Is it Weird in Here or is it Just Me? A Real-time and First-hand Account of Depression for Families, Friends and Carers [Kindle Edition]

Rod Whyte (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

'Is it weird in here or is it just me?' is a book will give you more of an insight into depression than any other you’ll ever read on the illness. If you are caring for someone with depression or you’re a parent and would like to arm yourself with accurate knowledge of its symptoms, then this book lets you experience the illness from a remarkably honest perspective. For some reason (perhaps known only to God), the author was given an opportunity to write extensively about his depression while he was hospitalised and while he was actually experiencing the blitzkrieg of symptoms that depression presents.

This book is unique because most of it is written in real time, which means that in every way, it’s a realistic and practical guide for any person or parent who is caring for someone with depression, explaining what’s actually happening within the sufferer’s mind at the time of experiencing the symptoms of the illness.

Further, it provides you, the carer, with a great slab of sensible and realistic on-the-spot advice on how to best offer support for the person you’re caring for – whatever the symptom. Finally and most importantly, this book is written for the person you’re caring for, because through you, it will help validate their own experiences and reassure them that what they’re experiencing isn’t abnormal or crazy (at least in the sense of what depression is) – it’s actually the depression that’s made their life so unpredictable and almost all of the time, so desolate and so very desperate.

The author's knowledge of psychology and treatment options for mental illness is extensive, however his own hospitalisation with depression has been the ultimate experience that has enabled him to provide such an intensely personal and highly informative guide.

As you’ll read, Rod’s life is an open book – in fact, it IS this book – and through it you’ll find all of the answers to the questions you seek on depression.

Thanks to his efforts, depression is no longer the secret it once was.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 373 KB
• Print Length: 172 pages
• Publisher: Headliners; 1 edition (April 16, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003HS4UDA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,650 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #6 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Children's Nonfiction > People & Places > Social Issues
  • #10 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Advice & How-to > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Depression
  • #12 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Death & Grief > Suicide

More About the Author

Rod Whyte (1961 - ) is Australian born and has had a number of short stories published, as well as two non-fiction books, one about Centrelink (Australia's Social Security Agency) which attracted national television and print exposure and set the author on a roller-coaster of media and public interest which ultimately led to him providing assistance to welfare recipients all over Australia. He was officially nominated for Australian of the Year two years running for his work in assisting those Australians who were in desperate need of help.

His latest book 'Is it Weird in Here or is it Just Me?: A Real-Time and First-Hand Account of Depression for Families, Friends and Carers' is a raw, sometimes humorous account of depression written while the author was hospitalised with depression. It's essential reading for any carer and gives essential information and tips to carers, ultimately uncovering and exposing the tricks that depression uses to trap its victims.

Rod continues to write and is putting together a compilation of already published short stories, as well as adding just a few more. Keep a look out for 'Life Inside a Vegemite Jar' coming mid-year.

Rod has a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and a Masters Degree in Social Policy. He lives with his partner and two adorable boxers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A DEFINITE must-buy, May 4, 2010

By 

Lisa Tremolada - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Is it Weird in Here or is it Just Me? A Real-time and First-hand Account of Depression for Families, Friends and Carers (Kindle Edition)

This is the first time I've ever written a review for a book, let alone give it top marks, so that'll give you an indication of what I thought about this book called Is It Weird in Here or is it Just Me.

I must have read hundreds of books on depression in an effort to try and help my son who's now in his early twenties and help me understand what's going on with him. This is the FIRST (believe me, it's true) book that has made such a big impact upon me and my relationship with my son, and it sounds corny I know, but it's also the first one where I've laughed, cried and learned so much all in one hit.

The author said that his book is unlike any other book on depression and he's right. The perspective of one who is writing the book while he's suffering and hospitalised is just extraordinary. And knowing what my son has been through, I don't know how the author wrote it, but I'm extremely glad he did. When you read the book, it'll be almost like you know him, that's how personal it gets - but that's a good thing. In fact, I think it's necessary.

This should be compulsory reading for anyone who's caring for someone with depression or a mood disorder. I'm not sure whether the author is marketing this book elsewhere, but if he isn't he most definitely should be, because everyone should read it, not just those of us lucky enough to have a Kindle or other ebook reader.

I just can't get over this book - it's made such an impact on me... Trust me, if you're caring for someone with depression, this is the book you need to read. I stumbled across it, bought it `just in case' it was good, and it was brilliant. To the author, my son and I thank you.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book describes what depression is *really* like!!, September 12, 2010

By 

blue (ca, usa) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Is it Weird in Here or is it Just Me? A Real-time and First-hand Account of Depression for Families, Friends and Carers (Kindle Edition)

I can't express how much I want you to read this book. Rod has written down what is truly going on in the mind of a depressed person, and what is most remarkable is that he wrote it while he was himself in the middle of a *deep* clinical depression, He describes what depressed persons think about (it's really all they do), what their suffering is really like, as they experience their worst days.

He also describes their good days, and at least one or two things that can help a depressed person have one. My personal favorite is the observation (and I am paraphrasing an entire chapter here) that "affirmations don't generally work for a depressive, but having a depressed person recollect previous good moments in their life, when they had done something of value to themselves, can be a transformative experience for them"

I am very grateful to Rod for writing this book. I hope everyone who suffers depression and all of their friends, family, and medical professionals get to read this book. It will truly, truly, truly help them battle this terrible thing that is depression.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a MUST read, March 22, 2011

By 

Dave - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Is it Weird in Here or is it Just Me? A Real-time and First-hand Account of Depression for Families, Friends and Carers (Kindle Edition)

Like the two reviewers before me, I found this book to be excellent and certainly one of the best I've read on depression. The author's narrative is quite engaging and disarmingly entertaining which, given what he's going through and the nature of the struggle, makes his message even more memorable and powerful. This is definitely NOT a book for those who are in the depths of depression to read - its clearly a book meant for carers and others who wish to know what its like to have depression and too understand and it does what it sets out to do very well. Even though my wife has gone through a couple of bad episodes while we've been married, I still learnt something by reading this book - even though I think I've become an expert over the years, having read so many books on the subject. The author wrote at the start of the book that every person who knows someone with depression should read this book. My thought then was that this might be overstating its importance, however I must say after reading it all, I actually agree with the author. Its well and truly a must read in my opinion. Stay strong everyone.