Undercurrents: A Life Beneath the Surface

Rating:
Summary: A Dangerous book recommending a dangerous type of "therapy"
Review: As a survivor much damaged by multiple electroshocks inflicted upon me against my will, I am frightened that people could read this book and , thinking that electroshock might help them, actually decide to undergo the treatment. I did not feel that the author adequately conveyed the risks of the treatment, nor the body of literature by fellow professionals opposed to the practice.

Rating:
Summary: Necessary
Review: Depression is a real illness, though it is sometimes hard to get that point across since most everyone suffers the blues from time to time. This book clearly describes how debilitating clinical depression really is. I was especially proud when the author wrote something to the effect of: why is it okay for a doctor to use paddles to jump-start someone's heart, but not "okay" to use ECT on the brain? It's similar to my thought of why is it okay to take heart medication, but not antidepressants? This book is amazing. Incredibly funny, witty, charming, sad, realistic and satisfying. In a word, necessary. Read it. Share it.

Rating:
Summary: Downwards spiral into her personal hell.
Review: Dr. Martha Manning was a university professor, psychologist, wife and mother. Depression transformed her from being happy and healthy to a sleepwalker haunted by thoughts of suicide. Undercurrents chronicles this transformation through Manning's journal entries. We understand her terror as she evaluates a new patient only to realize that she herself meets all of the textbook criteria of depression and feel her nowhere-to-turn despair as she is forced to acknowledge that the love of her family, the support of her therapist, and the exhaustive drug treatments administered by her psychiatrist are not succeeding. Finally, Manning agrees to electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT. Notorious for its brain damage and confusion, this controversial treatment becomes her last resort and only hope.
While I don't think I'm at the point of considering ECT, this is definately a book I'd recommend to anyone with depression. Not everyone has the same experiences, but if you want to explain depression to your loved ones, give them this book.

Rating:
Summary: Downwards spiral into her personal hell.
Review: Dr. Martha Manning was a university professor, psychologist, wife and mother. Depression transformed her from being happy and healthy to a sleepwalker haunted by thoughts of suicide. Undercurrents chronicles this transformation through Manning's journal entries. We understand her terror as she evaluates a new patient only to realize that she herself meets all of the textbook criteria of depression and feel her nowhere-to-turn despair as she is forced to acknowledge that the love of her family, the support of her therapist, and the exhaustive drug treatments administered by her psychiatrist are not succeeding. Finally, Manning agrees to electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT. Notorious for its brain damage and confusion, this controversial treatment becomes her last resort and only hope.
While I don't think I'm at the point of considering ECT, this is definately a book I'd recommend to anyone with depression. Not everyone has the same experiences, but if you want to explain depression to your loved ones, give them this book.

Rating:
Summary: to help you cope
Review: From someone who sometimes gets very "blue": It is incredible and so important to hear and relate to other people's stories of battling depression. Sometimes you get so blue and you cannot figure out how you got there. This book helps you see. It is so hard to admit that you suffer from depression. It is embaressing and humbling and humiliating. But then a book like this comes along and it helps you realize that shame is ridiculous. If someone who lives to help other deal with their problems can feel like she is drowning in her's, then maybe it is not so embarrassing that you are drowning in yours. It gives you hope and and it gives you a straw to breath out of when you are covered in your own sadness. I am so glad that Martha had the courage and insight to see how much we needed her story. I hope other people who are in her position, in the helping professions, can learn that what we really need from them is compassion and understanding. And she seems to get that understanding is not just nodding and grunting in sessions. But it is sharing and relating to the people they are trying to help. READ THIS BOOK!

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly humorous and very engaging
Review: I can relate especially well with Martha's depression because of its similarity to my own depression. It was disturbing to find that Martha had to resort to ECT to treat herself, but at least it worked. Overall, the book is very well-written and keeps the reader's attention throughout. It's a reminder of how a positive attitude can help one ride out the storm during the treatment of severe depression. Even though I'm giving it five stars, I don't think it's quite as good as my favorite mental illness memoirs: "An Unquiet Mind" and "Girl, Interrupted". Nonetheless, I recommend it highly. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

Rating:
Summary: Putting Me at Ease
Review: I have suffered from a mental disorder all my life. The severity has increased over the years. Although the doctors are having a hard time determining what I am suffering from (depression, bipolar, borderline personality) this book spoke to me. Reading through tears while nodding my head, this author experienced so much that I have, as well as many others. Knowing that she is a woman whose chosen career would send her patients like me was comforting. This book gives me hope that with a great support system happiness and achieving stability is obtainable. After a long time of feeling out of place or strange I am put as ease and feel human again after reading her story. Anyone who suffers from or has a loved one who is suffering from a mental disorder should read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Better when you read it the second time
Review: I just read this book for the second time and loved it even more. I have a copy of the HBO video which features Ms. Manning speaking exactly the way she writes,insightful, yet humorous. I use both in my treatment of patients receiving ECT therapy. Her story beats any teaching I can give. Thanks, Martha! God is continuing to bless you!

Rating:
Summary: Great book -- Undercurrents is a must read
Review: I picked up Undercurrents one day at work (I work at a large book chain in Canada), because of the intriguing cover & the style in which it was written. (It is a series of journal entries spanning her depression). It turned out to be truly amazing. Martha Manning's wit, honesty, and insight into depression really spoke to me. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in depression & mental illness. I found the book to be a great comfort, and I am thankful that she had the courage to write it.

Rating:
Summary: Great book -- Undercurrents is a must read
Review: I picked up Undercurrents one day at work (I work at a large book chain in Canada), because of the intriguing cover & the style in which it was written. (It is a series of journal entries spanning her depression). It turned out to be truly amazing. Martha Manning's wit, honesty, and insight into depression really spoke to me. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in depression & mental illness. I found the book to be a great comfort, and I am thankful that she had the courage to write it.