Shadow Syndromes: The Mild Forms of Major Mental Disorders That Sabotage Us (Paperback)

by John J. Ratey (Author) "WHEN WE ASK OURSELVES what minor flaws in the brain's functioning may be affecting us or someone we love, one of the most confusing issues..." (more)
Key Phrases: shy gorilla, shadow syndromes, noisy brain, Mary Ellen, Temple Grandin, Mark George (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Freud once said that nobody is "normal," and after reading Shadow Syndromes, you may well be convinced of that. While more than 50 million Americans suffer from full-fledged mental illnesses such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, millions more suffer from milder forms--yet they likely don't realize it. From chronic sadness to low self-esteem to shopping addiction to intermittent rage disorder, compassionate authors John J. Ratey, M.D. and Catherine Johnson, Ph.D. chronicle the often-undiagnosed (yet definitely insidious) "shadow" disorders. One of the most eye-opening points the authors make is that men who "can't commit" to a relationship may in fact be suffering from an unrecognized adult form of attention deficit disorder.

Shadow Syndromes is thorough, but at the same time it simplifies the technical aspects of mental illnesses--no stacks of footnotes or complicated neurotransmitter charts here. The authors use plenty of anecdotes to illustrate how everyday people have recognized and overcome shadow syndromes. They also prevent the book from becoming one big bundle of bad news by stressing that these disorders are treatable with medications such as Prozac, which Johnson took to handle her mild depression. Specific lifestyle changes are also advised, including more sleep, changes in diet, and more exercise. The "Care and Feeding of the Brain" chapter compiles other empowering, healing approaches. This book will be valuable not only for those who believe they're suffering from a shadow syndrome, but for doctors and therapists as well. --Erica Jorgensen

Review
Identify the hidden timebombs in your personality...featuring proven treatments and strategies that can change your life. -- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; 1 edition (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553379593
• ISBN-13: 978-0553379594
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #283,256 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ignore the skeptics...read this book, May 7, 2002

By A Customer

What some cynics will have you believe is that everyone is a little quirky, and that you should just accept that. Personally, I think that's a laugh. It's true ignorance shining through. The unwillingness to have an open mind and truly accept that there just might be biological reasons for behavior.

I began reading about anxiety disorders years ago, because my wife was having true panic attacks. When my son was born 7 years ago, we knew we would have to keep an eye on him. Now, as a first grader, we're seeing signs of behavior that don't make sense. They aren't just as simple to brush off as saying "he's just being a boy". So I've been reading more about bipolar, ADHD, ADD, and other conditions.

In reading about some of the mental disorders, I was intrigued by the recent acknowledgement of adult ADD. I read the symptoms, and had to face the cold reality that they really fit me. I'm 41 years old with a BA, MS and I'm halfway through my MBA. I've done well in my career and I've been married for 13 years to the same person. By all rights, I'm pretty normal. But I have always been a terrible procrastinator. I've read books on the subject and tried...REALLY tried...to help myself get organized and on track. Nothing I've ever done has helped. As an example, I had a report to write for work last fall. The CEO wanted me to do this. I knew what needed to be done. I knew how to get the research. I knew what the final presentation should look like. I had 5 weeks to prepare. I would sit at my desk, tell myself I wasn't going to get up until I had a good chunk of it done...and then surf the internet. Or work on another project. Or enter addresses in my Palm Pilot. I was distracted by every noise, every conversation in the hallway...even though I had a financial stake in the outcome (my job!).

These things happen all the time, and they have for over 25 years. I've always said they're just part of my personality. A reviewer below wants you to believe that this book is worthless. I can tell you from first hand experience, this book has helped me understand that there may be a biological answer to what I thought was "just my personality". I believe, as one of the authors states, that it is my duty as a husband and father to explore the possibility that I have ADD in a mild form, and seek treatment. If that means I take a pill, so be it. I take a pill for my cholesterol, wear contacts for my eyes, so why wouldn't I treat this as I treat those other bio-conditions?

If you think, just maybe, that you have a hint of one of these conditions, spend the bucks and the hours and read this book. Those of us with "shadow symptoms" are less likely to get diagnosed, because we're not as obvious. We need to help ourselves a little. Ignore the skeptics and cynics...make the decision yourself.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book has been an incredible encouragement to me, October 24, 1999

By A Customer

I was diagnosed with one of the disorders discussed in this book. "Shadow Syndromes" has helped me realize that there ARE good things about these "disorders". There IS a purpose to all the suffering I and my family experienced before my diagnosis as well as the hard work that has been required since diagnosis.

I accept that my out of control biochemistry will require medication so long as I live in a modern world that has little ability to tolerate someone who lives out of step with the current drum. The need to be able to provide for my family in a time-clock world means I must conform to some degree. However, the knowledge that I have my own contributions to make helps me to hold on to those parts of me that have been enhanced by my "disorder".

I have much work ahead of me. While meds are not the only answer, they seem to buy me the time I need to work with a therapist on other strategies for coping.

This book has been an incredible ecouragement to my loved ones and to me.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, needs a bibliography, December 16, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Manchester, NH) - See all my reviews

This is an absolutely fascinating book. The idea that there are "mild" forms of mental illness, which we may all have pieces of, is extraordinarily useful in understanding myself and others.

The book absolutely cries out for a bibliography. I would guess that the authors prepared one, and that the publishers omitted it. It is an absolute necessity which I trust the publishers will remedy immediately.