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Monochrome Days: A First-Hand Account of One Teenager's Experience with Depression
If you are one of the nearly twenty percent of adolescents who experience the symptoms of major depression before the end of high school, then you are probably already familiar with the sadness, isolation, and confusion that depression can bring. You may have questions about symptoms,
medications, treatments, and how to deal with depression at school and at home. Monochrom A Firsthand Account of One Teenager's Experience with Depression was written specifically for you.
Cait Irwin was diagnosed with major depression at the age of fourteen, and she nearly lost her battle with the illness before she was able to receive the treatment she so desperately needed. In Monochrome Days , Irwin, now an adult and a successful artist, shares her experiences as a young woman who
suffered from a crippling depression but was able to recover with the help of a supportive family and expert psychiatric care. In telling her remarkable story, Irwin and science writer Linda Andrews explain what is currently known about major depression in adolescents, demystifying the often
confusing science behind the illness. In easy-to-understand language, the book also
-Provides an accessibel yet in-depth look at the causes, treatment, and management of depression
-Discusses such difficult topics as psychiatric hospitalization and antidepressant medications -Offers tips on how to deal with depression both at school and at home, and how to talk about it to teachers, family, and friends
Thoughtful, inspiring, and full of practical wisdom, Monochrome Days is both a compelling memoir and a useful resource that will help to ease the pain of major depression. Cait Irwin's story is one that offers hope and guidance that you yourself can use to overcome the challenges of this illness,
and go on to lead a healthy, productive life.
medications, treatments, and how to deal with depression at school and at home. Monochrom A Firsthand Account of One Teenager's Experience with Depression was written specifically for you.
Cait Irwin was diagnosed with major depression at the age of fourteen, and she nearly lost her battle with the illness before she was able to receive the treatment she so desperately needed. In Monochrome Days , Irwin, now an adult and a successful artist, shares her experiences as a young woman who
suffered from a crippling depression but was able to recover with the help of a supportive family and expert psychiatric care. In telling her remarkable story, Irwin and science writer Linda Andrews explain what is currently known about major depression in adolescents, demystifying the often
confusing science behind the illness. In easy-to-understand language, the book also
-Provides an accessibel yet in-depth look at the causes, treatment, and management of depression
-Discusses such difficult topics as psychiatric hospitalization and antidepressant medications -Offers tips on how to deal with depression both at school and at home, and how to talk about it to teachers, family, and friends
Thoughtful, inspiring, and full of practical wisdom, Monochrome Days is both a compelling memoir and a useful resource that will help to ease the pain of major depression. Cait Irwin's story is one that offers hope and guidance that you yourself can use to overcome the challenges of this illness,
and go on to lead a healthy, productive life.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2007
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62 people want to read
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November 1, 2021Publisher's Description: If you are one of the nearly twenty percent of adolescents who experience the symptoms of major depression before the end of high school, then you are probably already familiar with the sadness, isolation, and confusion that depression can bring. You may have questions about symptoms, medications, treatments, and how to deal with depression at school and at home. Monochrome Days: A Firsthand Account of One Teenager's Experience with Depression was written specifically for you.
Cait Irwin was diagnosed with major depression at the age of fourteen, and she nearly lost her battle with the illness before she was able to receive the treatment she so desperately needed. In Monochrom Days, Irwin, now an adult and a successful artist, shares her experiences as a young woman who suffered from a crippling depression but was able to recover with the help of a supportive family and expert psychiatric care. In telling her remarkable story, Irwin and science writer Linda Andrews explain what is currently known about major depression in adolescents, demystifying the often confusing science behind the illness. In easy-to-understand language, the book also
-Provides an accessible yet in-depth look at the causes, treatment, and management of depression -Discusses such difficult topics as psychiatric hospitalization and antidepressant medications -Offers tips on how to deal with depression both at school and at home, and how to talk about it to
teachers, family, and friends
Thoughtful, inspiring, and full of practical wisdom, Monochrome Days is both a compelling memoir and a useful resource that will help to ease the pain of major depression. Cait Irwin's story is one that offers hope and guidance that you yourself can use to overcome the challenges of this illness,
and go on to lead a healthy, productive life.
