Synopsis: Len's Star Rating: 7 out of 10. An encouraging book that primarily addresses complementary, natural strategies for improving mental health and depressive symptoms.

BY LEN LANTZ, MD / 9.16.2022; No. 95

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Star Rating – 7 out of 10

Rating guide: 1 = horrible, 5 = average and 10 = wow

Author

Gregory Scott Brown

About the author

Gregory Scott Brown, MD, is a psychiatrist, mental health writer, and columnist for Men's Health magazine. Dr. Brown also is an affiliate faculty member at the University of Texas Dell Medical School, serves on the Council on Communications for the American Psychiatric Association, and maintains a clinical practice at the Center for Green Psychiatry in Houston, Texas. The Self-Healing Mind is his first book.

General description

The Self-Healing Mind, a well-written book with a conversational tone, addresses aspects of depression and strategies for overcoming it. Dr. Brown draws from examples in his own life, his clinical practice, and his interactions with leaders in the field of psychiatry as he shares primarily complementary, natural approaches for improving depression and enhancing overall mental health. When utilized together, his five main strategies, or “pillars,” are reported to create a strong, synergistic effect on the body and mind and to have powerful, positive effects on emotions. The author’s five pillars are covered as individual chapters:

• Bringing Attention to Breath

• The Sleep Solution

• Tapping into Your Spiritual Self

• The Medicine on Your Plate

• Moving Your Body for Your Mind

Unique and most important aspects

The Self-Healing Mind is an approachable book on depression that is written in a friendly, engaging style. Most readers will appreciate that Dr. Brown is thorough but not overly technical in describing various aspects of depression and its treatments. The author shares stories from his life and clinical practice, and this enlivens the text and reveals a mindful approach to health, medicine, and life in general.

I liked this book, and I applaud the author’s courage, authenticity, and generosity in sharing his past struggles with depression and his knowledge of medicine. At the same time, I found some aspects of the text to be disagreeable. I felt uncomfortable with the use of the author’s testimony of overcoming depression without psychotherapy or antidepressant medication because these two treatments are some of the quickest and most effective solutions for depression. Medical research is clear that the faster you get rid of depression, the better the outcomes (Kraus, et al. Translational Psychiatry. 2019). I frankly liked the author’s five pillars, however, they are simply the author’s five natural strategies. Not all research evidence is equivalent, and the five natural strategies covered by the author do not represent the five most effective treatments for depression proven by medical research. Important features of this book include:

• Distinguishing mental illness from mental health

• Sharing the advances and limitations of brain science on emotions

• Covering placebo effects versus clinical efficacy of antidepressant medications

• Addressing the importance of building resiliency

• Encouraging suicidal people to reach out for help

• Describing a variety of breathing techniques

• Highlighting nutritional psychiatry and the Food is Medicine movement

• Outlining the mental health benefits of the Mediterranean diet

Best quotes

“For example, there is no diagnosis for loneliness, or neglect – and no diagnosis for feeling like you don’t have a purpose. Although these are not mental illnesses, per se, they can have a profound impact on your mood and your life.”

“Mental illness isn’t a choice, but mental health can be. The work you put into learning about your mind, and figuring out what makes you tick, can not only reduce your risk for developing mental illnesses in the future but also lead to a more positive mindset and an improved quality of life today.”

“Self-care, truly, is the original form of preventative medicine.”

“Since thoughts about suicide can quickly become all-encompassing, until you take suicide as an option off the table, it’s nearly impossible to make room for all of the things you can do to promote resiliency and mental health.”

Who would enjoy this book?

Readers who are interested in learning about natural and complementary strategies for improving depression and overall mental health are likely to enjoy The Self-Healing Mind.

Who would not enjoy this book?

Readers who would be put off by the author downplaying traditional, evidence-based depression treatments such as psychotherapy and antidepressants are unlikely to enjoy The Self-Healing Mind.

Conclusion

The Self-Healing Mind is an encouraging book that primarily addresses complementary, natural strategies for improving mental health and depressive symptoms.

Buy this book at your local, independently-owned bookstore (or below)