Managing Your Depression

May 27, 2013
This practical and compassionate handbook is perfectly suited to individuals living with depression: in accessible language, it offers firm, specific advice and quick cognitive tests and self-assessment metrics that even those in the deepest of doldrums will find helpful and relevant. A physician and consultant for Massachusetts General Hospital, Noonan is professionally well-suited to help others manage their sorrow, and she can also speak from personal experience: she too suffers from depression. Culling lessons and insights from her life, her experience with patients, and current literature on the topic, Noonan explains the basics of mental health—including maintaining good eating, sleeping, and exercising habits; building a routine; and shunning isolation—before going on to unpack what mood disorders are, and how they manifest themselves. She recommends seeking the support of professionals, emphasizing that making the most of a therapeutic relationship and taking medications correctly are essential. She also offers the tough-love reminder that self-care is not optional—you must take the time to understand your own triggers, recognize warning signs, identify distorted thoughts, and develop a solid routine and a relapse-prevention plan. Noonan’s is a valuable volume for those suffering from depression, as well as for loved ones who are fighting the fight by their side.