Cait Irwin was diagnosed with major depression at the age of fourteen, and she nearly lost her battle with the illness before she was able to receive the treatment she so desperately needed. In Monochrom Days, Irwin, now an adult and a successful artist, shares her experiences as a young woman who suffered from a crippling depression but was able to recover with the help of a supportive family and expert psychiatric care. In telling her remarkable story, Irwin and science writer Linda Andrews explain what is currently known about major depression in adolescents, demystifying the often confusing science behind the illness. In easy-to-understand language, the book also
-Provides an accessible yet in-depth look at the causes, treatment, and management of depression -Discusses such difficult topics as psychiatric hospitalization and antidepressant medications -Offers tips on how to deal with depression both at school and at home, and how to talk about it to
teachers, family, and friends
Thoughtful, inspiring, and full of practical wisdom, Monochrome Days is both a compelling memoir and a useful resource that will help to ease the pain of major depression. Cait Irwin's story is one that offers hope and guidance that you yourself can use to overcome the challenges of this illness,
and go on to lead a healthy, productive life.
July 1, 2018
Quick read. As a mental health professional who has worked inpatient and outpatient, nothing too shocking or ground backing. Good, laments terms explanation of medical and psychiatric items which may help me better teach my mental health course.
December 8, 2022
Read this in 2 nights/ personal story with helpful facts for someone who is dealing with depression or who is looking to understand a friend or loved one dealing with depression.
June 20, 2023
a quick read for school...I wish someone had recommended this book to me when I was a kid
Currently reading
June 10, 2013Goodreads Book Review
Cait Irwin’s purpose in writing her book Monochrome Days is mostly to inform people of depression. Monochrome Days offers people with information about “depression” (Irwin 11), signs of somebody who may be suffering from it, opinions from professionals, and much more. This book can teach many lessons to adolescents who suffer from mental illnesses. It can teach you to not give up when the going gets tough. Sometimes you need to know that “it is okay to ask for help” (Irwin 25). Those who suffer from depression know that at first it can be a heavy weight to carry alone. If you go seek help though, it can only get better from there.
Monochrome Days is written very well. It is easy to read but still keeps the reader captivated. In this book, there are many different sentence lengths and sentence patterns such as declarative or interrogative. In this novel, the author goes into detail about her struggle with depression, her road to recovery, and even how it was “coping [with] everyday life” (Irwin 94). At first, she did not want to “get the help” (Irwin94) that she needed but then later went to go see a psychiatrist then later “joined a support group” (Irwin 92). Cait Irwin is pretty straight forward in her writing and tells things as they are.
This book is very captivating. I can say that it has had me interested since the first sentence. This is mainly because I can relate to this author’s experience with depression. Everybody is different. Not all two people will show the same “symptoms” (Irwin 48) or have the same experience “coping with depression” (Irwin 94). Most people who are diagnosed with this mental illness do go to see a therapist/ counselor/ psychologist and take medication. Some can be different though. They might be able to not take the medication and just do “therapy” (Irwin 72) or vice versa. The reader can tell that this is a very touchy topic that is to be taken seriously. This book is very educational and helped me out a lot.
One strength of this book is that everything is told in such great detail. The author does a good job at telling her story but also giving the audience good, factual information about “warning signs to look out for” (Irwin 48) and what you need to do to get help. There is something about novels that are based on true stories that always have just captivated my attention. Reading real people’s stories may help “you cope [with] everyday life” (Irwin 94). Books like these can have the reader really relate to what the author is feeling. This book can impact any reader, especially those who have been in similar situations. I believe that anybody that reads this who suffers from a mental illness will benefit from it. There are so many topics in here that help. It has everything from dealing with depression at home to “dealing with it at school” (Irwin 110) which can be a difficult task especially for teens.
I would recommend this book to my family or any one of my friends suffering from depression. Not only is this book a fantastic option, but you can gain a lot of knowledge from it. There are some things in the novel that I did not know of previously but now know. Unlike the Hunger Games or New Moon, many people can relate to the real situations of Monochrome Days. I would highly recommend this book.
