I've been interested in reading up on depression and how our diet can effect our moods or techniques that work along with medication. Someone posted on this thread about a book called Potatoes Not Prozac, which I intend to look into!

I'm asking for anyone else who has read a book on depression/anxiety that they've found to be insightful to please share the book with us


One book that I've found interesting is Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Daniel Amen M.D.

I'm really glad you started this thread

I'm doing good with my weight loss.
I'm doing good - but by the skin of my teeth! - at not eating because of my mood but
I know that next on the list is to sort out my short and long term depression issues.

My only fear about any book is - how do we know it's telling us the truth? Or being helpful?

I read reviews for the 2 books you mention and they sound great - until someone else says they're a load of baloney. I know the baloney comments aren't necessarily true but that's my worry ~ how would I know? If I try a diet that makes me gain weight, I can stop and try something else. I'm too scared to try that with my mental health....

I completely understand your apprehension. I've been telling myself that knowledge is power, so for me what puts some of those questions to rest is research. Anything you aren't sure about can be validated or found to be untrue or inflated. I only take in information that I know will benefit me without harming me mentally or physically. Like breathing techniques when I'm anxious or watching my sugar intake to help control my mood swings. And of course if I chose to make any radical changes in my diet I would always run it by my doctor first.
It sounds like you're doing great with weight loss! I hope you can find some good information or comfort in any books that may be mentioned on this thread.


Another book my husband liked was a workbook called The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne

Of course, I recognize that part of my apprehension is about having to deal with "it", whatever "it" is. Scary!

I'm looking out for both the Potato and the Brain books.

The book Food & Mood by Elizabeth Somers is really a great book, very technical about neurotransmitters, brain, mood, food effects, etc. I know she has some other related book but I have not read them.

I am reading Feeling Good by David Burns, another book published some time ago that gained popularity with the CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) movement recently. I highly recommend reading this book, it has really helped me to improve my self-talk and attitude as well as how I react to the actions of others.