A Mind of Your Own audiobook

This woman is a walking medical encyclopedia. There is a lot of material in this book. I was attracted to this book because I have had medical problems for 3 years and no doctor has yet to know what exactly is the answer to my problems. Everyone dreams of a magic pill to quickly feel good, but good health doesn't work that way as this book points out. I do believe in the gut-brain dynamic. That's the very 1st thing I am going to do - go on a probiotic supplement. This book has a lot of valuable information. Good health doesn't happen by accident. You have to believe your worth it.

I borrowed this book from the library and found it so chock full of good information that I'll actually now buy a copy to refer to regularly. We've long been hearing about the growing body of evidence connecting gut health to brain function. This book continues the theme in an accessible way and provides clear advice on lifestyle and dietary changes you can make to improve your mental and physical health. I'm not on any SSRIs myself, but will certainly be giving some of these suggestions a try in the hope of lifting my mood and my energy levels (for starters).

This book is a watershed moment - an actual Doctor of Psychiatry who says "Pills don't cure depression". I thought depression was due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. I don't know WHY I have always thought this was true; a point the author makes by way of explaining that the U.S. is one of only 2 countries on Earth that allow direct-to-consumer advertising. This is what the makers of Prozac want us to think - despite the fact that not one study in 60 YEARS has proven this to be true. Dr. Kelly Brogan considers depression to be a symptom, not a diagnosis. And it's a symptom that we should be listening to, not masking with pills that temporarily make us feel better/different/"happy". I argue, is it really "better" if you can't replicate it without the pill? As someone who watched a family member die from acute drug reactions due to being over-prescribed by disconnected doctors, I applaud Kelly Brogan for looking beyond the prescription pad, into what's really going on inside the depressed woman's body and mind. This is a book that goes beyond "fun to read" and into "need to read" territory.

En resumen: Un libro bien documentado y contrastado con conocimientos y estudios médicos que te hará replantearte todo lo que hasta ahora creías saber sobre la depresión y los antidepresivos, así como la forma en que nuestro estilo de vida influye en nuestra salud física y emocional.Nota: 4/5Lee la reseña completa en mi blog: http://utopiainthemoonlight.blogspot....

This book has completely changed my view on psychiatric medicine. When I first dove into this book I had feelings of hopelessness. I had feelings that nothing would work, no one understands and no one has another solution. This book has completely changed my life. It has helped open doors to other possibilities. Kelly's braveness and passion shows in her writing. It's as if she's sitting across the table with you and your the only person she's treating. If you don't read this book you are missing out on some amazing, life changing information.

This book has literally been lifesaving! After watching an interview with the author that a friend recommended, I picked this book up at our local library and started reading it on the flight to visit my sister who was suffering from major anxiety and depression. The more I read, the more I recognized that my sister's experience was nearly identical to what Dr. Brogan explained from her research and observation in years of practice. Many years of minimal nutritional focus and pregnancy-related challenges had taken a toll on my sister and were now wreaking havoc on her emotional and mental health as well. By the time I reached my sister, I had a lot of great information and (most helpfully!) a specific plan included in the back of the book that we could put in place to start addressing her overall health. Within one week of implementing Dr. Brogan's suggestions regarding food choices and meals, we started to see marked improvements and my sister was able to begin tapering off her psychotropic medications!Even though Dr. Brogan comes from an entirely different worldview in terms of human origins (strictly evolutionary) and life purpose (naturalistic with some mysticism) from me, I could appreciate the principles she espoused for a healthy lifestyle. I was also able to relate them to the Bible's teachings and see God's design for our lives illuminated in such a beautiful way. As we live in obedience and awareness of His truth, we are often the beneficiaries of better health. "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) teaches us to quiet our souls and rest in a God who is masterfully in control of all things. "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer" (1 Timothy 4:4-5) reminds us to appreciate and be thankful for the food that He has created and provided for our sustenance.This book contains a great deal of scientific research accompanied by practical steps that readers can take to cleanse their bodies and environments. Many of the environmental recommendations seem over the top (replacing carpeting, looking for toxic-free furniture, avoiding inflatable toys, etc.), so it helps to keep in mind that try as we might to create the "perfect" environment, we are living in a broken world that perpetually suffers the effects of sin in every realm. But we have something far better to look forward to: "For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1).There are many ways to be wise with our bodies and good stewards of our resources and environment, but of far greater importance is our eternal future. There is no profit in gaining the whole world if in the end we forfeit our own soul. Jesus came so that we might "have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). That certainly includes feeding our bodies wholesome nutritious foods, but above all it includes knowing and believing in Him. "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" John 17:3.

