Monday, March 8, 2010

Beyond Blue Book Review and Five Book Giveaway

This review is now closed. Thank you for entering!

If you are someone who is living with depression and anxiety you must read Therese J. Borchard's Book Beyond Blue. This book offers advice, inspiration, and an honest account from someone who has endured severe depression first-hand. Even for those not living with depression, Borchard's story is fascinating, you will find yourself chuckling on one page and deeply moved the next, and overall, the book will leave you with a greater understanding of the illness.

About the Author: Therese Borchard is the author of the hit daily blog "Beyond Blue" on Beliefnet.com, which is one of her most popular columns on the website. Her blog appears weekly on the Huffington Post and she is becoming a top go-to expert on pop psychology. Borchard's work has been featured in salon.com, Psychology Today, Real Simple, Redbook, Parenting, More, and Ladies Home Journal. She writes a syndicated column for the Catholic News Service and is a regular guest on Sirius Satellite Radio.

About the Book: Beyond Blue- Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes. ISBN 978-I-59995-I56-0. Copyright 2010 Center Street, Hatchette Book Group.

Beyond Blue is Therese J. Borchard's book that was written based on her blog posts in her daily blog Beyond Blue. Borchard is a manic depressive, an alcoholic, an adult child of an alcoholic and (sadly) her list of disorders goes on. Borchard reveals her day to day struggles and honestly examines her own depression biologically, holistically, spiritually and gives the reader guidance based on her acquired wisdom and research.

The Review: The main reason I wanted to read Beyond Blue is because I live with mild depression and I was curious to read about someone else's experience with the illness. I couldn't have picked a better book, as I can relate to Borchard in so many ways. We are both moms; bloggers; writers; Catholics; people-pleasers; sugar addicts; hormonally imbalanced females; and highly sensitive people who live with depression. If I ever have the opportunity to meet her, we will certainly have a few things to chat about.

My book is marked with so many flags of interesting, moving and informative excerpts, I hardly know where to begin. I couldn't agree more with Borchard when she says, "And besides, 'wounded' people are so much more fun to hang out with than 'flawless' folks who deny their illnesses and object to prescriptions. "

I used to be one of those people that objected to taking a prescription for depression, because I didn't want to admit that I needed it. I thought it was a weakness or a cop-out. Thank God I got over that and thanks to medication, I am feeling a whole lot better.

Borchard experiences the same thing, but on a much, much more severe level. This is a woman who would cry and shake with anxiety at her son's karate class. She was obsessed with thoughts of suicide and spent her time thinking of ways to kill herself.

She attempts to overcome her depression and Bipolar disorder without medication and is unsuccessful. Borchard comes to understand that it is the combination of the right medications in the right quantities, the right doctor, the right therapist, exercise, meditation and diet that has enabled her to control her depression and anxiety successfully.

Borchard has the ability to reveal something so painful (and shameful) as her alcohol abuse and yet brings levity by writing, "I woke up in between trash cans on the lawn of a classmate (or) in a friend's closet- my mom subsequently told me that my dad used to pass out in closets, too, so I guess it runs in the family..." At just the right moments, she is very funny throughout the book.

In the chapter From the Maternity Ward to the Psych Ward, Borchard describes how having her first child disrupted her biochemistry and literally landed her in the psych ward in four simple steps. This made me think about my own depression (which not surprisingly showed up after having my first child). Borchard cites Ruta Nonacs, MD, PHD who explains in her book A Deeper Shade of Blue that, "one of the most challenging aspects of caring for a young child in our culture is social isolation.... Today most women are left to care for their baby alone." HELLO?! How many moms can relate to that?

In the Chapter Work It, Girlfriend! Borchard reveals her 12-Step Program. Find the right doctor. Find the right cocktail (medication). Exercise. Eat well. Sleep. Light up. (get sunlight). Reach Out! Get Involved (service to others). Keep a Mood/sleep/gratitude journal. Therapy and lots of it. Pray and Meditate. Fake it Til You Make It.

Borchard thoughtfully describes her recovery from severe depression as being "much like the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly. Butterflies are stonger and more beautiful than caterpillars as a result of their struggle."

