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Book Review: Surviving Depression
I was pleased with this book. A lot of books about mental health problems such as depression either go too far into New Age-y things, or pit medicine against non-medicine. This book covers a wide range of topics related to depression, such as what it is, how to cope, self-care, and so on.
As someone with depression, it was a breath of fresh air to read a book about depression written by someone with depression. Depression looks a lot different from the inside than on the outside looking in. I found myself relating to many of the stories throughout the book, that alone is comforting.
The book also has tips and suggested prayers for people who suffer with depression as well as for friends and family members of a depressed person. I love that it had a list of things to say/not to say to a depressed person.
A firm Catholic undercurrent is all throughout this book, yet I believe even non-Catholics could find great solace and information. It’s a quick read, in simple and non-overwhelming English – a need for someone who is suffering.
Overall, a wonderful book for anyone with depression and especially for those who love and support someone with it.
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Surviving Depression: A Catholic Approach . The Catholic Company has great gift ideas for all seasons of the liturgical year, be sure to check out their Advent selection and Catholic Christmas Gifts.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest, non-biased review.
Happy 2013!
Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
I have big plans in store for 2013 – Greg and I want to pay down debt, grow in grace as a family, and grow closer to Our Lord. We have received patron Saints for the year, and I’m eager to see how they interact with us this year.
I have been praying (a lot) and talking with Greg about the direction in which to take my blog. I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. There is something that I want to do, which is let the domain lapse in May as opposed to renewing it.
Before you panic, yes I will continue to write. But, seeing as I’m not interested in making money blogging having my own domain and hosted site is just overkill.
What does this mean for you?
I hope to have a new writing venue by Candlemas (February 2nd). At that point I will put a post up giving the new URL. And in April I will put a redirect up. I will keep this blog up until the domain runs out in May. While I will import the book reviews from this blog onto the new site; I highly doubt I will import the whole blog. So in a way, this blog is going defunct.
In a way, I’m starting over. I began this blog right before I converted in 2006, and therefore reflected me as an in-college, unmarried, newly converted woman. And that’s fine, except I feel that I’ve outgrown this particular blog as a person. Thus, it’s time to move to something else.
I will still post here until February 2nd, as I have a few posts in drafts I’d like to get up.
I hope that I will see familiar faces on the new blog and that you can support me in this effort. 
The Gift of Self
As Christmas draws closer, it seems as if life is moving at a frenetic pace. My parents visited yesterday and brought with them their gifts for the kids. Greg’s siblings come on Christmas Eve. Greg has about three choir performances that I can think of off the top of my head. Invitations still need to get done for the non-profit Christmas party. Bills need to be paid. And so on, and so on.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the chaos. It’s easy to overlook the Babe who is the point of the season, the Babe who sits and waits for us to come to Him. He doesn’t intrude, but he does call out to us. Are we listening? Do we want to listen?
In a world that has largely forgotten the reason for the season, it is incredibly easy to get caught up in the flow of gifts, endless to-do lists, and guilt-inducing non-offensive holiday festivities. Sharing gifts and goodies isn’t bad, but it’s important to keep the focus on the One who arrived to nothing but a smelly stable, some shepherds, and a motley crew of critters.
Are we sharing our wealth with the least of our brothers? As a mother, am I sharing myself with my kids – or are they getting the short end of the stick as I try and prepare? As a wife, am I listening to Greg - really listening - or am I half-listening and mentally tracking a to-do list?
In the end, what really matters to my family is not the number or flashiness of gifts received, what meal was prepared or how many varieties of goodies I made. What matters is the time devoted to them, to loving them as they are, loving the One who came to us so that we may come to Him.
There is no better gift I can give my family than the gift of myself. And through the grace of the tiny Babe in a manger, I can give them that gift.
Lord have mercy
Everything that I was going to write today just doesn’t seem appropriate given the situation in Connecticut. I can’t even wrap my mind around it. Words are inadequate, therefore all I can do is pray and cry.
Lord, have mercy.
Monday Minutes
Today…
* Making the house a home: Going through paper clutter dating back to a very long time ago and getting ready for 2013 by creating space in our filing cabinet.
* On the menu this week: Greg wants more simplified meals, more from scratch cooking. I’m fine with that as Elise loves to help me. I made a list of 27 meals that are family-tested and easy to make from scratch and let Greg pick 14 of them. He chose: spaghetti, chicken alfredo, cajun red beans and rice, shepherd’s pie, tater tot casserole (twice), fish, tuna noodle casserole, meatloaf, General Tso’s chicken, chicken and rice soup, rotisserie chicken from Costco, Mexican chicken and rice, and Santa Fe casserole bake.
