behaviors signal depression in children and adolescents and explain how to tell if a child or adolescent is depressed. They discuss the causes of depression and examine treatment options with an eye toward helping parents decide which treatment--medical, psychological, and environmental--might be most beneficial to a depressed youngster. Detailed information is provided about what parents and teachers can do to help depressed children at home, in school, and in the community. The book includes guidelines for what to do in a crisis situation and suggestions about where to turn for further help. Finally, the authors look to the future and offer some ideas about what lies ahead for children diagnosed with depression.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Although only recently recognized by the mental health community (1980), childhood depression is very real, widespread, and treatable. This thoughtful book by two clinical child psychologists offers sound information on many aspects of the illness and guidance for treatment. Ingersoll and Goldstein fully and lucidly discuss the characteristics of depression in children and adolescents, coexisting conditions, diagnosis and evaluation, causes, and treatment options. They give detailed counsel on the worrisome issues of suicide and hospitalization, and they furnish reassuring and concrete advice for life at home and help at school. The coverage is thorough, noting newer research, and evenhanded, weighing pros and cons of psychotherapeutic approaches and medications. The scientific information is balanced by supportive and practical advice on the numerous challenges depressed children present. Noting that parents must make informed, critical decisions, Ingersoll and Goldstein enable parents to more confidently and intelligently recognize depression in their children, obtain professional help, determine treatment, cope with the daily struggles as well as the serious consequences, and gain hope for a more enlightened future. Irene Wood --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Publisher

All children experience occasional feelings of loneliness, sadness, and anger. However, when these feelings are so strong and so prolonged that they appear to overwhelm the child, the possibility of childhood depression must be considered.

In Lonely, Sad And Angry, authors Barbara D. Ingersoll and Sam Goldstein define depression in straightforward terms and explain how depression differs from the normal "ups and downs" of life. They describe what kinds of behaviors signal depression in children and adolescents and explain how to tell if a child or adolescent is depressed. They discuss the causes of depression and examine treatment options with an eye toward helping parents decide which treatment--medical, psychological, and environmental--might be most beneficial to a depressed youngster. Detailed information is provided about what parents and teachers can do to help depressed children at home, in school, and in the community. The book includes guidelines for what to do in a crisis situation and suggestions about where to turn for further help. Finally, the authors look to the future and offer some ideas about what lies ahead for children diagnosed with depression.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Main Street Books; Reprint edition (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385476426
• ISBN-13: 978-0385476423
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,044,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Straight Forward Information on Childhood Depression, July 7, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Lonely, Sad and Angry: How to Help Your Unhappy Child (Paperback)

As a parent if you see any of the lonely, sad or angry behaviors in your child this is a great book to add to the shelf. Reading it early on could help you help your child in getting through these rough and tough times of life. This is a book that I am going to pass around to teachers and relatives to read before bringing it back to my shelf as a reference. It is comprehensive as well as easy to read and understand about what the child and family are experiecing. Let it be an impressive key to help dispell the myths about childhood depression and get them the medical help, and family support they truly deserve. Our child has great frustrations due to learning difficulties so the self-esteem issue is always under fire. It is a daily battle to keep a child like this on the positive side of life.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ; practical, well-organized, invaluable, October 11, 2005

By 

C. Odenwald (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lonely, Sad and Angry: How to Help Your Unhappy Child (Paperback)

I've read it cover to cover, and will keep it on the shelf as a reference, and give one to the school, and buy a copy to loan out to friends. When you instinctively know something is wrong for your child, you face these huge questions: Is there something so wrong that he "needs professional help"? How do I explain what is wrong? Are they going to want to give him drugs? Are we doing something wrong at home? This book explains different types of depression and other mood disorders and also describes how various symptoms look in children, and even different at different ages. It explains different types of treatment options objectively so YOU can figure out where to start to understand and help your child. Unexpectedly, it has also explained some parts of my own childhood; didn't change anything for me now, just makes more sense. But MOST importantly, now I think I can help my son.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help for everyone in the family, not just the depressed child., January 9, 2009

By 

Death by chocolate please (Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely, Sad and Angry: How to Help Your Unhappy Child (Paperback)

I checked this book out from the library. When my 8 year old read the title she said, "That's me! That sounds like me!" It spells things out for you, offers advice, and points out things that you didn't realize were being effected. ie: relationship with spouse being effected, being the sibling of a depressed (difficult) child, etc.
Oh, and we bought a sun lamp. Boy did that help her moods!