Depression

Do antidepressants actually work, or are they just glorified dummy pills? How can we tell one way or the other?

Elizabeth Wurtzel writes with her finger on the faint pulse of an overdiagnosed generation whose ruling icons are Kurt Cobain, Xanax, and pierced tongues.

"I wrote Welcome to the Jungle because it's the book I should have been given when I was diagnosed." Bipolar disorder is one of the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric conditions among teens and twentysomethings, yet there are few books out there written specifically for this demographic.

In Furiously Happy , a humor memoir tinged with just enough tragedy and pathos to make it worthwhile, Jenny Lawson examines her own experience with severe depression and a host of other conditions, and explains how it has led her to live life to the fullest:

Where does 'self' end and 'illness' begin? Is manic depression a quintessential part of oneself, or quite the opposite: an illness which skews the self to its own image? Does the medication alter who you are? Does one become inauthentic in taking these mind-altering substances?

This small-format book answers two key questions:

What is depression and what causes it?

If I have depression, what can I do about it?

Offering real hope to those suffering from depression, Harnessing Hope explains depression in approachable language and shows how simple lifestyle changes can make a difference.

Written in an easy-to-navigate question-and-answer format, this useful and compassionate guide explores and explains absolutely everything that someone with bipolar disorder (and those who love them) needs to know: from how to recognize the symptoms to how to deal with stigma in the workplace.