Book Review: The Anti-Depressant Book

Teenage suicides can leave us all feeling helpless — especially when they happen in epidemic proportions. But for teenagers who suffer from the sort of depression that might make them want to take their own life, there are few books written just for them. Adolescent psychiatrist Jacob Towery’s new book is an exception. Practical, easy to read, and extremely useful, The Anti-Depressant Book: A Practical Guide For Teens and Young Adults to Overcome Depression and Stay Healthy doesn’t simply offer one technique, but a wide variety suited specifically for the unique needs of teenagers. Towery starts by advising his readers that overcoming depression will require more than simply reading his book. Teens will need to interact, stay alert, and practice the skills and exercises that the book recommends. Depression, Towery writes, can be difficult to diagnose for several reasons. It is often masked as anxiety, or is hidden beneath an otherwise happy looking teenager. On the other hand, it can also be misdiagnosed. To help his readers understand if they are depressed, Towery offers a helpful questionnaire, as well as several case studies of teenagers experiencing either depression or normal bouts of sadness. One important point made is that there can be good reasons that people stay depressed. Ned, a former patient of Towery’s had become depressed much to the concern of his parents. As a result, his parents went to many lengths to accommodate him; allowing him to a...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Antidepressants Book Reviews Depression Medications Psychiatry Psychology Adolescents Anti Depressants Jacob Towery Teen Depression teen mental health Source Type: news