How to Win Over Depression

Rating:
Summary: Desperately needs to get its facts straight
Review: Admittedly, I didn't get through this book. What stopped me was the chapter on the "facts" about antidepressants. LaHaye obviously has a bias against medication, but I would respect him more if he would just admit it rather than dragging out every remotely possible side effect of medications that are not commonly used today. The end of the chapter, discussing Prozac, suggests that it's a new and experimental drug that will likely be as harmful as he claims the ones before it were. Well, Prozac was not exactly new in 1996, at the time of the last revision of this book. In fact, doctors were finding it, along with newer medications, to be safer and just as effective in treating depression. I suspect that LaHaye didn't want to ruin his scary story, but a book that claims to be the truth about depression should at least get its facts straight. Whether to use medication or not in treating depression is a personal choice of every Christian affected, but misinformation about antidepressant medication only complicates the issue. The selective revision of this chapter comes periously close to lying.

Rating:
Summary: Valuable but not for everyone
Review: This book is useful, for those in the majority who in my opinion wallow in self pity when self discipline and G~dly focus is what is the cure. It would be helpful if Dr Lahaye and others would write on the subject, and discuss the problem that caregivers and others who have bouts of depression, simply because the pressues are to much and often we carry the load alone.

But Dr Lahaye is correct when he reasons that depression can also be a tool of the enemy or un-g~dly forces who attempt to make people who simply are making poor choices, feel like victims and the viscous circle of victomology begins.

I would recommend the book to anyone who has or knows of someone who simply needs honest answers about how to get out of the pity party mode. One may wince at what Dr Lahaye says, but it is my experience that we all need an occasional wake-up call and a wise person who tells us what we need to hear and not always what we wish to hear.

Rating:
Summary: This book has a lot of good points
Review: This particular book helped me get out of a recent deep depression. In particular, it helped to focus on how my anger and self-pity kept the cycle of depression going. It also showed me that I was focusing on the circumstances of my life, keeping myself trapped by what other people might or might not do.

This book also showed me that while healing might be needed in some areas of my life, I didn't have to wait until that healing was done to get rid of my depression. I highly recommend this book to anyone (but especially Christians) who are struggling with depression or those who have a loved one in that situation.