Uw brein als medicijn

by David Servan-Schreiber, Dick van Alkemade (Translator)

Het antwoord op Prozac, Lithium, Zyprexa en andere omstreden antidepressiva! Diep in de hersenen zit een deel dat ons gevoel, humeur, gedrag, onze bloeddruk, ons immuunsysteem, kortom alles wat met ons welbevinden te maken heeft, beheerst: het emotionele brein. Door controle te krijgen over dit deel van de hersenen, is het mogelijk om stoornissen die voortkomen uit stress, angsten of depressie zelf te genezen. Vanuit deze nieuwe, opzienbarende benadering beschrijft dr. David Servan-Schreiber zeven natuurlijke behandelwijzen, die uitgaan van de eigen genezende kracht van de hersenen. Zijn methode is gebaseerd op baanbrekend onderzoek in het Shadyside Hospital van de gerenommeerde Universiteit van Pittsburgh en biedt een effectief alternatief voor de vaak langdurige en ingrijpende behandelingen als psychoanalyse en antidepressiva.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Health, Self Help, Mental Health, Science, Personal Development

285 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

David Servan-Schreiber (April 21, 1961 – July 24, 2011) was a French physician, neuroscientist and author. He was a clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He was also a lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine of Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1.

Reviews

[Curt · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who's spent the last four years coming to terms with a severe anxiety disorder, I have been ripping through this book in fascination. The beginning is a little "technical" but the "techniques" used to treat anxiety, stress and depression are fascinating, scientifically researched and sound. This is not a book about meditation (although it is recommended) or a pop-psychology book, but a scientific study about our body and mind's ability to heal themselves.

[Farah Firdaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title suggests - Healing Without Freud or Prozac explains to us seven natural treatment approaches that capitalize on the mind and brain’s healing mechanisms from recovering from depression, anxiety and stress. All the methods have been researched and studies documenting their benefits have been published in prestigious scientific journals. The seven methods are as follows:

1) Living with heart coherence
2) Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
3) Resetting your biological clock
4) Acupuncture
5) Consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids
6) Exercise
7) Love and relationship

Beautifully written, with insightful case studies. This is like a godsend to me who loathes to engage in talk therapy or taking conventional drugs. This gem made me realize that our brain is so damn powerful. It's the best thing about us but also the scariest because of how much it can potentially fuck us up. Highly recommended!

[Eddie B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

للوهلة الأولى قد يبدو كتابا آخر من كتب "التنمية الذاتية" التي تتجاوز قيمة ورقها - في أحيان كثيرة - قيمة محتواها، وقد يدعم هذا الانطباع صورة غلاف الطبعة العربية وعنوانها المختلف عن عنوانه الأصلي "شفاء". لكن قراءة الصفحات الأولى ستجعلك تدرك فورا أنك تتعامل مع طبيب نفسي شديد المهارة والحساسية، ومع موضوع شديد الأهمية رغم تناسيه المثير للشك. عن الطب الآخر نتحدث. عن طب النفوس بغير عقاقير شركات الأدوية متعدية الجنسيات. عن طب تناغم دقات القلب، وحركة العينين، وضبط الساعة البيولوجية باستخدام ضوء الفجر، ومعجزة غذائية لا نعرفها أو لا نهتم بها كثيرا اسمها الأوميجا 3، عن طب الغذاء والحركة والحُب، عن الطب كما عرفَتْه حضارات بشرية عديدة سبقت الحضارة الغربية المعاصرة في الزمن وفي الرقي الإنساني. عن مفاتيح لبوابات عديدة لنفوسنا لا نعرف عنها شيئا تقريبا. يكفي أن أشهد بشكل شخصي على تجربة إعادة اكتشاف النوم والاستيقاظ، فأنا الآن أنام أفضل وأستيقظ أفضل، وأعرف عقلي بشكل أفضل.

