Rating: 
Summary: Invaluable Comfort
Review: There are a zillion books out there about depression, and I'd bet nearly all of them are being bought by people who are desperately trying to help someone they love. "Here Honey, it says if you eat right..." and "Sweetie, they say exercise can do a lot of good..." and "Mom, there are a lot of medicines now that could help you..."People who love a depressed person spend an enormous amount of energy trying to bridge a chasm to bring help to their loved one. Meanwhile they suffer isolation, rejection, critisism, self-doubt, frustration, and terrible worry and stress. Worse, every book they read urges them to put all their needs aside, to lower their standards to rock bottom, to be continually more understanding of their loved-ones limitations. Often they're not even mentioned at all. Anne Sheffield's book is a fantastic support and relief for these caregivers. She acknowleges the toll this illness takes on family members, and she offers them compassion and a sense of community. By respecting their frustration, she helps open the door to a more constructive sort of understanding of depressive illness and how it affects the family. This book has helped me build a life with my depressed partner that is healthy for us both, a place where I can deal with this illness without giving up my happiness. It has helped me trust my instincts, set boundaries, campaign for change and keep my love alive even when I'm angry. Through me, it has helped my partner seek better medical help, treat the family better and feel more secure that we'll still be there tomorrow. If your hunt for answers has left you feeling like you're out in the cold alone, this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: The most helpful "depression" book I've read!
Review: This book confirmed coping skills I have learned through a therapist in dealing with my son's depression. One of the most helpful areas was hearing of the anger of the depressed persons in the book--it helped me to separate the anger my son sometimes shows with the person he is. It helped me to understand it really is the depression that is speaking--the fact that so many depressants are so similar in behavior was very enlightning. I highly recommend it to everyone dealing with a family member who is depressed. I first read it from the library and decided it was a MUST for my "depression library". My husband is reading it too!
Rating:
Summary: A groundbreaking book .
Review: This book has yet to be recognized as the masterpiece it is. A major contribution to the wellbeing of generations to come, every responsible adult should take a look at it as 'depression' (not the best description of an unlit room) has been kept in the closet from time immemmorial. Ripping the lid off the most insidious and underexposed mental health crisis of our day, Sheffield should be congratulated for her intense and obviously personal research and her gift for making this global disease understandable to all. I am particularly impressed with her handling of of the reader - Sheffield identifies and covers very complicated material all the while staying true to her role as a layman. To the person who reviewed this book dismissively as not being a manual - get yourself a doctor.
Rating: 
Summary: Leaves alot to be desired!! Nothing to help sons.
Review: This book leaves alot to be desired!! There is little or nothing to help sons or brothers of depressed sisters and mothers!! It's draining living with depressed dysfunctional family members,and this book,while interesting,gives short shift to sons and brothers of depressed mothers and sisters!! I have both Anne's books,I've been on her former Web Site,called mentally ill,I'm not-I live with this,I suffer from diabetes,learning disabled,back pain, I guess the title is misleading-oh,they'll survive,me? Not sure. Anne needs to do more research.
Rating:
Summary: Life Saver!
Review: This book was a life saver for me. It helped me realize that my husband's behaviour was because of his illness. Anne teaches that the depression, the *it*, is mostly responsible for the horrible behaviour we 'care-givers' have to endure while our loved ones cope with this illness. That *it* is not our fault. As a 'care-giver' spouses have to be as emotionally stable as possible in order to help our depressed loved ones. This book helps immensely! It was a life saver to me and to my marriage.
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