I haven’t put a meal to the day (yet) but I think we may just pick whatever sounds good each day, with the meatless meals for Friday.
* Out and about: grocery shopping tomorrow, non-profit meeting
* Reading Through:
The books! They just keep coming in my mailbox! I am seriously backlogged on my books.
* Praying fervently for: Baby Wok to get over her crud (without requiring antibiotics), continued success with Ben’s potty-training, guidance with our finances (huge mortgage hike beginning next year thanks to higher property taxes, sigh), wisdom for Greg as he begins to interview people for the position he supervises, my mom and her Parkinson’s, for Elise’s little friend with brain cancer – so far all is going very well. For me to get over whatever funk I’m in, too.
An Advent Retreat
Fr. S passed along this link to me. I figured I’d pass it along here in case anyone is interested in a DIY Advent retreat.
The current retreat guide is called “You Matter” and is quite well done. You can download it as a PDF, watch it online, or listen to it as a podcast. Put on by Regnum Christi and the Legionaires of Christ, the guides are completely free of charge. They hope to have one each month. Donations are accepted to keep it running!
(It’s silent over here because Bennie ripped off several of my keys on my keyboard and they don’t particularly work well, and I’m kind of in a funk. Prayers are appreciated!)
Monday Minutes (on Tuesday!)
Today…
* Making the house a home: I’m not doing anything beyond tasty meas, a pine-scented candle, and horsing around with the olders. Baby Wok has a cold so she’s extra cranky and just wants to sleep and comfort nurse. Poor baby.
* On the menu this week: Chicken alfredo with rice, chicken stir-fry, pork roast, tuna noodle bake, meatloaf, tacos
* Out and about: meeting with my counselor on Thursday, Immaculate Conception Mass on Saturday morning, vigil Mass Saturday evening, Christmas party for state Supreme Court
* Reading Through:
The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin (some day I’ll finish this book – it’s long and deep – so, so, so very good!)
Fr. S graciously gifted Greg and I Signs of the Times: Understanding the Church Since Vatican II by Fr. Richard Gilsdorf. I haven’t started this (yet), Greg is reading it but it sounds really, really good!
What Do I Do Monday? by John Holt arrived last week.
And I also have The Unicorn in the Sanctuary: The Impact of the New Age on the Catholic Church
* Praying fervently for: Elise to get over her sinus infection, for Baby Wok to get over her cold, peace in this Advent season, gentleness with the kids
* Homeschooling: Advent focus! I have a slew of great picture books for Advent/Christmas on reserve at the Library which are slowly being fulfilled. Lots of reading, Advent activities, and enjoying each other’s company.
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Linking up over at Suscipio.
Loving the Little Things
As we step into Advent and December, here is what I am grateful for:
:: VeggieTales Christmas music that I didn’t even know I had! (Incredible Singing Christmas Tree
:: Elise doesn’t have pneumonia, thanks be to God!
:: Tea
:: Advent – time to rest and wait while the world rushes to Christmas Day, only to forget it at the first second of December 26th.
:: Snuggles with the kids
:: Advent at Ephesus
:: The kids resting quietly this afternoon, reading books while the rain (!) falls. Advent at Ephesus is on which is REALLY helping to foster a quiet mood.
Monday Minutes
Today…
* Making the house a home: laundry, really. For some reason I fell behind in Big People Laundry so that’s what I need to get caught up on, big time.
* On the menu this week: golly, I don’t know. Tomorrow is food shopping day, which means I need to make the menu plan either today or tomorrow. Complicating things (slightly) is that we may be having Fr. Anonymous over for dinner, and I try to make dishes that are slightly fancier than what we normally have whenever we have priests over. Maybe I should select a dish and keep it on ‘standby’ … it could be the priest dish!
* Out and about: pediatrician for Elise today, physical on Wednesday, trip to the military post’s hospital to deliver Christmas cards to the veterans, board meeting for non-profit.
* Reading Through:
The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin (some day I’ll finish this book – it’s long and deep – so, so, so very good!)
Fr. S graciously gifted Greg and I Signs of the Times: Understanding the Church Since Vatican II
I finished reading The Mother of the Little Flower: Zelie Martin (1831-1877)
Finally, I have What Do I Do Monday?
* Praying fervently for: Elise has a cold (ugh) now and I really don’t want it to turn into pneumonia. Bennie seems to be over his, Deo gratias. And speaking of Bennie, he beginning potty training and doing quite well. For a friend who appears to be drinking from the bitter cup again.
* Homeschooling: today Elise has been drawing horses. She also discovered the joy of magnets yesterday with Greg’s Mom. I’m anticipating a lot of magnet and horses this week, unless her illness progresses further.
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Linking up over at Suscipio.