Cait Irwin’s purpose in writing her book Monochrome Days is mostly to inform people of depression. Monochrome Days offers people with information about “depression” (Irwin 11), signs of somebody who may be suffering from it, opinions from professionals, and much more. This book can teach many lessons to adolescents who suffer from mental illnesses. It can teach you to not give up when the going gets tough. Sometimes you need to know that “it is okay to ask for help” (Irwin 25). Those who suffer from depression know that at first it can be a heavy weight to carry alone. If you go seek help though, it can only get better from there.
Monochrome Days is written very well. It is easy to read but still keeps the reader captivated. In this book, there are many different sentence lengths and sentence patterns such as declarative or interrogative. In this novel, the author goes into detail about her struggle with depression, her road to recovery, and even how it was “coping [with] everyday life” (Irwin 94). At first, she did not want to “get the help” (Irwin94) that she needed but then later went to go see a psychiatrist then later “joined a support group” (Irwin 92). Cait Irwin is pretty straight forward in her writing and tells things as they are.
This book is very captivating. I can say that it has had me interested since the first sentence. This is mainly because I can relate to this author’s experience with depression. Everybody is different. Not all two people will show the same “symptoms” (Irwin 48) or have the same experience “coping with depression” (Irwin 94). Most people who are diagnosed with this mental illness do go to see a therapist/ counselor/ psychologist and take medication. Some can be different though. They might be able to not take the medication and just do “therapy” (Irwin 72) or vice versa. The reader can tell that this is a very touchy topic that is to be taken seriously. This book is very educational and helped me out a lot.
One strength of this book is that everything is told in such great detail. The author does a good job at telling her story but also giving the audience good, factual information about “warning signs to look out for” (Irwin 48) and what you need to do to get help. There is something about novels that are based on true stories that always have just captivated my attention. Reading real people’s stories may help “you cope [with] everyday life” (Irwin 94). Books like these can have the reader really relate to what the author is feeling. This book can impact any reader, especially those who have been in similar situations. I believe that anybody that reads this who suffers from a mental illness will benefit from it. There are so many topics in here that help. It has everything from dealing with depression at home to “dealing with it at school” (Irwin 110) which can be a difficult task especially for teens.
I would recommend this book to my family or any one of my friends suffering from depression. Not only is this book a fantastic option, but you can gain a lot of knowledge from it. There are some things in the novel that I did not know of previously but now know. Unlike the Hunger Games or New Moon, many people can relate to the real situations of Monochrome Days. I would highly recommend this book.
January 8, 2016
This is the review I wrote several years ago for this book.
A lot of us struggling with depression just want to be understood. We need love as a balm to soothe the spears cast through us so often, by whatever source. I really liked this book. It brought me to tears quite a few times, because the author used sentences that described what I was feeling to a T. I have such a hard time putting my feelings into words (especially when I'm on meds), let alone a few sentences.
This feeling is definitely worth more than the mere $4 I paid for the book.
Besides that, I used the book to gain some understanding with my parents. A few weeks ago, I was doing worse than I ever have before. I ended up coming home from college to spend the summer with my parents. They're really struggling to interact with me, because they have had no experience with depression and really don't know what to do.
I originally bought the book for myself. I read it, and it helped me feel better. But then I read it again, highlighting certain parts and writing comments on the side.
Certainly this might not work for your situation, but at least in my situation, it helped. My parents still can't truly empathize, of course, but it eased the pain of talking to them. I was able to focus my thoughts a little better, to focus them around the frame of the book. And I highlighted and starred those few sentences which described me so well.
One other note - this woman didn't have a quick fix for her depression. I appreciated that a lot. She knows what it feels like to try a medication, then to try a second, and on and on until you've tried at least four. Each number changes how you feel, and it was invaluable to have someone else understand that.
I would definitely recommend this to everyone, everyone, their parents, and even their dog.
