The Beasts in Your Brain: Understanding and Living with Anxiety and Depression

by Katherine Speller, Patricia Santomasso (reader)

It can be hard to find the words to describe the icky feelings that seem to come from nowhere and sap all your joy and energy. You can tell that your brain just isn't pulling off the same tasks as others, and you're constantly bouncing between feeling nothing and feeling the weight of everything. It's hard enough to admit that you're struggling, but how do you even begin to navigate getting help when it feels like there's an enormous gap between you, your peers, and the adults in your life who keep saying they want to support you but just don't seem to get it?

This is not your doctor's dry health pamphlet or a preachy self-care listicle. The Beasts in Your Brain is a guide and companion equally for you and your loved ones, here to provide that essential first dose of information, understanding, and validation about mental illness and how it affects the young people of today. This book knows how much harder things are for you and your generation, how out-of-touch much of the advice out there is (after all, how are you supposed to "just unplug" when more than half your social life is conducted online?), and how identity, circumstances, and stigma can affect your experiences.

Though they might be scary or seem unstoppable, the beasts can be defeated. It will be hard work, but it is not work you will ever have to do alone. This book will be your first partner in your battle against the beasts, reminding you that there's always hope and humor to be found in openly talking about the realities of living with mental illness. Together with the support of your loved ones and the practical knowledge and tools you will learn in this book, you can win this fight.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health

1 pages, Audio CD

Published July 16, 2024

Reviews

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gr 9 Up–This book excellently breaks down the tangled jungle of depression and anxiety. A comprehensive and meticulously structured book, it illuminates the complexities of depression and anxiety while offering effective strategies for addressing these mental health challenges. Authored with a purposeful breakdown of information into digestible chunks, this work guides readers through the intricate terrain of their emotions. The well-organized structure facilitates a step-by-step understanding of depression and anxiety, empowering readers to grasp the nuances of these conditions. Through insightful narratives and practical guidance, the author instills a sense of hope in the darkest moments, reinforcing the belief that there is light within. In a unique and thoughtful touch, each section is enriched by a curated music playlist, enhancing emotional resonance and connectivity. Additionally, the book sheds light on the alarming statistics surrounding mental health, particularly in the teen demographic, emphasizing the urgent need for collective awareness and action.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this was a book I could have read when I was a teenager. I recently read an old diary from when I was 13/14 and good lord, I could have used this book back then.

Geared towards teens, good thing to have available in teen/tween classrooms/libraries.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beasts in your Brain is a solid introductory book to mental health information for young adults. As a high school teacher, I am a witness of the mental health issues students are facing (and I’m only going into my 3rd year of teaching). I would say this would be a nice resource for them to read. The author makes the books more accessible by creating a tone that sounds like your friend is speaking to you. One example of this is through the song playlists that the author recommends.

I would categorize this in the same group as American Girl Guide self help books. There are parts where I feel the opinion of the author begins to drag a little and could be shortened. I think it would have also been nice to see more activities they could put into practice.

I would recommend this to students or parents if their child is struggling and they have little knowledge on mental health resources out there. I will ask our librarian to buy a copy as well so that we can have to available for students.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for parents to read on their own, with their kid(s), or for your kid to read on their own. Probably good for about 11/12 and up?
Straightforward, relatable, and helpful imagery.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay book directed at teens suffering from the pressures of the times we're living in. The information was good but oddly delivered.

The author recounts her own teenage experience with mental health by recounting an incident where she ate crackers for dinner while standing over the kitchen counter. This didn't seem all that odd or disturbing so I couldn't understand her bringing it up repeatedly.

There are some strange additions such as a play list of music for each chapter.

Mental health is something everyone is struggling with now. Kudos for putting out a book to appeal to teens but the book was light on both research and suggestions.

[Kate S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brain beasts is very informative on the topics of depression, anxiety and suicide. I love how indepth it goes about therapy and where to look for specific kinds. The music choices listed were great, I took notes on those. I took a star away because I ended up skimming some of the pages as it was very drawn out. It felt like every internet article on the topic mashed together into a book.

It's a great resource for someone just learning about mental health or not knowing where to go from thinking they might have an issue. But it doesn't give too much extra help if someone comes across this book after already knowing they have one of these mental health concerns. I was really looking forward to using this book in my teen groups, but I dont think it will help them anymore than what they already know. I am definitely going to recommend it to them and their families because I think it's a great resource for the parent to understand where the child is coming from.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably serviceable, but there were many typos in the book, and in general the text was trying to sound too casual and teen-hip, but came off as unreliable to me. (Although at least it kept the point of view of a person who is now an adult, and once was a teen going through difficult times like the ones the young reader is experiencing.)

It did not sufficiently differentiate between medical/scientific terminology, general use vocabulary, and teen lingo, which might make it confusing for readers to differentiate between the self-assessment process and when a therapist or medical professional might provide a diagnosis.

The strength and use of the book might be mostly to let a young person see that they are not alone and they have choices about how to cope with, express, and wrestle through their strong feelings.

[JL Salty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: pg + topic including suicide and suicidal ideation.
Recommend: mental health needs, 6th - 9th grade

This was very focused at those early teen years, but could be very helpful for struggling teens , their friends and adults who want to know how to better help.

I thought it was a little … talking down, but I think there is a voice for discussing these topics with kids, and this might be it.

[Andressa Donohoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think everyone should read this book, teens and adults. The beasts in our heads are related to everything around us. To learn how to control the amount of information, contact with technology, reflect about the social media in our lives. This book is really good to identity challenges that we have inside of our own minds.

[Billie Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie, I kind of want to give this book a lower rating because it felt very reductive for a middle-aged person, but that's not the intended audience. Young people need to have the language and understanding of what they're going through, and this book gives that to them, so I'm not going to do anything to upset the algorithm of recommended books.

[Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will definitely be useful for a younger crowd, many things were things I was aware of already but I am definitely not the intended audience for the book but it will definitely have a use to many people out there.

[Mary Torpey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful, I think, although firmly For Teens.

[Barbara Rahll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this! Great guide for tweens and teens.