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Summary: Healing Anxiety and Depression
Review: Dr.Amen's new book, Healing Anxiety and Depression, will be received with open arms, by both the public and clinicians, at a time when the number of children in elementary school who suffer from high anxiety and depression is increasing at an alarming rate. As with his previous books, he dispels myths and invites open discussion concerning subjects, such as depression, that to this day are still talked about with discomfort. This book addresses these issues head on and offers insight and solutions.
Rating:
Summary: Healing Anxiety and Depression
Review: Drs. Amen and Routh provide hope that 'stress is not the enemy' and that rather than seeking familiarity with matters of anxiety and depression people do have the option to seek happiness. This book encourages people to feel good about themselves and embrace their abilities. It gives a fresh perspective as to why treatements of the past may not have worked and renews hope for change.Diane E. Hough, MS, LMHC, NCC
Rating:
Summary: A revealing and informative 'must have' book!
Review: Finally a book for the therapist and client to share! Dr. Amen's book breaks down Depression & Anxiety in a way that will help mental health professionals to recognize a person's unique subtype of these disorders. It will also enlighten the average reader about their sypmtoms and provides easy to follow recommendations for healing. By looking closely at the function of the brain through brain imaging scans, Dr. Amen gives us hope into the healing of a complicated disorder. The reader will learn they don't have to be ashamed and healing is possible. Every person who thinks they may suffer from depression, or knows someone who does, should read this book, and share it with a therapist! This is a first, no one has given us these insights in such a readable manner!
Rating:
Summary: A revealing and informative 'must have' book!
Review: Finally a book for the therapist and client to share! Dr. Amen's book breaks down Depression & Anxiety in a way that will help mental health professionals to recognize a person's unique subtype of these disorders. It will also enlighten the average reader about their sypmtoms and provides easy to follow recommendations for healing. By looking closely at the function of the brain through brain imaging scans, Dr. Amen gives us hope into the healing of a complicated disorder. The reader will learn they don't have to be ashamed and healing is possible. Every person who thinks they may suffer from depression, or knows someone who does, should read this book, and share it with a therapist! This is a first, no one has given us these insights in such a readable manner!
Rating:
Summary: Finally Help for Those Who Suffer From Anxiety !
Review: Finally a book that is excellent for both people who suffer from anxiety and those who struggle to understand what their loved ones are going through! Professionals of all types from M.D.'s to Ph.D.'s will find themselves having to honestly face whether or not the theories and therapies they hold tightly too are actually the best medically, psychologically, and spiritually for their patients. Each person that reads Dr. Amen's book will find themselves as informed and at times more informed than the professionals they deal with. They will find themselves realizing that the anxiety that their family and friends are living with is not simply a matter of "willpower" , "better thinking", "the right amount of prayer",but that a balanced brain chemistry will aid the other interventions in actually working! Improperly treated anxiety can destroy job performance, kill sexual desire, rip apart marriages, make chronic pain conditions unmanageable, and parenting a nightmare. Dr.Amen's work continues to be the leading edge of the burgeoning new field of the neurobiology of brain and phyiscal health and relational growth!
Rating:
Summary: A "Must Read" for Anyone Facing Anxiety/Depression
Review: Healing Anxiety and Depression is an easy-to-read book that shines a spotlight on anxiety and depressive disorders from the perspective of brain functioning, as opposed to the traditional diagnostic approach based primarily on symptom clusters. In this book, Dr. Amen and Dr. Routh clearly explain the following five major interconnected brain circuits that underlie most of these disorders: • basal ganglia-sets the body's idling level
• deep limbic system-sets the mind's feeling tone
• anterior cingulated gyrus-helps shift attention
• temporal lobes-helps mood stability, temper control, and memory
• prefrontal cortex-helps with decision making, attention span, judgment, and impulse control The authors describe in detail the functions associated with each of these brain components, as well as the common difficulties that arise when that particular part of the brain is not functioning well. They proceed to propose a new way of approaching treatment for anxiety and depression, based on their finding that anxiety and depression commonly occur together, that they are largely the result of brain dysfunction, and that there are seven different types of anxiety/depressive disorders, with a number of effective treatment approaches for each type. The seven disorder types the authors describe are: • Pure Anxiety
• Pure Depression
• Mixed Anxiety and Depression
• Overfocused Anxiety/Depression
• Cyclic Anxiety/Depression
• Temporal Lobe Anxiety/Depression
• Unfocused Anxiety/Depression The book explores each disorder type in detail, including illustrating the brain functioning patterns the authors have found associated with each, based on their work with Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scans. It also contains a questionnaire to help the reader identify if he meets the criteria for each disorder type (this questionnaire is not meant to render a diagnosis). When describing their treatment approaches for each disorder type, the authors go well beyond a thorough discussion of prescription medications to include discussion of natural supplements, diet, cognitive therapy (e.g., changing Automatic Negative Thoughts, or "ANTs), the healing power of relationships, the impact of breathing properly, and biofeedback. The authors also explore gender differences (e.g., hormonal factors) associated with anxiety/depressive disorders, and the impact of these disorders on families. They include a whole chapter on the topic of insomnia, and conclude with a host of resources. As is typical of Dr. Amen's books, this book takes a complex subject and breaks it down into essential components that are easy to understand. By including "healthy brain" SPECT scans next to the scans of people suffering from one of the seven anxiety/depressive disorder types, the brain functioning patterns seem very clear. By including real-life anecdotes about the patients that correspond with the brain scans, including their diagnoses, treatment approaches, and treatment results, the book leaves the reader with a feeling of great hope that these disorders can be accurately diagnosed and treated.
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Summary: Good for laypeople with depression/anxiety, too!
Review: I could write something long and flowery, but I'll keep it brief. I have had depression for over 20 years. For the first time EVER, I fully understand what's going on with me. I no longer feel defective or like it's my fault for having a weak character or whatever. I finally understand that it's an actual medical problem, one that can be fixed. I can't wait to take care of it now that I know what's wrong. This book will make you think of your own brain in a very different way.
Rating:
Summary: A life saving book
Review: I had no idea that my son was suffering from depression until I read about Dr. Amen's incredible research. Thanks to Dr. Amen's research, I was able to identify what was wrong with my son and seek help for him. My son is now thriving at home and school. If you have a child that for some "unexplained reason" is struggling with life, you owe it to your child to read this book. It honestly can save your child's life! Dr. Amen has a gift of being able to take what can be a very complicated subject and making it so simple for anyone to understand.
Rating:
Summary: A life saving book
Review: I had no idea that my son was suffering from depression until I read about Dr. Amen's incredible research. Thanks to Dr. Amen's research, I was able to identify what was wrong with my son and seek help for him. My son is now thriving at home and school. If you have a child that for some "unexplained reason" is struggling with life, you owe it to your child to read this book. It honestly can save your child's life! Dr. Amen has a gift of being able to take what can be a very complicated subject and making it so simple for anyone to understand.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: Informative, straight to the point and easy to read. I felt better as soon as I started reading it. I'm sharing in with all my friends and family. I could tell there was a woman's touch to the book and that made all the difference. I loved it.
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