Valerie Dalton
Taking Time for Your Mental Health
By
Jul 30, 2008 - 10:09:30 AM

There’s no better time than summer to focus on improving your mental health.  Warm sunny days are perfect for spending time outdoors.  Exposure to sunlight and increased physical activity have been shown to create general feelings of wellness and decrease depression.  Summer really is the perfect season to make time for refueling your mental energy tanks.  Remember, if you don’t take time to care for your mental health, who will?

One thing I love to do over the summer months is to catch up on my reading.  If you’re looking for some interesting and informative books to read this summer that deal with mental health topics, here are my recommendations.

In Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder, Herschel Walker, one of football’s greatest running backs, courageously shares his story of living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).  Formally known as multiple personality disorder, DID is a widely misunderstood mental illness.  Walker shares his personal struggles with childhood obesity and stuttering and talks about how he created “alters” to help him withstand abuse.  He talks about how his illness impacted his football career at the University of Georgia and when he played professionally for the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, and Minnesota Vikings.  He also talks about the impact his illness had on his relationships and marriage.  This is a very powerful and informative book; I didn’t want to put it down once I started reading.  Mr. Walker’s contributions to football and sports are significant but I believe his greatest accomplishment is his work helping persons who suffer from DID and brain disorders.

E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., a renowned psychiatrist, has written two books that I highly recommend.  His newest book, The Insanity Offense: How America’s Failure to Treat the Seriously Mentally Ill Endangers Its Citizens, is a fascinating book.  Torrey clearly shows us that treating and caring for the severely mentally ill is possible and that as a society, we must address this crisis now.  He offers solutions, education, and hope.  Everyone interested in mental health can learn a great deal from reading this book. 

Another very helpful and informative book by Dr. Torrey is Surviving Schizophrenia: a Manual for Families, Patients, and Providers.  If you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or love someone who has, this book provides you with valuable information about this very misunderstood brain disorder.  You’ll learn about the history of schizophrenia as well as its possible causes and symptoms.  Dr. Torrey also discusses treatment options and available resources.  This is a wonderful resource for consumers, family members, and mental health professionals.

Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families by Francis Mark Mondimore, M.D. is by far the best book I’ve ever read about bipolar disorder (the brain disorder formerly known as manic-depressive illness).  Dr. Mondimore begins by informing his reader about what is normal and abnormal mood.  He also writes about the various types of bipolar disorder, how it’s diagnosed, and available treatment options such as mood-stabilizing medications, antidepressant medications, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), and counseling and psychotherapy.  If you’re looking for a book to read to better understand bipolar disorder, put this on the top of your list.

I hope you have a wonderful summer that refreshes you mentally and physically.  I’ll be taking some time off from writing this column, but please stay tuned for more Mental Health Matters in the months to come.  And remember, your mental health matters! 

This column is for informational purposes only.  Clinical issues should be directed to a licensed clinician or your physician.  Valerie Dalton, M.Ed. is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a private practice serving adolescents and adults.  For more information about her counseling and consulting services, please call 743-7736 or visit www.valeriedaltonlpc.com.

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