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Average Customer Rating:

Beating Stress, Anxiety and Depression	Customer Rating:
This book is extremely comprehensive. There is something for everyone from sufferers, their families/friends, lay and health practitioners. What I found particularly refreshing was the way the writers had explained the brain function (Chapter 3 - Mind Matters) in a clear (mostly) jargon free way, the importance of the talking therapies and the part that complementary therapies can contribute.

Scientific skills are not easily transferrable

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J Browne makes a good point about this book's scientific arguments. There is no robust data supporting the role of blood tests of neurotransmitter amines in the diagnosis of depression. Jane Plant's scientific reputation in earth sciences is assured, but now she has waded into the different specialist area of psychopharmacology the results are much less convincing. Her pharmacology and critical appraisal skills are, I feel, somewhat exposed in this volume.

A welcome alternative to taking drugs

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At last, a book that offers many alternatives to taking drugs - which deal with the symptoms, not the causes.This book impressed me by being well supported by scientific proof. For some strange reason, another reviewer claimed there were 'phoney scientific arguments' whereas all statements were well referenced in the notes at the back of the book. The great thing about the various techniques offered is that they could save many people from relying on medication - which can become a long-term addiction.

excellent book, full of real science

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apart from the slightly questionable review below I agree with everyone else i've ever met who read and used this book. Brilliant, helpful and different. If you think you've tried everything to fix your depression pr anxiety problems, try this! As a scientist myself I can only say that in my opinion this is one the most soundly scientifically based texts on mental health i've ever seen, as you would expect given the authors' credentials. You don't get a CBE for services to earth sciences for writing rubbish do you?

A real eye-epener

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This book came as a very welcome surprise to me and at just the right moment of my life. I have long been impressed by Prof. Plant's work, and the thorough, painstaking research that goes into each of her books. I have fought a long and so far remarkably successful battle against prostate cancer, and I credit my progress to finding Prof.Plant's own story of her struggle against breast cancer, in "Your Life In Your Hands", within days of my diagnosis in April 2005. Early this year, in May 2008, I was feeling particularly 'down' and just could not fathom out why. Surely I would have had far more reason to be depressed in the first months of diagnosis, not now - at such a highpoint in my life; I had finished all cancer treatment. As usual, the impatient patient that is me began trawling the internet for answers. I had already asked questions of my family doctor and my oncologist, but felt disatisfied with their responses and suggestions. I felt there must be a biochemical reason why I was feeling so depressed and unable to cope. I wondered if there was some imbalance of hormones in my body. I was amazed to discover that Jane Plant had written this book with Janet Stephenson and that both had suffered badly at one time with stress, anxiety and depression, yet had found a way to successfully combat the illness. I read the book from cover to cover, and it certainly did open my eyes. At last I could see clear reasons why I was feeling the way I did. There was nothing for me to be ashamed about - I hadn't suddenly became 'weak-willed' or lazy. There really WERE hormonal imbalances, and there really were possible solutions. I am now seen regularly by an endocrinologist and I have followed all the suggestions in this book to keep myself on the path to a full recovery. I would thoroughly recommend this ground-breaking book to anyone who is feeling depressed - and baffled as to exactly what is causing such depression. George Hardy