Review: Mandatory read for the parent serious about their teen's well being
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 17, 2012
Depression is one of the most misunderstood medical conditions and the stigma over mental health issues only compound the problem; with this in mind I would have to recommend this book as a must read for any parent, councilor or family member in helping to identify the various forms of this disorder and as a leader board on the steps that can be taken to combat depression in Teens and Pre Teens.As a mom with a teenager; reading this book was definitely an eye opener and made me feel at ease as I was able to actually identify various behaviors based on Dr. T's check box scoring.  We can get so consumed by searching for information that it's hard to decipher what's really going on.  What I loved about this book is the way Dr. Travis makes digesting the information easy as it follows the pattern of his other writings in the Dr T's Living Well Series. No over the top psychological terminologies here; just straight forward layman terms that allow you to recognize the possible causes, symptoms, suggested treatments and long term affects.Upon reading you will quickly learn the almost undetectable and often overlooked signs of depression; which I found to be so important. You will learn to look for early warning signs that can help you to take action in moving your teen or pre-teen out of that phase and before it progresses to the potential deadly form of the disease resulting in suicide.There are six types of depression classified in this book which expands to show you exactly what to look for in each category.  The categories of depression that are covered in Overcoming Depression in Teens and Pre- Teens are:* Major Depression* Dysthymic Disorder* Bipolar Disorder* Adjustment Disorder With Depressed Mood* Reactive Depression* Postpartum DepressionEach one of the above is broken down in stages with suggested treatments that include holistic; massage therapy; acupuncture; hypnotherapy or hypnosis; healing energy, play and exercise, music and much more.In our communities we see more and more young men with escalating aggression that's turning to violence towards peers and authorities alike. Never once did I consider that depression is playing a major role in this manifestation.I was able to walk away from this book with the awareness that what may seem as "nothing" to me as an adult could be a major issue for a teen and should not be blown off as such. Tips such as the maximum amount of time that parents should allow their kids to watch television as well as the impact that an overconsumption of video games could have on one's child was also a great take away.Overcoming Depression in Teens and Pre-Teens is an organized, well informed, quick read that allows adults to see introspectively into the life of a teen and perhaps spot early warning signs of depression before it escalates into the potential deadly form of major depression.A teen's happiness and well being depends on you reading this book.