For women, anti-depressant drugs are prescribed for problems ranging from depression to anxiety to PMS to insomnia. This book explores a very different approach.According to the author, the assertion that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that is easily fixed by a drug like Prozac is total nonsense. Rarely do such drugs help at all. In fact, they may make things worse by permanently disabling the body's self-healing mechanism. Depression, and other such mental and emotional problems, are not separate diseases. They are symptoms of physical problems elsewhere in the body.There is a well-known physical connection between the gut and the brain, as an example. A digestive or intestinal problem could easily manifest itself in the brain. Inflammation seems to be the cause of of most physical problems that are common today. Some inflammation is quite normal, then it goes away. When the inflammation is "on" all the time, that can be a serious problem, and needs to be addressed.The author's prescription starts with getting rid of all processed food and going organic. The cause may be those unpronounceable chemicals that are listed in the ingredients. Next, get rid of your artificial cleaning products with more unpronounceable chemicals. There are household cleaners available that are a lot less harmful. The author also talks about what blood tests should be performed at the next doctor's visit. Get a good night's sleep, every night, and start exercising; they will help a lot.This book is better than excellent. It is highly recommended for everyone. It is especially recommended for those whose anti-depressant does not seem to be working. Your problem may be somewhere else than in your head.

After watching some of my close friends struggle with anti-depressant medication, I was very interested in reading this book. The author shares a lot of research and study results from many popular medications, some of which I found alarming (i.e. many anti-depressants do not perform better than a placebo, yet have severe side effects including being extremely addictive). As a result in the name of full disclosure, I believe anyone considering or taking anti-depressant medication should consider reading this book. If the medication works for you, wonderful! But if not, Brogan gives a comprehensive regimen that has worked for her patients to actually cure depression and not just treat the symptoms.One caveat - I did find some of her views a little extreme (i.e. discouraging vaccines). So as with all things, take what is written with a grain of salt and glean from it what is good for you :)

As a psychotherapist I was astounded to know that the research on antidepressants really shows that they have no efficacy at all and the placebo effect is what creates initial change. There is an amazing amount of research review in this book, which is truly mind blowing and opposite of popular belief about depression at this time. Since I had to change my eating over a year ago, as a result of a GI diagnosis, to essentially what is recommended in this book, I can attest to the profound effect on both body and mind. My mood increased, my thyroid medication reduced and my allergies and asthma disappeared. And slowly but surely all my GI symptoms cleared up too. Now this is the way I eat and I feel better as a result. For anyone wanting to try the protocol in this book I would personally recommend seeking out an integrative doctor or naturopath who can help you determine the right course. These are big lifestyle changes and not easy, but worth it with profound effects.

Oh, this book! It's been a while since I've touched non-fiction. I am so happy this book deals with eliminating depression in a practical way - a combination of diet, meditation, exercise and sleep. I've always known the importance of these four but not in such detail and I was not motivated enough till I got in touch with the dreadful reality that is the present. I am open to trying a lot of the things this book offers and I still do have a few qualms about uneasy things like coffee enema (coffee enema?!) Very few portions of the book were gender specific, so guys, feel free to indulge as well! She has highlighted a few interesting methods of meditation and some sensible recipes. (Although where do I get the exotic ingredients from?!) Vegetarians, tough luck!

