It's Not All in Your Head: Anxiety, Depression, Mood Swings, and MS

by Patricia A. Farrell, Michael J. DePalma (Editor)

One of the greatest challenges people face when dealing with an unpredictable disease such as Multiple Sclerosis is learning to overcome the psychological burden of not knowing what each day will bring. MS is a true roller coaster of emotions and dealing with these feelings is a critical issue for people living with the disease. According to WEBMD, symptoms of depression severe enough to warrant medical intervention affect up to half of all people living with MS.

It's Not All in Your Head is a cognitive-behavioral approach to overcoming the depression, anxiety,and stress that goes hand-in-hand with MS. Dr. Farrell helps individuals and their families develop a better understanding of the effects that MS has on mood levels and anxiety and offers a plan of simple remediation in a self-help format.

It's Not All in Your Head shows that:

MS patients' depression and anxiety can be related to their medical condition
Exercise can promote growth in brain connections and help alleviate depression
Pain severity in MS can be lessenedthrough stemming anxiety
Social involvement is key to maintaining mental and physical health ;Preface, Acknowledgments , 1. Multiple Sclerosis Made Simple , 2. The Mind-Body Connection , 3. Riding the Rollercoaster of Multiple Sclerosis , 4. The "Ugly Twins" of Depression and Anxiety , 5. Learning to Help Yourself , 6. Handling Guilt and Maintaining Resilience, 7. Maximizing Memory to Combat Depression , 8. Coping Strategies for Everyday , 9. The Future Is Bright , Appendix A The Social Readjustment Rating Scale , Appendix B Quality of Life Scale , Appendix C Daily Exercise Chart , Resources , Index

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2010

About the author

Psychologist, writer, photographer, aspiring writer of short stories and short, short films on everything that strikes me as interesting. I have published with brick-and-mortar firms and now am self-publishing.

My background as a psychologist doesn't mean I will be a slave to the psychologist's trade since I intend to write in a more passionate style. As I learned from Isaac Asimov, I am always involved in multiple writing projects at any one time and I intend to do so into the future. I always have at least three books in progress at any one time.

I also write articles on Medium.com, post to Bluesky, and write flash fiction stories (40 published to date).. Time is always running short, and, as Ephron said, you never know when you won't have more of it at your disposal.

Reviews

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a wonderful book. It's funny though, because I feel like family and friends of those with the disease need to read these types of books more than the "patient". This would be a book I would recommend to anyone who wants to understand MS better.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good discussion, but I didn't like how some of "information" was presented. Anecdotes aren't evidence.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was good although I took quite a while to work my way through it. I'm not sure there was anything new but it did validate some of the things I've picked up and implemented in my life. The author spends some time talking about the cognitive and emotional problems we may have with MS, including examples from specific people, touching on blame and moral judgment; unresolved conflicts causing physical symptoms; the triad of depression, anxiety and pain.

Then the book gets into how to deal with with all these stuff going on in our heads. Recommended actions include exercise, meditation, and journaling. It was a good reminder that I'm not alone and others feel this way.

[Story of Choice · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Not All in Your Head is a unique contribution to popular MS literature that specifically addresses those who contend with anxiety, depression, and mood swings in addition to--sometimes because of--multiple sclerosis. While her writing can be immature and the manuscript requires copyediting, Patricia Farrell's voice is passionate and compassionate, making potentially daunting content easily accessible. This relevant and practical book is a welcome resource for people with MS who are struggling with anxiety and depression. As a bonus, this book has much to offer those with other chronic diseases who grapple with these issues.

[Katey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not particularly helpful for me. Too many platitudes, too many old tricks, too many generalitites about MS, despite interviewees with the disease and particular situations: unrelatable for me. Some bits concerning newer-ish research, but that's about it.

[Melissa Bond · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains a wealth of information, coaching the newly diagnosed through almost every experience of living with MS. Better yet, friends/family/caregivers might benefit from the information it provides, making it an essential source for anyone wanting to understand the disease.