Depression hounds the most unlikely people. As humans, we often make rash judgments on others based on social media and other factors, but we can’t truly know what struggles are hidden under the Snapchat filters. The reality of Depression shadows my life (I have loved ones with Depression) and the lives of others.
In college, I recall a crush explaining to me that someone who had Depression just must not have enough faith in God to get better. Fury boiled through me. How dare someone judge another person’s faith by that person’s struggle? Lucky for that gentleman, someone else jumped in with good argument because I was past the ability to make conversation. Oh, and yeah, my crush was over.
When Hope Prevails by Dr. Michelle Bengtson arrived at the top of my reading pile, I was excited to see her take on Depression. I might not have too deep of a personal understanding of it, but I wanted to know more. And somehow, Hope Prevails offered me hope, too.
Book Recommendation: Hope Prevails by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey through Depression incorporates medical knowledge with personal experience of Depression. In 12 chapters, Dr. Michelle Bengtson establishes an intuitive look at the symptoms, mentality, and effects of Depression on a life. At the end of each chapter, she includes a few questions or suggestions for introspection. She also includes a prayer and a list of music.
In format, I thought Hope Prevails was very easy to read, and I enjoyed the personal understanding of Depression that Dr. Bengtson offered.
“We lose our peace when we hide our brokenness.” – Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Despite not being clinically depressed, I underlined statements and dog-eared (gasp) pages. Every life has experienced difficulty that causes the question of whether or not hope actually does exist. And so, even though I picked up Hope Prevails to understand my loved ones better, I met encouragements personal to me.
About Hope Prevails
As a board-certified neuropsychologist, Dr. Michelle Bengtson believed she was prescribing the most effective treatments for her clients who struggled with depression. But when she experienced debilitating depression herself, she found that the treatments she had recommended weren’t helping her the way she expected. She was determined to find out what was missing.
With the deep compassion of someone who has been there, Dr. Bengtson blends her training and that vital missing piece she discovered to offer you a hope grounded in God’s love and grace. She helps you understand what depression is, how it affects you spiritually, and what, by God’s grace, depression cannot do. The result is an approach that offers not just the management of symptoms but the hope of true release.
Keep up Dr. Bengtson on Social Media!
My Struggles: Hope Prevails
Honestly, as someone who does not know debilitating Depression like others, I’m not sure that I’m qualified to talk about what I struggled with in this book. For me, Dr. Bengtson seemed almost too chipper sometimes. But somehow she still included the nitty gritty parts of what her experience looked like without being to exhausting on the details. I think she hit this balance well since she wants to help with Depression and not add to it!
My LOVES: Hope Prevails
I really enjoyed the details of the questions, prayer, and music at the end of each chapter. In a way, this made the book almost a multi-sensory experience. Personally, I think music can speak much more deeply than other things. And I appreciated that Hope Prevails offered some encouragement to me as well.
Hope Prevails could possible be a good gift for some people I know with Depression. However, giving this gift would require sensitivity to their journey.
Hope Prevails Giveaway
The Blog Spot and Dr. Michelle Bengtson have made it possible for me to offer YOU a free paperback copy of Hope Prevails. At this time, this giveaway is only open to the USA. However, if you’re international and you’re willing to pay shipping, feel free to enter (but it might be cheaper to purchase a copy online). Please, one entry per individual (two comments by one person still only counts as one entry).
How To Enter:
Leave a comment below answering one of the questions: How do you foster hope in your life? What types of activities give you hope? Does something keep you from feeling hope?
Contest Closes on June 30th, Friday, at midnight, EST.
I will then randomly select a winner from the comments (with a helpful website), and I will notify the winner via email.
What activities give me hope? Playing or listening to music, painting or crafting, hiking, etc.
yesssssssss, those are so good. music always lightens my heart.
I, too, have struggled for years. It has nothing to do with my faith. In fact, I would argue that my faith is deepened BECAUSE of the fear, anxiety, and hopeless thoughts. And me and God are on the same page: we both know I’m a sinner and could use His help. He doesn’t fail!
yessssss, Dr. Michelle incorporates faith into dealing with depression. But she didn’t at first see the connection between spiritual and depression. But as humans, we’re so interconnected!