أحمد الديب
نوفمبر 2011

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is by the author of one of my favorite books I have read so far this year, Anti-Cancer. Servan-Schreiber is a psychiatrist and neuroscientist (and cancer survivor). This book came before Anti-Cancer and focuses on curing anxiety, etc., without medication or talk therapy (as the title states). This book was quite frankly a godsend for me. I devoured it in 24 hours and can't express how valuable the information is. I deal with PTSD and have struggled to find the correct kind of help for more than seven years. This book led me to several well-researched solutions that I hadn't encountered before and that seem very promising (EMDT, for example), as well as giving very practical advice applicable for anyone at all who simply deals with everyday stress. Servan-Schreiber is a compassionate, open writer who exhibits a great deal of warmth and practicality. I want to buy this book for so many people who I love and want to be happy, because I know it can help in so many ways. He outlines different techniques for becoming physically and emotionally healthier that touch on areas from nutrition and exercise to acupuncture and coherence exercises--all with well-documented research from prestigious scientific journals and everyday advice on how to put the strategies into practice. Do read this book--whether you suffer from anxiety or depression, or whether you just want to be healthier and happier.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I put off reading this book because it sounds so heavy and depressing (I would call it The Instinct to Heal: Natural Ways to Increase your Health and Happiness), but I'm so glad I finally read it! Anyone could benefit from reading this. After a slightly slow start (I think the author has to prove to the medical community that he's a serious doctor and didn't come around to these conclusions lightly), it' s all about how to be happier and have better relationships. I enjoyed learning the science behind the strong connection between the emotional brain and the body. This book fills in the gaps for people who need science to back up truths like meditation and human touch heal people. There's an emphasis on how harmful poor communication is to us, and the author gives useful suggestions for how to communicate more lovingly and effectively. The book includes a plan with step-by-step instructions for how to get started on all of the healing methods outlined in the book, and there's a list of resources too. I will be trying out or continuing many of these methods myself, and I will definitely be sharing these ideas with the people I health coach.

[Saboteadora · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Ea, finiquitado! 5 estrellas totalmente merecidas. Aunque lo empecé por obligación (como deberes) y sin muchas ganas, me resultó muy interesante desde el principio y me lo he leído casi del tirón.

Pensaba que sería un libro más mental pero es muy fisiológico. Me ha gustado que explique los distintos métodos que ayudan a mejorar los síntomas de depresión, estrés, ansiedad y otra sintomatología asociada a estos estados, pero más aún me ha gustado que explique los estudios que se han realizado y qué cambios se observan en el cerebro, en el corazón o en la parte del cuerpo que fuese con cada método. Me he encontrado que algunos de estos métodos se los han mandado a mis amigos o a mí misma pero sin explicarnos lo que eran y me ha gustado entenderlo.

También me gusta la forma en que pone todo en su contexto: habla de que estos métodos son exitosos pero sin vender la moto, explicando básicamente que el uso de uno u otro dependerá de los síntomas, de la persona, que algunos se complementarán, otros se sustituirán... Vamos, que no es magia. Incluso cuando algún estudio tenía otras variables que podían influir las menciona, explicando que ese resultado concreto podría deberse a ellas y no al método, por ejemplo.

Al 68% terminaréis el libro. ¿Por qué? Porque luego tendréis unos pocos agradecimientos y un buen porcentaje de páginas de bibliografía y documentación. Después, unas imágenes de pruebas cerebrales y demás que se mencionan en el libro, unas páginas con información útil sobre los métodos y entonces ya sí, se acaba.

Lo recomiendo mucho. Las 5 estrellas están justificadas.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because a lot of my favorite people are depressed anxious and stressed out and none of them want talk therapy and some of them don't want drugs. All of the tips in this book revolved around developing mind and body coherence. There are two systems in the brain. The automatic emotional brain, and the neocortex action brain. The goal in acheiving mind body coherence is getting these two parts of the brains to balance and do the same thing. Depression, Anxiety and Stress occur when the there is an imbalance between the two usually when the emotional part of the brain says go so the action part goes and then the emotional can't put on the brake. The book was essentially methods of harnassing the brake. These included breathing exercises, physical activity, acupuncture, eating more omega 3, EMRD for PTSD, loving people, and volunteering and a dozen others. It has inspired me to get people together and eat fish. It has also made me realize that library patrons don't care about what you are reading even if it is the same thing as you. UGGH.

