A Mind Of Your Own – The Truth About Depression And How Women Can Heal Their Bodies To Reclaim Their Lives by Kelly Brogan, M.D. – Book Review
If you have ever spent any time in the crippling clutches of depression, you know that depression is not a condition to be taken lightly.
It’s not just something that women experience. It’s not something that is just in your head. It’s not something that you can just shake off, talk away, or medicate away.
Depression is serious. Depression is complex. If you or a loved one is experiencing any type of depression (there are several), it’s crucial that you do whatever is necessary to battle it as – untreated – it can lead to death.
A Mind Of Your Own – The Truth About Depression And How Women Can Heal Their Bodies To Reclaim Their Lives by Kelly Brogan, M.D., provides readers with a non—traditional, science-based, holistic approach to treating depression.
A Mind Of Your Own is unique because it approaches depression not as a disease and a chemical imbalance, but as a symptom of a lifestyle crisis that demands an immediate revamp. Kelly believes that depression indicates that the interconnected systems within your body are out of balance – from blood sugar, to gut health, to thyroid function – and inflammation is at the root.
Kelly says that last year alone, 30 million Americans were prescribed $12 billion of antidepressants for conditions including depression, anxiety and panic attacks – but not only do these drugs over-promise and under-deliver, they also have the potential to permanently disable the body’s natural healing potential.
Instead of drugs, in A Mind Of Your Own, Kelly offers readers a step-by-step 30-day action plan that includes powerful dietary interventions, targeted nutrient support, detoxification, sleep, and stress re-framing techniques that Kelly says will help you heal your body, alleviate inflammation, and feel like yourself – again without a single prescription!
I have to be honest: I have mixed feelings about this book.
On the positive side, I think that as a general health book, there is a lot of valuable information to mine from A Mind Of Your Own. If you suffer from depression but currently have your symptoms under control and are functioning at a high level, then you should use the ideas in this book as weapons in your arsenal against depression.
However, if you are currently in the throes of depression – if you’re having trouble getting out of bed, getting through your day, or are having suicidal thoughts – practically speaking, you may find it difficult to change your diet and lifestyle and complete Kelly’s transformative 30-day behavior modification plan without external intervention, which may temporarily require turning to the traditional channels that Kelly is advocating you avoid!
The bottom line is, depending on your actual medical diagnosis and symptoms – of which you, your doctor and your family are in the best position to assess – you need an individualized treatment plan. If you are able and willing, implement Kelly’s plan – but don’t stop your current treatment without your doctor’s consent, and don’t preclude traditional forms of treatment if they are what you need!
A Mind Of Your Own – named one of the top health and wellness books for 2016 by MindBodyGreen – offers a unique perspective on the link between your physical and mental health.
The book is not without controversy – it has its fair share of proponents and opponents – but A Mind Of Its Own is certainly worth reading to educate yourself about the latest link between nutrition, health and depression.
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Video: Women’s Depression And How To Heal
About Kelly Brogan, M.D.
Kelly Brogan, M.D. is a Manhattan-based holistic women’s health psychiatrist, author of the book, A Mind of Your Own and co-editor of the landmark textbook, Integrative Therapies for Depression. She completed her psychiatric training and fellowship at NYU Medical Center after graduating from Cornell University Medical College, and has a B.S. from MIT in Systems Neuroscience. She is board certified in psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, and integrative holistic medicine, and is specialized in a root-cause resolution approach to psychiatric syndromes and symptoms. She is on the board of GreenMedInfo, Functional Medicine University, Pathways to Family Wellness, NYS Perinatal Association, and Fisher Wallace, Medical Director for Fearless Parent, and board member for Health Freedom Action and the peer-reviewed, indexed journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. She is a mother of two.
Resources
For More Information
- Visit Kelly Brogan’s Website.
- Connect with Kelly on Facebook and Twitter.
- Visit Harper Collins to read a complementary sample.
- Visit A Mind Of Your Own Blog Tour Page.
- A Mind Of Your OWn is available on Amazon.
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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through TLC Book Tours for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
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Depression is a very serious subject and should not be treated lightly. Thank you for providing such a balanced review of the book for the tour.
I have depression & super high anxiety, almost on a daily basis. It’s not as bad as it was months ago though. For the last 6 or 7 months I’d go to whirl and come home then wait to go to bed. I was so tired of living that way, so its been almost a month 1/2, I’ve tried to conquer the ugly beast. Thanks so much for sharing this, I’m stopping by from SITS.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
I know how challenging that can be Leslie – I hope things get better for you soon!
Depression is so complex, and so many people need so many different options. I hope this book is helpful to some of those folks who, as you said, are looking for more tools to keep depression at bay.
Thankyou for your honest review
Interesting book and review! Sounds like it would be a good prevention tool.
At the beginning of the post I began to get a little scared … but after reading further I agree, this book could contain a lot of really helpful and useful information, but sometimes people do need other interventions as well! Thanks for providing your readers a thoughtful review.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
My pleasure – glad you enjoyed the review!
I found you on Literary Musing Mondays. You wrote a very balanced review. The book is worth looking into. Thanks and God bless!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thank you so much Beckie!
I just visited your blog and was SO blessed by your writing.
I hope you will stop by again soon!
Thanks for sharing your honest opinions. I agree that it’s probably never a good idea to stop or start any medical treatment without your doctor’s permission.
I appreciate the caveats you point out in your review of this book. Sounds like it might be helpful to some people who are dealing with mild depression, but certainly not for those in the throes of severe depression. Thanks for sharing with the Literacy Musing Mondays Link-up!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Beth, I think you summed this up perfectly – thanks for your insights!
Twitter: mommynificent
says:
I think you showed a lot of wisdom in this review. Thanks so much for linking up this post at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com this week!
Tina
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks Tina – this one was somewhat challenging to write!