tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2654455663519806899.post1686030470888495028..comments2023-11-09T02:43:59.293-08:00Comments on Christian Medical Comment: Self-help books for depression – brilliant new tools for doctors, pastors and patientsPeter Saundershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17222354018504253042noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2654455663519806899.post-51362629050343586752013-01-26T02:35:31.306-08:002013-01-26T02:35:31.306-08:00I am a Christian, currently battling with an episo...I am a Christian, currently battling with an episode of severe depression. Self-help books certainly have their place and I have found them to be particularly useful as a "bridging intervention". (I had to wait several weeks to access CBT). <br /><br />It is worth bearing in mind that for some with depression, even reading will be a struggle (particularly when concentration is an issue). I have found books with short chapters that can be read in isolation, split into short paragraphs / sections to be most helpful and would particularly recommend "Manage Your Mind" by Tony Hope. <br /><br />Of note, (and slightly unrelated to this topic), I was also given a short book: "Dealing with Depression: trusting God through the dark times", written by Sarah Collins and Jayne Haynes (who is a Christian GP). I can't recommend this highly enough: a "must-read" for Christians struggling with depression, as well as those seeking to support them. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2654455663519806899.post-69356638639372086292013-01-26T01:45:48.692-08:002013-01-26T01:45:48.692-08:00Self help book may help for a small diseases. But ...Self help book may help for a small diseases. But for the big diseases, self help book may be dangerous. For diagnosis, therapy, operation etc Experienced doctor is needed. If anyone tries curing through self help book, He may be in the path of death. Jayson O. Duponthttp://capsules.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2654455663519806899.post-50740291638324304112013-01-25T04:44:58.291-08:002013-01-25T04:44:58.291-08:00Yes I agree which is why I used the word 'adju...Yes I agree which is why I used the word 'adjunct' when I tweeted this story earlier today. <br /><br />As I say above 'Self-help books give GPs a third effective referral avenue (after CBT and drugs) that is cheap, effective and readily accessible'. <br /><br />This was intended explicitly not to exclude CBT and drugs.Peter Saundershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17222354018504253042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2654455663519806899.post-84246710391315693962013-01-25T04:31:07.743-08:002013-01-25T04:31:07.743-08:00
No doubt self-help books are a useful ADJUNCT to ...<br />No doubt self-help books are a useful ADJUNCT to conventional anti-depressant therapy. However, it would be dangerous and foolish to assume that sufferers will be helped by self-help books alone - many (perhaps most?) require medication as well. <br /><br />Certainly self-help books will be of use, not only to those with clinical depression, but to anyone with low mood, low self-esteem, etc. - in short, all of us can do with self-help. Sarah - a General Practitionernoreply@blogger.com