A lot of us struggling with depression just want to be understood. We need love as a balm to soothe the spears cast through us so often, by whatever source. I really liked this book. It brought me to tears quite a few times, because the author used sentences that described what I was feeling to a T. I have such a hard time putting my feelings into words (especially when I'm on meds), let alone a few sentences.
This feeling is definitely worth more than the mere $4 I paid for the book.
Besides that, I used the book to gain some understanding with my parents. A few weeks ago, I was doing worse than I ever have before. I ended up coming home from college to spend the summer with my parents. They're really struggling to interact with me, because they have had no experience with depression and really don't know what to do.
I originally bought the book for myself. I read it, and it helped me feel better. But then I read it again, highlighting certain parts and writing comments on the side.
Certainly this might not work for your situation, but at least in my situation, it helped. My parents still can't truly empathize, of course, but it eased the pain of talking to them. I was able to focus my thoughts a little better, to focus them around the frame of the book. And I highlighted and starred those few sentences which described me so well.
One other note - this woman didn't have a quick fix for her depression. I appreciated that a lot. She knows what it feels like to try a medication, then to try a second, and on and on until you've tried at least four. Each number changes how you feel, and it was invaluable to have someone else understand that.
I would definitely recommend this to everyone, everyone, their parents, and even their dog.
February 10, 2018
While I liked the view inside this teenager's head, hoping it can help me see what's in my daughter's, I found that the timeline was.... unrealistic for me. Depression can come out of nowhere, true, but this story tells how she fell into depression one school year, suffered with it over the summer, and was back in school the following year and "coming out of it" thanks to the right drugs and the right therapists. I didn't feel the book gave a realistic timeline. It took us years to find a psychiatrist that worked with my kid that she respected (you'd be SURPRISED how many doctors and therapists out there will still sit your kid down and tell them they just need to get over it... seriously). It took 5 different meds and med mixes, and each one was tried for months (because yes, it often takes weeks before a change can be detected, sometimes longer) and some lose their efficacy over time.
My recommendation if you read this is to use it to get a sense of what they see and feel in their brains, and to understand a bit better the battle they have within themselves. Beyond that though, the hopefulness it tries to pass on feels a little shallow and tidy.
My recommendation if you read this is to use it to get a sense of what they see and feel in their brains, and to understand a bit better the battle they have within themselves. Beyond that though, the hopefulness it tries to pass on feels a little shallow and tidy.
July 10, 2016
I went into this with low expectations, but Irwin's account of her battle with depression pleasantly surprised me. Turns out that, as a teenager, reading about how a depressed teenager felt really increased my empathy and reinforces my desire to want to help those who face such struggles.
Though little of the information was new, it brought to my attention just how indescribable and seemingly irrational depression can be, and the inclusion of scientific co-authors was reassuring - although I can't say I much appreciated the arbitrary divide created between sexes by the feature of a "Guy's Eye View".
Though little of the information was new, it brought to my attention just how indescribable and seemingly irrational depression can be, and the inclusion of scientific co-authors was reassuring - although I can't say I much appreciated the arbitrary divide created between sexes by the feature of a "Guy's Eye View".
January 3, 2009
A really helpful combination of one person's story about her experience with depression, and facts/information about depression. Well-written, compelling, and hopefully the more people read books like this, the further we will come in breaking down the stigma of depression.
October 20, 2012
As a teenager with Depression, this book is very helpful. If you are interested in psychology, I recommend that you read this as well. This book helped me to better understand myself and the disorder.
December 25, 2012
Excellent depiction of depression and how to manage it. Not a whitewashed account, the effect of depression on self, home, friends, and school are put right out there to see. Pages of resources and a glossary to explain technical terms are welcome.
January 14, 2014
This book is a combination of first person narrative about their road from diagnosis of major depression through recovery, and educational information about the disorder including current treatment options. This book is well written for anyone interested in or affected by this mood disorder.
September 24, 2012
This was a well-written account of how it feels to experience depression as a teenager. I enjoyed reading it.
November 26, 2012
Had me in tears... as a mom of a young teenager battling with depression, I find it informative and a streak of hope for my child.
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June 12, 2007Excellent narrative and even better resource for teen depression (any depression).
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews