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Breaking Through Depression: A Biblical and Medical Approach to Emotional Wholeness
Depression affects a person mentally, spiritually, and physically, greatly impacting their lives and the people they love. With empathy and clear language, psychiatrist Donald Hall explains recent scientific discoveries about the role of chemicals in the brain, and how depression, like other illnesses, has symptoms and cures.
Hall integrates spiritual, medical, and psychological principles in his SMART model that leads those suffering from depression to the hope of recovery and healing. Stop Addiction: Don?t make depression worse by substance abuse Medicate Chemical Imbalances: Have wise counsel for antidepressant management Adjust Expectations of Yourself: Release burdens and evaluate self?image distortions Revise Your Relationships with Others: Set boundaries, talk, practice forgiveness Track with the Holy Spirit: See your brokenness and lean on prayer and fellowship
For readers who are suffering from or living with someone dealing with depression, Hall shares fresh scientific discoveries while standing firmly on the good news of God's hope.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 19, 2013
It was a very good book. Maybe a little more challenging in the beginning, since the author is a psychiatrist and he dealt with depression from a medical viewpoint considerably, but it was a very good, informative and step-by-step book.
The basic idea is that stress has medical, emotional and spiritual aspects to it. Sometimes it starts with one and it complicates the other two. Among the medical roots he deals those chemical imbalances that are created in your brain or a problem typical for mothers relating to post-partum (after birth). When he speaks of the emotional roots he speaks that in childhood we have three basic emotional needs: a) the need to feel safe; 2) the need to feel good about ourselves; and 3) the need to feel that we can change the world. Being challenged in our thinking and our upbringing, we may make vows (promises we cannot keep) or resignations (think below our real potential). On the spiritual basis for depression, the author lists ways in which our unhealthy view of God and ourselves made in His image may harm us. You need to be brave and open enough to accept it and to deal with it.
His solution is what he calls the SMART steps. The acronym stands for
Stop substance abuse
Medicate chemical imbalances (if they are present)
Adjust expectations of yourself
Revise your relationship with others
Trust God and track with the Holy Spirit
PS: You know that I don't recommend a lot of books, but this may be a goodie!
The basic idea is that stress has medical, emotional and spiritual aspects to it. Sometimes it starts with one and it complicates the other two. Among the medical roots he deals those chemical imbalances that are created in your brain or a problem typical for mothers relating to post-partum (after birth). When he speaks of the emotional roots he speaks that in childhood we have three basic emotional needs: a) the need to feel safe; 2) the need to feel good about ourselves; and 3) the need to feel that we can change the world. Being challenged in our thinking and our upbringing, we may make vows (promises we cannot keep) or resignations (think below our real potential). On the spiritual basis for depression, the author lists ways in which our unhealthy view of God and ourselves made in His image may harm us. You need to be brave and open enough to accept it and to deal with it.
His solution is what he calls the SMART steps. The acronym stands for
Stop substance abuse
Medicate chemical imbalances (if they are present)
Adjust expectations of yourself
Revise your relationship with others
Trust God and track with the Holy Spirit
PS: You know that I don't recommend a lot of books, but this may be a goodie!
May 20, 2013
This is a great read for anyone facing or that knows someone facing depression-like issues. the opening chapters explained (in laymen's terms) the chemistry in the brain better than any other book I had read.
July 31, 2010
Read as a continuing education selection.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews