A Mind of Your Own: The Truth About Depression and How Women Can Heal Their Bodies to Reclaim Their Lives - My Notes on a Book

In the well-researched book, A Mind of Your Own, Dr. Kelly Brogan, a holistic psychiatrist, opens readers’ eyes to conventional medicine’s very flawed explanation of the causes and treatment of depression. Brogan takes issue with the unproven idea that depression is due to a chemical imbalance in the brain and that prescription drugs are the fix. She emphasizes that depression is not a disease but a symptom of unhealthy lifestyles that throw our health out of balance.

Brogan started out as a conventional psychiatrist working with women struggling with mood disorders. She believed that pharmaceuticals were the panacea for mental health disorders until she had a health crisis of her own. This prompted her to critically analyze Western medicine and the pharmaceutical industry. As she delved into the research, Brogan began learning about the detrimental impact antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs had on the mind and body. Brogan now advocates for healing the body to heal the mind, instead of using harmful drugs to quiet symptoms of a bigger issue. She now works from a much more integrative and holistic medicine approach. 

Depression is one of the most common health problems of our time. 1 in 7 women take antidepressant medication. Whether you or a loved one is suffering from anxiety or depression or taking antidepressant medication, this is an important read. If nothing else, the book will give you a healthy scepticism about the massive influence that the pharmaceutical industry has on modern day health care. You will also be a more discerning patient next time you are at the doctor’s office. It will likely even motivate you to prioritize sleep and start meditating. 

Brogan explains how inflammation, blood sugar imbalance and thyroid issues are underlying causes of mood issues – not a chemical imbalance. Towards the end of the book, Brogan outlines a detailed 30-day plan. This focuses on lifestyle changes including food, sleep, exercise and meditation to help women deal with these underlying causes. It is an effective alternative to prescription medication. She has seen many clients do exceptionally well with this protocol. Brogan advocates that people make the commitment to stick to the changes from the get go. Doing so will definitely help ease the underlying causes of depression more quickly, but may deter some people from starting for fear of not doing it perfectly. Give it a serious go, stick to it and if you have a slip-up, dust yourself off and get back on track. Once you feel the positive effects on mind and body, you will not want to go back to the way they were living before. Plus, any proactive changes will make a difference. 

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