MoonglotexasMy own journey with depression was harrowing and drug-induced (you can read more about it here and here). It took me about two years to recover from the side effects of opiate withdrawal and many of the coping mechanisms described in this book are ones I used. Had this book been published then, it would have been a blessing, an encouragement and a guide.
Part of the reassurance given by the book originates in the occupation of the author – a neuropsychologist – and the other part in Dr. Michelle Bengston having suffered first hand. She speaks from a place of knowledge and experience, it is a unique perspective. Her faith is the element I enjoyed most, Christianity is at the heart of this book and this faith-based approach is the structure upon which it is built. She in no way dismisses the conventional treatments but adds to them a spiritual dimension that resonates deeply with me,
Remembering how hard putting one foot in front of another was, I love the prescription of worship music and small acts at the end of each chapter. Kari Jobe’s albums played in our home constantly when I was in the grip of depression and continue to be a light when I need it.
I love this line: “In a depressed state, you may not feel treasured or even acceptable, but you are. While I’m not asking you to deny your feelings, I’m asking you to choose to believe the truth of God’s Word over your feelings.”
I highly recommend it to those who suffer from depression or wants to understand the mind of someone who feels depressed.
From the back cover:
Neuropsychologist Offers Hope to Those Struggling with Depression
As a board-certified neuropsychologist, Dr. Michelle Bengtson sees the devastation of depression. Early on, she practiced the most effective treatments and prescribed them for her clients. But when she experienced depression herself, she found that the treatments she had recommended were lacking. Her experience showed her the missing component in treating depression.
In Hope Prevails, Dr. Bengtson writes with deep compassion, blending her training and faith, to offer readers a hope grounded in God’s love and grace. She helps readers understand what depression is, how it affects them spiritually, and what, by God’s grace, it cannot do. The result is an approach that offers the hope of release, not just the management of symptoms.
For those who struggle with depression and those who want to help them, Hope Prevails offers hope for the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and Revell for the advance copy.
