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Summary: ....
Review: ....I did love "The Beast"and I would recommend it to anyone who is suffering with or knows someone who is suffering with depression.
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Summary: The Beast
Review: A must-read for those who have their own beast or are close to someone who does. Thompson does a superb job describing what life with depression is like. She outdid herself in this investigative report about herself.
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Summary: Painfully, necessarily honest
Review: Although not as poetic as Styron, funny as Manning or star-studded as Conkrite in their wonderful depression accounts, The Beast occupies a unique niche because of the author's brutally honest account of her low self esteem and acceptance-starved pysche that existed in spite of her career successes. I felt Ms. Thompson had looked inside my brain and revealed to me things I had never even admitted to myself.Yes, depression is an illness, with biological as well as psychological roots. But, while I would like to think of myself as an innocent victim of depression, it is closer to the truth to admit that I have held to incorrect perceptions since childhood that may have pre-disposed me to this illness. Ms. Thompson has accepted that painful fact about herself, and has shared it to our great benefit.
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Summary: REAL!
Review: An honest book from the heart written without gimmicks, sleaze, etc. like the usual self-help and avante garde illness-type book. The prose is excellent (it is no wonder the author was able to succeed in a successful job in journalism, despite her illness, VERY TALENTED); the book is very absorbing not boring, and offers very sound ideas about dealing with the worst of negative feelings; it was uncanny how it hit home. I recommend it highly to anyone for themselves or a loved one going through depression. This book will be remembered for a long time.
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Summary: Great book for introspection
Review: As a member of 12-step groups I and a "long-timer" I found this book extremely helpful in seeing myself in a new light. I was having trouble with anger and resentment. I have done the steps and it was helpful but her outlook on depression, which I have too, helped me understand myself in a deeper,more insightful way. I can see what is under the anger and yes sometimes the rage I feel. I also saw where I still have poor coping skills. It's not pretty at times but until I deal with my "demons" I will never get the recovery that some "old timers" have. I don't want to be a person who hasn't really changed much and I want to feel the full range of emotions that "normal" people feel. I have thought about Prozac but I'm still afraid it will change my personality. I use clonazepam. I have PTSD. I have only used it about 3 months and it's not working as well as at the beginning. I want to eventually not use any prosciption drugs. But like Tracy, I'm finding it helpful at this time. I'm just starting to learn to deal with PTSD and it's scary and confusing. I feel like I'm new to therapy again. Plus Im just starting to see how fundamental Christianity has done it's damage to me. I was in denial about that phase of my past that was my childhood. Thankfully I found Unitarian/Universalist church. Thank you Tracy for your book. It was worth the effort to write.
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Summary: Excellent Resource for Depression
Review: As both a clinician and an individual who has battled life long depression I found this book the best and most comprehensive book on depression I've found. Not only does the author truly portray the experience of depression profoundly but she also gently assists the reader in understanding the complexities of treatment. Psychodynamic, cognitive, medication are all treatments she discusses and explains so the lay person can understand. She helps one debunk the shame in suffering the medical condition of depression and allows the reader who has suffered depression to nod knowingly and see, finally, they are not alone in their experience. What a gift Ms. Thompson has given to many!
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Summary: Relief
Review: As someone just diagnosed with major depression and anxiety this was a welcomed read. I felt as if I was reading about my own life. Her personal accounts of day to day struggles, and details kept me focused--which has always been hard for me. I couldn't put it down. I just wanted more. This book gave me relief that things would get better, and that it is ok if I have setbacks. It made me feel that what I have gone through,am going through is "normal" for those diagnosed. I commend her for her courage to put herself out there.
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Summary: This book busted through my denial. Rigorously Honest.
Review: Excellent. A thorough first person chronology and description of the internal madness and external consequences of depression. Extremely well written. Like opening Pandora's Box and seeing my own patterns of pain, self destruction, ugliness, isolation, hostility and self-pity - and facing the truth that taking the risk to be honest and look at the internal trash is the only way out with one permanent (but fatal) exception. A must read for AA and NA "old timers" - when working the steps and years of sobriety haven't resulted in consistent peace. Thank you Ms. Thompson for revealing your demons - now it is easier to acknowledge and conquer my own.
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Summary: This book is the most important book I have ever read.
Review: For many, many years, I suffered terribly from depression, a tradition in my family. I was finally diagnosed a few years ago, and now take medication that enables me to live a normal life. Even so, this book gave me powerful insight into The Beast. I saw myself on every page. There were elements of this disease that I wasn't able to see until I read this book. (Like the fact that I was lying to myself and others about having the disease.) Reading it, I had "aha" after "aha." Since then, I have told three people - my friends - about what I go through and what I have been through. That's a big step for me. If you can't sleep, or if you sleep too much; if you aren't in counseling because you're afraid you'll be committed; if you are in agony but you think "everybody" lives this way and just handles it better than you; if you don't want to live like you live anymore; if the anxiety is like a sock in your throat; if you feel like "nobody" could understand, please buy this book. It will help you. If you know or love someone who you think may be suffering from this disease, I recommend reading it. It will help you understand why they are doing what they do and may help you help them.
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Summary: THE BEAST A JOURNEY THROUGH DEPRESSION
Review: I have read many books on Depression and other mental health problems since the summer of 1993 and this is the best that I have read yet. I would highly recommend it to anyone that either suffers with, or knows someone who suffers with Depression. The way Ms. Thompson has written this book really hits home for me and it was inspiring to know that there are people who have overcome this terrible disease and are successful at their chosen careers. IT IS THE BEST, THANK YOU MS. THOMPSON FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.
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