Conquering the Beast Within: How I Fought Depression and Won . . . and How You Can, Too

The words in this book could have been taken out of my heart. My eyes widened as I read because these were my exact feelings. I am way, way past my teen years but what Cait wrote about is what I have lived through the past years. Cait, you have given us a gift with this book. The next time I see my psychiatrist I will give him this book so he can better understand. The pages say what I could never express.

Ms. Irwin's book definitely is not a technical guide to depression with all its "sub-types," but the diary-like style without a doubt makes the reader connect with her struggle with and eventual victory over the terrors of depression. The book is useful for all ages, as the illustrations draw in the attention of any audience: child, adolescent, or adult. The very personal and individualistic nature of her writing as well as the blunt honesty of her family members who share their thoughts at the end convinces one of her earnesty and commitment. True, it may not give you specific information that a more technical work might contain, but the emotional comfort the book provides more than makes up for it, at the very least as a supplement to those requiring facts or to those who need an immediate "anchor" to sustain hope. The extensive and thorough list of mental health resources at the very end (complete with web addresses for those who are too shy for direct, personal contact) is an invaluable component of the book and supercedes any other list that I've seen in other works concerning mental health.

A co-worker recommended Cait's book to me. I have since bought two copies, one to give to my 10 year-old client fighting severe depression and one for myself to use with other clients. Co-workers and I have found that children love this book, with its wonderful illustrations and its use of the beast as analagous to depression. Children enjoy creating their own book on depression and the whole process is wonderfully therapeutic. (But even adults will appreciate it!)

Reading Cait's book has really helped me start to understand what so many of the people close to me are going through. Depression seems to affect the lives of almost everyone I meet in some way or another, and I offer her book to them... I love the pictures, I love Cait's voice. Her humor and new-found love for life shine through her words and her art beautifully. To me, her book offers hope, and opens up a difficult and painful topic for discussion. A book like Cait's is (and has been) passed around in offices and clinics, because of it's intelligence, warmth and honesty... AND because it can easily be read in a 20-minute sitting. Cait is an amazing and inspiring young woman, and will no doubt share more of her talents with us in the future.

This book deals with the many aspects of depression, from the mild beginnings of self-doubt to the severe "beast" that may require medication and hospitalization. It is written by a teen who dealt with depression. The book has beautiful illustrations and a engaging, straight forward text that does not burden the concentration level (or lack of) of the person dealing with the depression. As an adult who dealt with severe depression as a teenager to a parent who now has a 15 year old daughter dealing with "The Beast" that is depression, this book was a wonderful!! It is also the type of book that you can give to grandparents, friends, teachers ect. for a short, simple but complete look at what goes on in the mind of a depressed teen (even when they seem to have it all together)! I have purchased extra copies to give to the school and relatives who may find what my daughter is going through hard to understand.