Posted by Racer on October 27, 1999, at 0:51:26
In reply to Scary books, posted by Bob on October 26, 1999, at 23:02:40
I do read some of these books, but only when I'm feeling good. Mostly, if I do read a book about depression, I want it to be about the physical side: what's happening in my brain and body, what chemicals are involved, how does it relate to other things that go on in my body, etc. The experiences of strangers do not interest me.
The experiences of people on this board, on the other hand, do interest me, largely because it's a dialog, not a monologue. The fact that we exchange information in both directions makes it valuable in a way that someone else's experiences wouldn't be.
Other than that, I know that what I read has a profound effect on me, and so I avoid certain things when I am heading into or out of a depression.
Story: last year, when the depression was really bad, I lost a friend. There were a lot of things involved, but the one that comes to mind right now is that she kept urging me to read a book that 'really helped me when I was depressed'. I kept trying to explain that I might read it when I got better, but couldn't do it right then. She kept pushing. I finally sat down and did the self-assessment test in it, the one that says if you score over 14 you should hie thee to a professional? I scored 43 - but only because I was on an up day. I knew what would happen if I read it. I'd get to thinking that I must be hopeless, since I didn't have the energy to do anything the book said, and since all of it was too much for me. (No, I didn't read it, but I did skim the chapters, etc.) She couldn't understand that, and thought I was malingering.
Anyway, I don't read that sort of book when I'm having troubles, because I do compare myself and get overwhelmed. So, here's some advice: next time you walk into B&N, check out the psych shelves, get a little overwhelmed and then walk on to the Mystery section and pick up a copy of the following books by Sharyn McCrumb: If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O; The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter; She Walks These Hills; and The Rosewood Casket. They'll do more for you than any number of psych books... (Hell, everyone's different, but they 'really helped me when I was depressed'!!)
poster:Racer
thread:13987
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991016/msgs/13992.html