Rating: Summary: A Great First-Aid Manual on Teen Depression Review: A great starting point for teens who are going through unipolar or bipolar disorders (whether they are currently receiving treatment or not), Bev Cobain presents the complex issues at hand in very understandable terms and constantly reiterates the important points that depressed teenagers or teenagers who know friends who suffer from depression must take to heart. The little footnotes at the bottom of most pages are very helpful, just in case the reader decides to skim through or jump around the pages so that every necessary information is readily accessible. The useful diagrams and tips also give depressed adolescents a great way to take action immediately and perhaps feel some sense of accomplishment and progress (in fact the mood chart was something two of my past therapists used). The anecdotes, which represent teenagers each coping with different circumstances, put real faces to the more clinical aspects of the book and serve as examples of points made in the previous pages. There are a few holes in the book, however. Perhaps more information on the specific medications will have a reassuring effect on teens who will be taking them. Also, the issue of hospitalization was covered, but more facts about what actually goes on in them may have helped (although, yes, the experience differs with the quality of the hospital itself). Finally, a small section on the various personality disorders may help those teens who suffer from them because they share similar symptoms. Despite these questions, however, the book is an excellent aid for teens who go through what is often described as the "downward spiral."
Rating: Summary: The "Hormone Zone", or depression? Review: Being a teenager is a hard job. How do you tell if feeling down, angry, sad, or helpless, is "just your hormones," or if you, or someone you know, may be one of more than two million teens suffering from depression? This book tells you what signs to notice, what they may mean, and what steps you can take to change the way you feel. Depression isn't shameful; it's a medical illness for which there is effective treatment. Read true stories of how depression affected other teens, and how they overcame their depression. Don't let depression defeat you. Learn how to make changes that will help to put you in charge of your mental health.
Rating: Summary: A survival guide indeed Review: Bev Cobain has written a concise and informative book on mental illness that most teens will find easy to understand. The book is mainly about depression, but also explains other mental illnesses that are often experienced with depression, such as bipolar disorder, addiction and eating disorders. She presents the basic facts about mental illnesses including their possible causes and effects, different types of treatments, excellent tips on how teens can help themselves and some important resources for additional support and information. Cobain also includes short autobiographical stories by young people who have successfully dealt with these problems. Teens may find these stories easy to relate to and, hopefully, inspirational. Although the book is informative, I don't think that it lives up to its subtitle that indicates it is a "Survival Guide." When a teenager reaches the point where he or she truly believes that nothing else matters, this book doesn't hit hard enough to invalidate that opinion.
Rating: Summary: Informative at a Level for Teenagers Review: Bev Cobain has written a concise and informative book on mental illness that most teens will find easy to understand. The book is mainly about depression, but also explains other mental illnesses that are often experienced with depression, such as bipolar disorder, addiction and eating disorders. She presents the basic facts about mental illnesses including their possible causes and effects, different types of treatments, excellent tips on how teens can help themselves and some important resources for additional support and information. Cobain also includes short autobiographical stories by young people who have successfully dealt with these problems. Teens may find these stories easy to relate to and, hopefully, inspirational. Although the book is informative, I don't think that it lives up to its subtitle that indicates it is a "Survival Guide." When a teenager reaches the point where he or she truly believes that nothing else matters, this book doesn't hit hard enough to invalidate that opinion.
Rating: Summary: A must-have for depressed teens Review: Hey all, To whomever is interested in the plight of Kurt Cobain and thousands of other young, talented, yet disturbed human beings out there I highly recommend picking up Beverly Cobain's "When Nothing Matters Anymore". Depression is such a crummy thing. However, it is highly preventable and manageable, and never rears it's ugly head in an instant. Depression and feelings of hopelessness and despair take a long time to manifest themselves in people. The foundation is layed when you're younger and from what I have found, it only takes that one trigger, that one speedbump in your life that sets off something bigger. I feel for Kurt it must have been the fame and fortune that has doomed so many before him. But everyone has different circumstances. It is VERY VERY important to find someone to talk to in a time of grief and confusion. The mind is a tricky thing and can make you believe things are worse than they really are. And it can make you believe the end has come and there's no hope for more. But there is, there ALWAYS is. Life has it's ups and downs and, again, it is VERY VERY important to talk your feelings out with someone, a girlfriend, a mother, a father, a best friend. You can even write your feelings out in a diary or a song. I find it very soothing listening to Nirvana music. They have gotten me through a lot. Furthermore, catching yourself when you're feeling down, but not yet out is truly a gift from above. It is the gift of life, yours. Reclaiming your life from depression and sadness will help you live longer and happier. You'll become a more productive human being and give of yourself to this world, instead of the world taking from you. Life is a trip. Keep living it with the right attitude, treating yourself good and you'll keep living. Moving on from stress and setbacks, picking yourself up quickly and brushing yourself off will keep you rolling and will never let you down, guaranteed! The right attitude and strategy is EVERYTHING. PEACE EVERYONE... MIKE PS: Make sure to have a Happy New Millenium!
