When Words Are Not Enough

Rating:
Summary: Gives women an informed choice about their mental health!
Review: I came across this book when I was pregnant with my first child and taking antidepressants and still feeling guilty about it. Dr. Raskin explained in clear terms the effects, risks, and benefits of psychotropic medications for women and allowed me to really believe that I had made the right decision to continue antidepressants during pregnancy. The risks of depression were greater than the risks of Prozac and for the first time, I felt that I had strong support for my decision. I recommended the book to my OB, psychiatrist, therapist, and many of my friends. By the way, I now have a beautiful, healthy son and have been able to enjoy and care for him because of antidepressants.

I am also a mental health professional and have recommended the book to many of my colleagues. I think it is a must read for any health professional who works with women, and for any woman considering medication to treat her depression, anxiety, or other mental illness. It is a fair, non-judgmental, and informative book that will always be a part of my library. Today I am ordering my second copy because I lent out my original copy and never got it back!!! This book may save lives by helping women to get better treatment and have a better understanding of their options. Thank you, Dr. Raskin.

Rating:
Summary: Sympathetic and informative
Review: I consider this the best book to start with if you are a woman wondering if you have depression and/or a companion illness, or a woman who has been diagnosed and is deciding which treatment to try. Depression (including premenstrual depression), anxiety disorder, OCD and sleep disturbances and available medication and non-medication options are explored thoroughly and clearly by Dr. Raskin.

What sets this book apart from other depression/medication books is that it addresses women's particular concerns, largely neglected by the others. Topics I am often asked about on my web site (and have not had good answers for) such as pregnancy/breastfeeding and medication and weight gain as a side effect of medication are discussed in a sympathetic, informative manner. Essential information about antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication, including side-effects, usual dose ranges and pregnancy ratings round out "When Words Are Not Enough," making it a very complete resource for women.

Rating:
Summary: Best book for ANYONE that has ever been depressed or Anxious
Review: I have suffered ppd for the last 1.5 years. It was so bad I had to go on medication and since then had to up my dose. This book has helped me see why this has happened to me and how a person gets depressed in the first place. IT is NON judgemental and also validating but besides that it tells you how to RECOVER! It is a wonderful book. It doesn't leave anything uncovered. I want Valerie Raskin to know THANKYOU for saving my life and my marriage from the demon of ppd. I also got your book This isn't what I Expected and it is a wonderful addition to this one for the PPD sufferer. Big hugs and big thankyou to you Valerie.
You changed my life :)

Rating:
Summary: Best book for ANYONE that has ever been depressed or Anxious
Review: I have suffered ppd for the last 1.5 years. It was so bad I had to go on medication and since then had to up my dose. This book has helped me see why this has happened to me and how a person gets depressed in the first place. IT is NON judgemental and also validating but besides that it tells you how to RECOVER! It is a wonderful book. It doesn't leave anything uncovered. I want Valerie Raskin to know THANKYOU for saving my life and my marriage from the demon of ppd. I also got your book This isn't what I Expected and it is a wonderful addition to this one for the PPD sufferer. Big hugs and big thankyou to you Valerie.
You changed my life :)

Rating:
Summary: Compassionate, informative, validating and comforting
Review: I picked up this book and became emotionally attached to it from the first page. I am a social worker and a woman who suffers from depression and am already well versed in the illness of depression and its remedies. I thought I knew everything I could possibly know about this subject, yet this book provided guidance, support and encouragment in addition to clinical information. The end result was quite powerful. Most importantly, this book reminded me that I am not a failure for the way I feel. Despite all my knowledge and experience with this subject, while in the throes of depression, I felt like a failure. This book helped me to understand my experience in a different way and feel less alone.

I am also pregnant and this book was the first I found that provided information and guidance, without judgement, about pregnancy and depression and medication and nursing. It helped me to remember that dealing with my depression is another way of being a good mother.

I am very thankful for Valerie Raskin's book and the sensitivity and comfort she provided me at a difficult time. I plan to recommend this book to my own therapist and clients, as well.

Rating:
Summary: invaluable resource/reference
Review: If you suspect that you or a woman you love may be depressed, buying and reading this book is the very first thing you should do. For less money than a visit to a psychiatrist, it gives you MUCH more information. I've referred to my copy dozens of times over the past two years. It helps me take responsibility for my own health.

The chapters deal with various types of depression and related conditions (obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders, etc.) and related female and childbearing issues. The numerous appendices classify and compare the available medications, explaining how they work and what their side effects may be.

There is even information on sexual side effects that are not included in the Physician's Desk Reference because they've been underreported (and an explanation of why they were underreported.) You might learn things your doctor doesn't know.

Rating:
Summary: So true
Review: This book was easy to understand and very helpful. I myself already had some knowledge about depresssion so it was not as useful to me as it would be to most people. I really learned some very interesting new things though. It clearly described the types of depression and how to know the difference. It gave me some new knowledge about hormones and their role-which is KEY. I definetly recommend if you have a relative with depression(like me) or you feel you may be depressed- even if you don't want to admit it (like me.)

Rating:
Summary: So true
Review: This was the best book I have ever read on depression.

Rating:
Summary: A book to read and lend
Review: What a practical and comprehension (readable) text about the symptoms we experience and the possible physical, mental and emotional reasons they are occuring. This book broadens your understanding of the interconnection between mind and body - and equips the sufferer or someone trying to help a sufferer to understand and pursue different paths of testing and treatment for their symptoms. I have owned this book for a while, and keep lending it out as a friend, family member or coworker expresses a need that it addresses.Haven't seen my copy for awhile, I wonder who is reading it now?