Happiness Is a Choice: Symptoms, Causes, and Cures of Depression

Rating:
Summary: A Compassionate Approach to Recovery
Review: An excellent resource for those struggling with codependency and various other psychic illnesses. The book is written by Christians with a Biblical perspective, which is awesome for those who want to read a recovery book that emphasizes the spiritual approach to health and wholeness.

Rating:
Summary: Christian extremism?
Review: I just received the book and was impressed that it did discuss the things you need to know about depression: what the symptoms are, how it is caused, how it is treated, etc. However, I was not prepared for the heavy fundamental Christian emphasis. Personally, I have a problem with saying, "Depression can be caused by Satan." I suspect there are some people who are struggling with mental illness, for whom bringing up Satan as a cause of their problem, does more harm than good. I couldn't believe two medical doctors would write a book with such controversial religious ideas portrayed as accepted medical practice. I threw the book away the same day I received it.

Rating:
Summary: Personal Empowerment!
Review: Simply put, another reviewer's religious [anti-religion?] bias aside, it is refreshing to obtain a medical/psychiatric expert's training & experience encourage personal responsibility and personal empowerment (albeit with the help of God/one's "Higher Power"). People can indeed be free from symptoms of depression, or obtain some relief at least, through what can be termed cognitive-behavioral methods. Minirth's position is supported by research, which finds the use of this treatment in conjunction with medications as the most effective for depression.