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Basic InformationMore InformationLookupsLatest NewsLatest Edition of Psychiatry's 'Bible' Launched Amid ControversySocial Considerations Not Accounted for in DSM-5Belief in God Tied to Greater Psychiatric Treatment ResponseBrain Wiring May Explain Unhealthy Obsession With LooksPsychopaths May Lack Capacity for EmpathyFaith May Complement Treatment for Mental IllnessHospitalization OK for Psych Patients Can Take HoursMental Health Seaches on Web Follow a Seasonal PatternSeverely Injured Vets May Need Ongoing Emotional CareGoogle Search Trends Suggest Mental Woes Vary by SeasonsMental Illness a Frequent Cell Mate for Those Behind BarsU.S. Must Step Up Response to Vets, Report SaysNews Coverage of Shootings May Boost Stigma of Mental IllnessPeople With Mental Illness Make Up Large Share of U.S SmokersADHD Can Often Persist Into AdulthoodSNPs Confer Risk for Multiple Psychiatric DisordersChildhood Bullying Linked to Adult Psychiatric OutcomesShared Genes May Link ADHD, Autism and DepressionPeople With Disabilities More Likely to Become Victims of ViolenceAntipsychotic Rx for 22 Percent of Nursing Home ResidentsSmoking Rates Much Higher Among the Mentally Ill: CDCPsychiatric Drugs More Often Prescribed in the SouthMarked Geographic Variation in Mental Health Medication UseStrong Genetic Selection Against Some Psych DisordersSocial Withdrawal, Isolation Should Be Addressed in YoungMental Disorders Linked With Domestic Violence, Study SaysFor Psychiatric Patients, Cancer Is Often Spotted Too LateWorkplace Bullying Takes Toll on Witnesses Too, Study FindsBenzodiazepines Linked to Higher Risk of PneumoniaADHD Can Cause Lifelong Problems, Study FindsConcerns for Long-Term Safety of Antipsychotics in Over 40sSAMHSA: Prevalence of Mental Illness in U.S. Stable in 2011Psychiatry Gets Revised Diagnostic ManualMental Illness Affects 1 in 5 U.S. Adults, Survey FindsLong-Term Use of Some Antipsychotics Not Warranted in Older Adults: StudyFor Many, 'Superstorm' Sandy Could Take Toll on Mental HealthMore Evidence Linking Creativity, Mental IllnessDeployment Affects Mental Health of Relief WorkersWhere You Live May Boost Your Sense of Well-BeingPremature Death Rate Higher in People Who Self-HarmPsych, Sleep Meds May Affect DrivingPhysical, Mental Toll of Japanese Nuke Plant Meltdown AssessedPsychological Distress Linked to Increased MortalityPhysical Ailments Take Toll on Mental Health: StudySerious Mental Illness Tied to Higher Cancer, Injury Risk: StudiesGenes Influence Whether Psych Drugs Lead to Weight GainAging Boomers' Mental Health Woes Will Swamp Health System: ReportFamily History of Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder May Up Kids' Risk for AutismEmployment Key to Helping Veterans Adjust to Life Back HomeCannabis Use for Fibromyalgia Linked to Poor Mental Health Questions and AnswersLinksBook Reviews |
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by Kathy Cronkite Delta, 1995 Review by Dianne Rockenstein, M.A. on Jul 1st 2000 
"I walk outside... sun shining, breeze wafting, birds singing --- SO WHAT? My baby gives me one of those dazzling smiles --- SO WHAT? My best friend calls with good news, my boss gives me a raise, my husband cooks my favorite meal --- SO WHAT? Little things overwhelm me. I can't find the mate to my sock... the doorbell rings when I'm on the phone... I want to cry..."
Living with the "black dog". Can anyone really understand what it's like to live with Major (clinical) Depression unless they have been there themselves? Kathy Cronkite's On The Edge of Darkness provides insights and dispels myths about this very real brain disorder. She utilizes first person accounts of celebrities who live in the darkness and the physicians who specialize in treating them. These self-disclosures are significant and courageous due to the stigma which unfortunately still exists. Readers who can profit from the information in On The Edge of Darkness include those who are afflicted and need more insight into their illness. Also, those who have friends or loved ones suffering Major Affective or Bipolar disorders can profit from the in depth illustrations of those who have been there. The uninformed can also learn a great deal from the physicians' accounts, especially those discussing genetic predispositions and environmental interactions. There is nothing worse than the (well-intended?) advice of the uninformed such as: "Snap out of it!" "Be positive!" "All you need is a good kick in the butt!". These comments are cruel and only add to the already unbearable emotional pain felt by these individuals. As with all the mental or psychiatric disorders, information is needed to help alleviate the stigma and bring the general public to better understand these disorders. People who suffer with recurrent Major Depression need the help provided in this book to try to be aware and avoid relapses. Cronkite's book is compassionate and informative in a very relative way with its use of first person accounts. It will help one to learn more about the "black dog" and how to live with him. Dianne is a widow living with her two daughters, two dogs, two cats and two lovebirds in Western PA. She formerly worked in nursing at the VA Medical Center in Butler. After she lost her husband to suicide, she chose to go back to college to study Psychology. She earned her B.S. in Psychology in 1990 and M.A. in Counseling Psychology in 1993. Dianne has worked as a therapist with adult and adolescent trauma clients and in addictions counseling. She has also taught General Psychology on the college level. She is an avid reader, enjoys photography, drawing and painting. She is also an avid animal lover who enjoys horseback riding. |