My eyes got misty when I read, "My sincere intention for Beyond Blue is that anyone who struggles with anxiety or depression-even in the slightest way-might find a companion in me, some consolation in the incredibly personal details of my story, and a bit of hope to lighten an often dark and lonely place." Once you read the details of her story, you know that these words are written with compassion and humility, (no question) coming straight from her heart.

This book is a valuable resource for overcoming depression recommended highly by fellow authors, licensed clinical phychologists and me.

Buy It: Beyond Blue is available on Amazon.com for $14.95.


This review is now closed. Thank you for entering!
Win It: Anna from the Hachette Book Group is generously offering five copies of Beyond Blue to my readers.

THE RULES:

--U.S. and Canadian residents only.
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--One comment is needed for each entry.
--Include your email address in your comments.

To Enter is easy, just one mandatory entry.

Mandatory Entry:

1. Comment on why you would like to read this book. If you would rather not say why, just comment "I would like to read this book."

--Include your email address (if not public in a profile) so I can contact you if you win.

Additional optional entries: Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done.

2. --Follow my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Already a follower, just leave a comment saying that you are a follower.

3. --Subscribe to my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Current subscribers are eligible too.

4.--Follow me on Twitter . Current followers are eligible too, just leave a comment saying that you are a twitter follower.

5.--Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link to your tweet (Can tweet once daily).

6.--Post my button on your blog and leave a link to your blog.

--FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Write a blog post about this giveaway, with a link to my blog. Come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

Giveaway ends on March 29th at 11:59 PM EST. Open to US addresses only. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted.

Many thanks to Anna at the Hachette Book Group for providing the review copy and giveaway copies!

This review is now closed. Thank you for entering!

71 comments:

Jennifer said...

I would like to read this book might help in the future with family and friends

Jennifer said...

I follow your blog

Jennifer said...

I follow you on Twitter (@jkgorcery)

Jennifer said...

I tweeted: https://twitter.com/jkgorcery/status/10204590477

Jennifer said...

I subscribe via email

Aleksandra Nearing said...

I would like to read this book because I like reading books on a wide variety of topics.
aleksa91@hotmail.com

Aleksandra Nearing said...

follow your blog
aleksa91@hotmail.com

Aleksandra Nearing said...

I have your button on my blog
www.busyworkingmama.blogspot.com
aleksa91@hotmail.com

Book Lover said...

I'd like to read this book to understand a family member better
time4mommy@gmail.com

sweetpea18 said...

i'd like to read this book because several members of my family deal with mild to severe depression. thanks! heatheranya at hotmail dot com

Suburban prep said...

I would like to know what this book has to offer me. I would love to read it.

msgb245 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Hi =)


I'm now following your blog from The Blog Following Network.

I would love for you to come on by and check out my blog :)
On the Brink de la Locura


Much Luv,
Karen

rubymoon said...

All I will say is "I would like to read the book"

Thanks for the chance.

rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

rubymoon said...

Follower on Google Friend Connect/Ally

rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

rubymoon said...

Email subscriber

rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

rubymoon said...

Follow your Tweets

@hopscotchlime

rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

janetfaye said...

I would like to read this book.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

I am a follower - janetfaye

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

I follow you on Twitter - Janetfaye

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

1. I blogged:
http://blog-giveaways.blogspot.com/2010/03/beyond-blue-book-review-and-five-book.html

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

2. I blogged:
http://blog-giveaways.blogspot.com/2010/03/beyond-blue-book-review-and-five-book.html

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

3. I blogged:
http://blog-giveaways.blogspot.com/2010/03/beyond-blue-book-review-and-five-book.html

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

4. I blogged:
http://blog-giveaways.blogspot.com/2010/03/beyond-blue-book-review-and-five-book.html

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

5. I blogged:
http://blog-giveaways.blogspot.com/2010/03/beyond-blue-book-review-and-five-book.html

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Judy B. said...

I would like to win this book because I am a therapist and because I have problems with anxiety.

Judy B. said...

I follow via GFC

Judy B. said...

I follow on Twitter as BBirdie2

Judy B. said...

Tweet:
http://twitter.com/BBirdie2/status/10411663722

Judy B. said...