Dr. Kelly Brogan’s work first became known to me when she addressed countless health issues in an article she penned years back that was shared via the website GreenMedInfo.com which is an absolutely superb website about health. From that moment forward, Brogan became one of my ‘go-to’ alternative medical doctors whose work I attempt to read as much as possible given how mental health issues are increasing significantly each year.Bottom line: A Mind Of Your Own: The Truth About Depression And How Women Can Heal Their Bodies To Reclaim Their Lives by Kelly Brogan M.D and Kristin Loberg shows the reader many of the inherent issues within Big Pharma and Big Psych while also outlining many proactive steps individuals can take to take charge of their health in significant ways.Not only is the reader seamlessly shown countless examples of very troublesome issues regarding medications doled out like candy by Big Pharma and doctors, but also how this health for-profit system of ‘medicine’ is set up by loose strings, which care not for people’s health rights and simply care for profits.For example, did you know that the U.S. and New Zealand are the only countries which allow drug companies to advertise directly to consumers? Prior to 1997, there was a ban in place that restricted pharmaceuticals from advertising to consumers – known as drug-to-consumer-advertising, or DTCA- but this ban was removed, to the detriment of the populace.[1]Why is this important? Because that law was in place to protect individuals from the highly specialized, and yet misleading advertising of all drugs.Another point of serious concern is how the great majority of prescription drugs sold take place due to DTCA. As Dr. Kelly Brogan notes in her milestone book, which homes in on the efficiency of this specialized advertising:“It’s been calculated that DTCA [drug-to-consumer advertising] is responsible for nearly half (49 percent) of requests for drugs. And fully seven out of ten times doctors prescribe based on appeal by patients who learned through their computers and televisions that they have an “imbalance” that must be fixed with a pill.”[2][Bold & Underline Emphasis Added]Predictably, all that already-disturbing information leads to prescription drugs being doled out at 4 Billion per annum[3], it’s no wonder that Medical Errors are the third leading cause of death.[4] According to a new John Hopkins study, which is covered by the Washington Post:“Their analysis, published in the BMJ, shows that ‘medical errors’ in hospitals and other health care facilities are incredibly common and may now be the third leading cause of death in the United States — claiming 251,000 lives every year, more than respiratory disease, accidents, stroke and Alzheimer’s.”[5][Click here to read the study named Medical Error – The Third Leading Cause Of Death In The US]You, as an astute reader, might be wondering, okay, what does that have to do with psychiatry? Excellent question.About 10% of Americans take anti-depressants, which equates to about 30 million people. With the downright disconcerting facts that Dr. Brogan brings up in her book A Mind Of Your Own, many of the people that will be railed by the medical system will be within the psychiatric field, and a significant portion of them will be children as well.What’s disturbing about this is that, as Dr. Brogan herself cautions, most drug research is in fact, short term:“Their patients have never consented to the long-term effects of these medications because pharmaceutical research is, by nature, short term. There is no incentive on the part of the pharmaceutical companies to take a good look at what happens to the average individual when she takes a medication for a decade or so.”[6][Bold & Underline Emphasis Added]As an individual who’s had a few friends that have depression and continues to meet people with it randomly through life, and also as a person who has a great interest in all of health, the information presented within this book is paramount to understanding the larger landscape of Big Pharma and health as a whole within the United States.One of the greatest strengths A Mind Of Your Own showcases is the fact that this book is chock-full of real verifiable data that would shock most people who haven’t begun doing their own research about what happens within Big Pharma and the psychiatric field.Thankfully, not only is this book rather easy to comprehend, but the reader can feel the honesty and concern that have been staples of Brogan throughout her work. This is vital, because in the arena of medicine there are countless doctors who care more about prescribing pills, than they do about the welfare of the patient and actually solving the problem. This is known personally to me and my family via my many hospitalizations due to poor health, doing exactly what the doctors suggested which was always taking more pills, which never solved any problems. It was only when seeking my own solutions following nutrition, getting off of medications, and many steps that true healing began taking place for me.On that note, this is where Dr. Brogan shines because she is doing what should be undertaken by most if not all doctors or concerned individuals within the medical establishment, which is outlining the dangers so many people are going through in respect to side effects by the overmedication of America, as well as – and arguably more important – offering solutions/alternatives to the for-profit (and not for-health) medical system. Brogan’s book on the mental health in America is quite unique and reminiscent of the work of another author. A Mind Of Your Own reminds me of a book called Toxic Psychiatry by Peter R. Breggin M.D., who not only outlines glaring problems within the psychiatric establishment, but also, like Brogan, covers issues with medications that most people would consider safe, but aren’t as safe as they are made out to be by medical doctors.To be precise, I’m not implying that the Dr. Brogan’s work takes from Dr. Breggin. What I am saying however is that both doctors have great concern regarding mainstream health, and seem to share very similar values in how they think patients should be treated in respect to actual solutions that don’t revolve simply around handing out prescriptions non-stop without seeking to actually solve the underlying issues.With that said, this particular book ventures into myriad paths. It rightly gives an extensive look into the flawed theory of depression but also shows how that theory is an outright fallacy. It also covers many of the ways in which depression symptoms can manifest in people, which at times may be solved with specific vitamins, which is something that goes directly against the Big Pharma prescription medication model.Keeping all of the above in mind, one would expect that with tens of millions of lives at stake, and with dozens of side effects to boot per medication, a more thorough process would be in place to safeguard individuals against possible iatrogenic mistakes that plague the populace en mass. But such is not the case unfortunately.Another great notion Brogan centers in on within her book is done in her chapter called The Great Psychiatric Pretenders. Within it, Brogan details not only how the one-size-fits-all type of care that is carried out in America is inefficient, but she also provides a few of the circumstances that create bedlam within individuals and are often categorized as depression, but are incorrectly diagnosed. Please read that again. It’s imperative to know this because people are walking around thinking a pill is the only solution to their problems when there are other possible solutions that may be possible.Brogan also sheds light with a cursory glance at the fact that serious drug fraud has taken place in the past which is unknown to many.Although there aren’t many doctors out there standing up for what’s right within medicine, Dr. Brogan and a growing number of others are, such as the aforementioned Dr. Peter R. Breggin, Dr. Mercola, Dr. Duzanne Humphries, Dr. Sircus, Dr. Natasha Campbell-Mcbride, Dr. Russell Blaylock, Tetyana Obukhanych Ph.D, and more, are forming new grounds in the field of health – true health. Each of these individuals all put out very high quality information regularly and are concerned with various aspects of health. But don’t take my word for it, do your own research so you can be better informed. I cannot stress the ‘do your own research’ part enoughIt is vital for individuals as a community to support these people, because they’re in it to HELP people and refuse to throw people under the bus merely for profit.In any case, if you’ve read any of Dr. Brogan’s work, A Mind Of Your Own employs the same high quality standards of research and thoughtfulness. Brogan pulls no punches in her journey not only outlining the dangers within the prescription drugs given for depression that individuals should be concerned about, but also in offering holistic solutions that many do not realize are available.If you’ve made it this far and are really interested in the topic, do yourself a favor and purchase this book. That, or perhaps recommend it to people that might find great value in it because they will find information that’s not only deep, but quite extensive. The information in this book can really change the course of someone’s life if they realize what’s out there. I’ve seen it happen myself with friends and recommend it any chance I get, whether the person is interested in depression, mental health in a general sense, or merely seeking a deeper understanding of pervasive issues within the pharmaceutical industry.Anchoring down, not only does holistic psychiatrist Brogan absolutely eviscerate the Depression is a “chemical imbalance” theory with ample data and serious research, but she also gives the reader precise methods in which they can retake their health back, while also seeking to empower women in countless ways.Now, if that’s not self-empowerment, what is?______________________________________Suggested Viewing:Depression: Busting Myths & Finding Answers (Full Interview w/Dr. Kelly Brogan)______________________________________Sources & References:[1] Dr. Joseph Mercola, The Great Bird Flu Hoax, p. 39.[2] Dr. Kelly Brogan M.D., A Mind Of Your Own – The Truth About Depression, p. 52.[3] http://www.naturalnews.com/037226_dru...[4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/t...[5] http://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i2139[6] Dr. Kelly Brogan M.D., A Mind Of Your Own – The Truth About Depression, p. 35.______________________________________Suggested Books:Socratic Logic V3.1 by Peter Kreeft Ph.D.How To Read A Book by Mortimer J. Adler & Charles Van DorenPhilosophy 101b by Peter Kreeft Ph.D.A Workbook For Arguments – A Complete Course In Critical Thinking by David MorrowThe Imaginative Argument – A Practical Manifesto For Writers By Frank L. CioffiThe Trivium – The Liberal Arts Of Logic, Grammar & Rhetoric by Sister Mary Joseph Ph.D.Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor GattoRotten To The Common Core by Dr. Joseph P. Farrell & Gary LawrenceA Different Kind Of Teacher by John Taylor GattoWeapons Of Mass Instruction by John Taylor GattoDrilling Through The Core by Sandra Stotski & ContributorsTavistock Institute: Social Engineering The Masses by Daniel Estulin

