Description
"A poignant look at one woman's fight for herself, told in expressively scrawled drawings and commentary. Author Elizabeth Swados takes us on an intimate journey through her long-time struggle with depression that is by turns tender, funny, and uplifting, and will resonate with everyone affected by depression and those who love them. Through the author's charming and frenzied drawings, readers get a unique look into the experience of severe depression, from the black cloud forming in the horizon, to the strained relationships, the side effects of anti-depressants, and the difficulty getting out of bed and functioning. For the many people who suffer from depression, this is a reminder that they are not alone and that their experiences are legitimate and deserve to be part of mainstream awareness. This is an engaging and uplifting story of an illness that has been stigmatized for too long"--
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This intimate journey through long-term depression is by turns tender, funny, poignant, and uplifting. Swados' charming words and frenzied drawings bring home the experience of severe depression, from the black cloud forming on the horizon to feelings of self-loathing and loss of self-confidence; from contemplating suicide, which Swados describes as wandering off into the Sahara desert (discounting the buzzards and the scorpions), to actively seeking out methods for fighting depression—including psychics, diet, and repression therapy—to experimenting with antidepressants that make you snippy, sleepy, or judgmental. My Depression is an engaging and heartening memoir of an illness that has been stigmatized for too long and on how it is possible to survive, one little challenge at a time, with medication and the occasional tasty, messy slice of pizza; with dancing to a boombox on the street and thanking the mailman for the newest catalogue, then proceeding to read it cover to cover!
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