Product Description

Read this book and feel better. Counselor and author Paul Wider, MA shares his own battle with and victory over depression and bipolar disorder--formerly called manic depression. His hope is contagious as he shares numerous practical tools he used and you can use to get well and stay well. Helpful information for caregivers is also included.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #237225 in Books
• Published on: 2001-02-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 229 pages

Review
"I've read all of the books on manic depression and this book is the only one that comes at healing manic depression from so many angles." -- A reader from Michigan

Dear Mr. Wider,

Thank God for people like you. Your book is wonderfully insightful to the bipolar illness. Most information is too clinical to really understand. -- A reader from the USA

From the Author
From one who "lived" depression & bipolar disorder. I am the author. My credentials are: 1) I am a mental health counselor with an MA degree 2) Personal experience living with and working through my own Depression and Manic Depression. 3) Started and facilitated for two years the first 12 Step Depression Manic Depression Anonymous group in New Jersey. This book is for "anyone" who experiences highs and lows and wishes to learn wholesome ways to master his or her moods. It is full of numerous tools (that have no side effects) to lift depression and calm highs. These methods work for me and have been wrought through pain, suffering, trial, and research on the subject. My book is written in plain everyday lay persons language which anyone can understand and apply. The book also contains information on how to help family members or close friends who suffer. Taking medication is not the only way to correct chemical imbalances in the brain. There are many others ways to accomplish this. The book introduces you to these methods. Hope! , Healing and Wellness to you! Sincerely, Paul Wider

About the Author
Paul Wider is an author, counselor and public speaker. He started the first 12 Step Depression/Manic Depression Anonymous support group in New Jersey. He has dedicated much of his life to helping people get well from Depression and Manic Depression.

Wider believes in keeping balance in his life. He accomplishes this through working, praying, playing and resting. He loves nature and the outdoors. Traveling and adventure led him to a 9 month trip around the world in his thirties. Wider loves his fianc, family, and friends.

Customer Reviews

Overcoming Depression and manic Depression -P. Wider
I feel sympathetic toward this author because he is also bipolar and he wrote a book to help others with his best intentions and best resources... however, I found it to be almost childish in its lack of sophistication. I think a young teen or older child would be able to use the book to get started on the road to recovery with bipolar illness. For me, I read the whole book in about 20 minutes. It is full of lists, little drawings and charts and a very personalized and narrow perspective on tools and techniques to help oneself through the ups and downs of the illness. It's not a very good book. In fact, it really is poorly written and lacking in substance. Sorry.

Life-changing
This book completely changed my life! I've been in therapy and on medication for depression for about 20 years with no lasting success. It wasn't until I read this book that I realized that I was suffering from bipolar disorder, not simply depression. With the help of this book, therapy, and medication specifically for bipolar, I am a healthy, happy adult now and am so thankful for Dr. Wider.

Not Good Enough
I bought this book hoping it would give me insight into why I was feeling depressed. But it didn't. It gave pratical advice and just wasn't good enough.