Rating: Summary: Depression and the feelings of hopelessness can be overcome! Review: Hey all, To whomever is interested in the plight of Kurt Cobain and thousands of other young, talented, yet disturbed human beings out there I highly recommend picking up Beverly Cobain's "When Nothing Matters Anymore". Depression is such a crummy thing. However, it is highly preventable and manageable, and never rears it's ugly head in an instant. Depression and feelings of hopelessness and despair take a long time to manifest themselves in people. The foundation is layed when you're younger and from what I have found, it only takes that one trigger, that one speedbump in your life that sets off something bigger. I feel for Kurt it must have been the fame and fortune that has doomed so many before him. But everyone has different circumstances. It is VERY VERY important to find someone to talk to in a time of grief and confusion. The mind is a tricky thing and can make you believe things are worse than they really are. And it can make you believe the end has come and there's no hope for more. But there is, there ALWAYS is. Life has it's ups and downs and, again, it is VERY VERY important to talk your feelings out with someone, a girlfriend, a mother, a father, a best friend. You can even write your feelings out in a diary or a song. I find it very soothing listening to Nirvana music. They have gotten me through a lot. Furthermore, catching yourself when you're feeling down, but not yet out is truly a gift from above. It is the gift of life, yours. Reclaiming your life from depression and sadness will help you live longer and happier. You'll become a more productive human being and give of yourself to this world, instead of the world taking from you. Life is a trip. Keep living it with the right attitude, treating yourself good and you'll keep living. Moving on from stress and setbacks, picking yourself up quickly and brushing yourself off will keep you rolling and will never let you down, guaranteed! The right attitude and strategy is EVERYTHING. PEACE EVERYONE... MIKE PS: Make sure to have a Happy New Millenium!
Rating: Summary: Every counselor who deals with teens should have this book! Review: I am a minister, a musician, and a lover of teenagers. I have owned a club for teens, and I have worked with many teenage bands in my recording studio. I have two teens of my own, and have dealt with a lot of teens who have significant problems. In the past eighteen years I have worked with teens and families of teens involved with suicide attempts and suicides. I have dealt with many teens who lost friends to suicide, or couldn't communicate with their friends who were depressed. I needed something to give them. Now I have it. This book is right on target! It is written in a way that teenagers (as well as adults) will "want" to go from one page to the next. The "testimonies" are sincere and completely relevent to the topics. The explanations and examples of depression are most helpful and easy to understand. Nowhere is the book so confusing that the reader would get "lost" or bored. The examples of what one can say or do in dealing with depression, or dealing with someone who is depressed, are most excellent, and gives one a great sense of hope in being able to see positive results. Throughout the book are survival tips and assorted helps that are brief and to the point. One could hardly read this book without learning something important about themselves or others around them if they are depressed or close to someone with depression. Bev Cobain has given us something we really need. A word of hope that says, "You can be helped!" I am excited about the possibilities of the many lives that can be changed through her work and writing. I'm going to get one of the books for each of my teens. Everyone knows, or comes in contact with, someone who is suffering from some form of depression. Now we can understand this problem clear enough to actually do something about it, and/or send people in the direction of help. It is great!!! Any counselor who deals with teens should have a copy of this book on their desk!
Rating: Summary: A must-have resource for parents and educators! Review: I am the parent of one of the kids highlighted in this book. Our daughter's depression and feelings of suicide were frightening. Every parent runs the risk of experiencing this situation--Bev's book would have been the kind of resource that would have answered so many questions for us. Bev is awesome--her style comes through in the book. While the book is a "handbook" for young people, the information applies to all ages of people going through these sorts of feelings. I suggest a reading by every parent and child before middle school! Be prepared!
Rating: Summary: Excellent resource for young people with depression. Review: I have worked in the mental health field for many years as a R.N. I find this book an excellent resource for depressed teens. I wish I had this book available to me when I was a young teen. I feel this book can reach the youth of today and help teach them the tools needed to learn how to cope and heal.
Rating: Summary: This Book Helped Me Alot Review: I took this book from the libraray after being kind of sad for a few months, and it actually helped me. If you are a teenager and you think that you might be depressed, then buy this book. After reading it I felt much more happier. The tehniques that she gives are very easy-to-do, and they help! What else could you ask for? The book also includes personal stories of teenagers who were depressed and now are getting much better. (Not all of them are better because of the actions they took before they got help)
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