Customer Reviews

Unmasking Male Depression: Recognizing the Root Cause to Many Problem Behaviors Such as Anger, Resentment, Abusiveness, Silence, Addictions, and Sexual Compulsiveness

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I recently was in the home of a friend and picked up this book. It is a Christian book and is published by a Christian author--it is intended to be that. It sheds a lot of light on a subject that is not talked about in such a coherant and well-rounded way as in this book. I have struggled to understand the struggles of my family members and I have read several books in the past, but this book addresses several issues that I have been looking for information about...such as information about medication, what to do if depression is mild or severe, how you can help if you are a spouse, and though this may make some people uncomfortable how it depression relates to sex--because it does. I would encourage any wife struggling to understand her husband or other male family member's depression to read this book.

I am a Christian. If you are not a Christian please, please buy this book and just ignore the "Christian" references. The research and conclusions are valid and helpful regardless of your particular faith (or lack of it!).

I am not only a Christian but, more importantly for this review, I am a deparessed male who's symptoms did not match the traditional diagnostic characteristics of depression. This book points out why. Male depression generally presents different symptoms than female depression. This is confusing because most clinical studies and subsequant literature about depression has been based on research that centered on women.

Dr. Hart explains that, for most depressed women, anger and other related emotions are turned inward against self. In most depressed men, however, anger and other related emotions are turned outward against others . . . especially those who are in emotional relationships such as a wife or girl friend. For many depressed men this anger can be expressed in yelling and arguing and blaming (as in my own case) or, more seriously, in physical violence.

I am convinced by my own experience (and interaction with other men who suffer from depression) that many men who are in need of "anger management" are actually suffering from depression (sometimes enhanced or triggered by alcohol or drug abuse). If you are a wife, girl friend, child or parent of an angry male I urge you to read this book and share it with him. I would also encourage you to acquire William Styron's "Darkness Visible--A Memoir of Madness." These two books helped me tremendously to accept the fact that I actually was suffering from depression and to motivate me to get professional help for it.

My wife is glad I did.

I strongly disagree with the person who thought this could only be of use to Christians. The Christian perspective does not dominate at all. The author has lots of counseling experience with men and knows what he's talking about! I've been separated from my husband for a year now and this book describes what I've been seeing for years, in him and in other men in their 40s. I've been reading lots of self-help books in the past year, including about verbal and emotional abuse, and this gave me even greater insight. Helpful information for both men and women.

This book is written simply and straight forward. Anyone who is studying, or living with a depressed male will find this book to be a valuable addition to their library. It is written from a Christian perspective and deals with depression from both a physical and spiritual viewpoint. If you are not afraid to explore spiritual healing coupled with strong physical advice, this book will give you answers to begin the trek out of depression. Thank you Mr. Hart for a fine book. I will be ordering others.

This may very well be a good book for every male to read, except those who are happy, content, and never have anything in life disrupt those attributes. :) It may also be instructional for every woman married to one of those men.

This is an easy read, and although it has scriptural underpinnings, it should not by discounted by those with agnostic or atheistic beliefs. It is easily palatable to those with and without religion as part of their lives.

I highly recommend it!

straight talk on male depression
i became a little wary when the author indicated more than once his christian beliefs and even though i was raised catholic, i would have rather had the book tend to the needs of any type of male rather than a catholic male---or at least the recovery process is structured for a catholic male
the last two chapters are worh the price of the book

I was amazed at how informative this book was. I suspected my husband of being depressed, but I wasn't sure. After reading this, I was certain and was able to make a case for my husband so he would get help; he had almost every symptom listed. I may even get him to an anti-deppresant, which he adamtely refuses to even discuss. After just 3 weeks of counseling I can see a difference. He still snaps at me and verbally takes his frustrations out on me, but he now recognizes this and apologizes. Also, I'm not reacting to it and let it slide off my back, now that I know it's not directed at me. I recomend this book to anyone who has a husband who's personality has changed for the worse.

Highly recommended! For those of you who are suffering from depression, you will see yourself in this book. For wives who are married to a depressed man, Hart includes a chapter to aid in making incremental progress in the marriage. Whether you are a Christian are not, I believe this is one of the best books ever written on the subject.

This book is very helpful in understanding depression from a male point of view. The last chapter explains how those around a depressed man can be supportive and understanding towards him. These ideas, I know from experience, do wonders and can really turn a situation around! A problem that I do have with this book is that it is written from a religious, church oriented viewpoint, and that can be a turn off. The author gives the reader a feeling of cramming his spiritual viewpoints down the reader's throat, and if the reader isn't of this perspective, it can be a problem. However, the book, in general, does provide a lot of helpful advise that really does work and can very much help a loved one understand the inner perspectives of a depressed man and how to be supportive in that crucial time.

I found this book extremely helpful, especially the chapter on
living with a depressed male..

The statements about the differences in female and male de-
pression were eye-opening.

I felt that the Christian point of view was well presented!!
Yes, some Christians see depression as a lack of faith... -
he made this point without platitudes - and it was good to
be assured, that this is not so...

I have been using some of his suggestions and they work
- they are simple but not simplistic. Certainly a very
practical book.