Shadow Syndromes: Recognizing and Coping with the Hidden Psychological Disorders That Can Influenc e Your Behavior and Silently Determine t - Hardcover

Ratey M.D., John J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0679439684 ISBN 13: 9780679439684

Publisher: Pantheon, 1997

Synopsis

The millions of people who attribute their daily life problems to bad parents, low self-esteem, or lack of will power may, in fact, be struggling with shadow syndromes.

Chronic sadness, obsessiveness, outbursts of anger, inability to finish tasks, disabling discomfort in social situations -- these and other problems are all mild forms of serious mental disorders that can affect the very courses of our lives. They are shadow syndromes.

Drs. John J. Ratey and Catherine Johnson challenge the prevalent idea that problems like these are brought on by aberrations in a person's upbringing and relationships, and then prolonged by his or her willful resistance to change. Instead, they assert that these behavior patterns originate in the inherent structure and chemistry of the individual brain, that they are distinctly identifiable, and that they respond to a range of approaches: from medication and psychotherapy to diet, meditation, and exercise.

Elucidating for the first time the biology behind personality, Shadow Syndromes provides the knowledge and learning we need to understand the real causes of the treacherous mood swings and behavior patterns that can hold us back from what we need to achieve.  It provides the guidance we need to emerge from the shadows that often determine the courses of our lives, enabling us to effect positive and lasting change in ourselves and those we love.  

About this title

Review

Freud once said that nobody is "normal," and after reading Shadow Syndromes, you may well be convinced of that. While more than 50 million Americans suffer from full-fledged mental illnesses such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, millions more suffer from milder forms--yet they likely don't realize it. From chronic sadness to low self-esteem to shopping addiction to intermittent rage disorder, compassionate authors John J. Ratey, M.D. and Catherine Johnson, Ph.D. chronicle the often-undiagnosed (yet definitely insidious) "shadow" disorders. One of the most eye-opening points the authors make is that men who "can't commit" to a relationship may in fact be suffering from an unrecognized adult form of attention deficit disorder.

Shadow Syndromes is thorough, but at the same time it simplifies the technical aspects of mental illnesses--no stacks of footnotes or complicated neurotransmitter charts here. The authors use plenty of anecdotes to illustrate how everyday people have recognized and overcome shadow syndromes. They also prevent the book from becoming one big bundle of bad news by stressing that these disorders are treatable with medications such as Prozac, which Johnson took to handle her mild depression. Specific lifestyle changes are also advised, including more sleep, changes in diet, and more exercise. The "Care and Feeding of the Brain" chapter compiles other empowering, healing approaches. This book will be valuable not only for those who believe they're suffering from a shadow syndrome, but for doctors and therapists as well. --Erica Jorgensen

From the Publisher

Identify the hidden timebombs in your personality...featuring proven treatments and strategies that can change your life.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pantheon
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0679439684
• ISBN 13: 9780679439684
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 389