I subscribe via Google Reader

Coolestmommy said...

I would like to read this book, then share with my MOPS group. We have a MOPS library that almost 100 women use. I think many more women would be helped by this book.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com

Coolestmommy said...

I follow
coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com

Coolestmommy said...

I subscribe
coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com

Coolestmommy said...

Follow on twitter (Coolestmommy)

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com

Coolestmommy said...

Tweeted
http://twitter.com/Coolestmommy/statuses/10434210056

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com

Kim L. said...

I would really like to read this book! It sounds like my life story! xoxo

Jaime said...

I would love to read this book
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Jaime said...

already a follower
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Jaime said...

already a subscriber
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Jaime said...

follow on twitter
@copperllama
copperllama at yahoo dot com

Dr. Bill (William L.) Smith said...

I am a follower - sounds like a good book!

Bill ;-)

billsmith2003 (at) gmail (dot) com

Hope you'll check out my book giveaway:
http://drbillsbookbazaar.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-giveaway-reliable-wife.html

Unknown said...

I am always fascinated with personal stories related to how others deal with depression, anxiety and other matters related to these conditions. I too am diagnosed with depression and anxiety and struggle daily to keep on top of it. I would love to read this book.

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

I am a follower of your blog.

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

I blogged about this giveaway.

http://meditativereading.blogspot.com/2010/03/beyond-blue-book-review-and-five-book.html

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

I tweeted about the giveaway:
http://twitter.com/pine1211/status/10639209493
bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

I follow you on Twitter (@pine1211)

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

I blogged about this giveaway. #2

http://meditativereading.blogspot.com/2010/03/beyond-blue-book-review-and-five-book.html

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

I blogged about this giveaway. #3

http://meditativereading.blogspot.com/2010/03/beyond-blue-book-review-and-five-book.html

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

I blogged about this giveaway. #3

http://meditativereading.blogspot.com/2010/03/beyond-blue-book-review-and-five-book.html

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

I blogged about this giveaway.#5

http://meditativereading.blogspot.com/2010/03/beyond-blue-book-review-and-five-book.html

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

I subscribe through Google Reader

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I would love to read this book because after I had my daughter everything just seemed to fall apart with stress and demands and just life in general and it feels like I'm just getting over it now, 2 years later, we're looking at having another one and I'd love to be able to identify depression in the onset and really kick it in the butt!

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I follow you on twitter! (perfectbluemoon)

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]om

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I tweeted about this giveaway!
http://twitter.com/perfectbluemoon/status/10669895528

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I blogged about this giveaway! (3)
http://perfectbluemoon.blogspot.com/2010/03/march-18th-giveaway-list.html

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I blogged about this giveaway! (4)
http://perfectbluemoon.blogspot.com/2010/03/march-18th-giveaway-list.html

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I blogged about this giveaway! (5)
http://perfectbluemoon.blogspot.com/2010/03/march-18th-giveaway-list.html

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

maureen73 said...

As a social worker and as a mom (who worries A LOT about her little ones)...I would find this book helpful hoping in "helping" others in my profession.
maureenruble@yahoo.com

maureen73 said...

I follow your blog!
maureenruble@yahoo.com

mandala said...

I'm a Pysch student so I'm very interested to read this book and hopefully it would be useful for me in school and in my field in the future.

mandalarctic@gmail.com

mandala said...

Blog follower

mandalarctic@gmail.com

mandala said...

Twitter follower

mandalarctic@gmail.com

Misty said...

I would love to read this book because I have struggled with depression for most my life.
mommy2skie at yahoo dot com

Misty said...

follow your blog.
mommy2skie at yahoo dot com

Misty said...

got your button;
www.thismommyhasanopinion.blogspot.com

Misty said...

subscribe.
mommy2skie at yahoo dot com

Dilem*mama said...

i would like to read this and I think i know someone who could REALLY use it.
dilem.mama{AT}gmail{DOT}com

Dilem*mama said...

i follow already
dilem.mama{AT}gmail{DOT}com

Nancy said...

I would like to read this book.

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

Nancy said...

I follow via Google Friend.

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

Nancy said...

I am an e-mail subscriber.

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

tina reynolds said...

I would like to read this book

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