As a person who have made a conscious decision to “try” an adopt a green life style, try harder on going vegetarian, then hopefully vegan, because I completely believe that our current way of life is toxic not only to our physical body but also to our spirit, this book felt like the guidebook I was always looking for. I could relate so much to what Dr. Kelly Brogan is saying in her book “A Mind of Your Own: What Women Can Do About Depression That Big Pharma Can't”, as a woman living with T1DM, Hyperthyroid, depression and always complaining of various gut problem! It felt as if this book was written for me. Much of what she was saying, I had already known, not by research but just “knew”, so reading a book where the information is based on data collected from researches and statistics was a relief. If any of what I said above describes you, if you are currently taking medication for anxiety or depression, if you ever did, or if you are considering them, I strongly recommend you read this book first.In this book - which starts off as a book about healing depression without medication, but ends up as a how-to guide on how to maintain a toxin -free holistic life style-, Dr. Kelly Brogan explains how depression is a symptom, not a diagnosis. A symptom that we should listen to and understand what it is trying to say or warn us about, rather than cover it up with medications to feel “happy” or more truthfully “numb”.Natural healing is the way to go for a better physical and mental health, according to Dr Brogan. It is through finding the true source of the problems, using different tests, and understanding the relation between gut health and mental health. How it all starts with just an inflammation that can be treated with the right regimen of dietary restrictions, fixing sleep patterns, exercise, and meditation. “A Mind of Your Own” is a brief encyclopedia on mental health, gut health, inflammations and living a toxin free life style. It is packed with information, date and references to researches, yet well documented, albeit being well documented, it might be a little too overwhelming and too much to digest for the reader. Therefore, I recommend taking notes and reading it as if you are reading a text book that you will have a test on. It is a book to keep and come back to every now and then. It is your manual for a healthier mind, body and soul.