Bipolar, Not So Much

Understanding Your Mood Swings and Depression

By: Chris Aiken MD, James Phelps MD

Narrated by: Charles Constant

Depression confuses the mind, strips away hope, and causes people to blame themselves for an illness they never asked for. This book presents a revolutionary new understanding of the concept of depression and offers skills and strategies to manage it.

No longer is this a one-size-fits-all diagnosis, and antidepressants are no longer the one-size-fits-all treatment. Mood disorders are now seen to form a spectrum of problems, from common depression on one end to full bipolar disorder on the other. In between these extremes are multitudes of people who are on the middle of the mood spectrum, and this book is for them.

The first part of the book helps answer the question, "Where am I on the mood spectrum?" By laying the foundation for understanding this spectrum, Aiken and Phelps highlight the key distinctions that define unipolarity, bipolarity, hypomania, mania, and depression.

The authors also empower listeners to look beyond antidepressants. They walk listeners through new medications for the mood spectrum, and offer a guide to non-medication treatments that anyone can use on their own, from diet and lifestyle changes to natural supplements.

©2017 Chris Aiken, MD, and James Phelps, MD (P)2021 Tantor

A lot of helpful information

Some of the treatment and family/friends section seems really obvious and unnecessary. Overall the book included a lot of interesting details about the mood spectrum and was helpful. The website also lists a lot of helpful resources.

Life changing

Depression as a spectrum and the knowledge of heritabiliy could potentially get me out of this cycle of sadness

covers many aspects of depression

Great guide for patients and family--gets into the diagnoses and management and is very readable!

ON POINT!!!

Thank goodness for research! After 65 years, so excited for the younger generations. Reminder: Life can be so good.

Practicality of this book both for clinicians and patients

Excellent book for mental health clinicians or individuals to learn about the mood spectrum, particularly patients who fall in between major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder

Thank you

This book is a godsend for my understanding and explains the science of mood disorders as they vary on a spectrum in a conversational and easy to follow way. The specific examples were particularly helpful! Great book for anyone looking to understand themselves, others, or moods in general.

Please read

This is a wonderful book explaining the ups and downs of bipolar disorder. Treatments both psychological, therapy, and homeopathic options. I must read for people who have bipolar or have people in their life with bipolar.

If I could get everyone to read one book it would be this one!!

Sincerely think this is the most informative book to ever exist on mood disorders. A detailed yet not boring crash course. Incredible. The narrator was amazing!

If you are on the mood spectrum PLEASE READ

This book has been one of the most informative and to the point books I’ve read to learn my symptoms and be able to discuss more efficiently with my medical providers

good narrator

This narrator was really good. He made it so that the information was easier to follow and I didn't zone out like I have with other self help books. The book itself was good. It wasn't as dry as some others that I've read.