[Jena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quality self-help books must avoid two pitfalls in order to be successful. On one hand, they should not be written in a style that is too dry and overly clinical, but on the other, they must not be based on generalities alone. The Instinct to Heal strikes the perfect balance between professionalism and reader engagement. It details the neuropsychology underlying stress, anxiety, and depression, in an easy-to-read manner, and lays out a plan with seven natural treatment methods which avoid the use of prescription medications completely.

I read this book in less than 24 hours, and it was time well spent, especially the sections on cardiac coherence, and nutrition. The author doesn't make outrageous claims, or try to "sell" you on any method, and his writing style is easygoing and respectful of his readers' intelligence, an attitude that is refreshing within the self-help genre. This is one of the best psychology books I have ever read, and I am familiar with plenty, as I have a degree in the field.

[Filipa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom said I really had to read this book because it would be important and life-changing for me, and you know that moms are always right!
She knew what she was saying, although at the beginning I wasn't really that excited. However, this book was very important and I'm glad I could read at this stage of my life. I'm certain it will help me change my life in ways I couldn't envision before. I was really excited while reading it, because it gave me hope in more ways than I can describe here - it made me realize that there's a way we could help ourselves, help cure our emotional obstacles and also help others around us.

[Dr. Tobias Christian Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wichtig: das Zusammenspiel zwischen Gedanken und Seele.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently started on antidepressants after a lot of personal concerns about doing so. About a week after starting them I happened upon this book at the library. It really eased a lot of my concerns about becoming dependent on medicine for happiness and relief from anxiety and depression. I think it's a great resource for anyone who would like to try other strategies before taking medicine, or in addition to taking medicine. I also think this book is a great reminder that medicine and therapy may not be available or effective for a lot of people. It provides alternative methods to find relief and joy within our bodies.

In conclusion, this book is wonderful. It provides great advice to help people cope with depression, anxiety, and stress. I was initially worried about the content and quality because the title felt like it might discredit medicine or therapy, but it's actually the exact opposite of that. This book is mainly to promote the fact that medicine or therapy in themselves may not work for certain people, or are merely one piece of the puzzle when it comes to mental and physical health care. Great advice, wonderful research and case studies, and a caring delivery.

[Cindywho · Rating 3 out of 5]

The OV of this one had the more prosaic title "Guerir le stress." Self-help books tend to make me flinch, but this one had enough decent information about treating anxiety and depression without pharmaceuticals to make it worthwhile. Breathing, EMDR therapy, fish oils, acupuncture, exercise, communication were some of the main subjects. All worth as much study as the creepy SSRI's that seem to be the only thing usually offered by medical professionals. (October 16, 2004)

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't be discouraged by the "self help" title. This book is really enlightening concerning ways to mitigate stress in your life and how to live with a more healthy mind-body connection.

[إيمان · Rating 5 out of 5]

بعيدا عن الأدوية النفسية و حصص العلاج النفسي، يضع هذا الكتاب على ذمة قارئه مجموعة من الطرق العلاجية البديلة . ستظن أن هذه العلاجات قد تنجح في التخفيف من المشكل بطريقة أقل نجاعة من الأدوية التقليدية، لكنك ستفاجأ بدراسات و بحوث تم نشرها في مجلات علمية مرموقة تثبت في عدة أحيان حتى أفضلية هذ الطرق على غيرها و في حالات مستعصية لم ينفع معها شيء من العلاجات التقليدية. الكاتب طبيب فرنسي درس و عمل في أمريكا لذلك كل ما تضمنه الكتاب مستند إلى أسس علمية ...ميزة هذا الطبيب أنه قرر الإجتهاد بعيدا عن إعطاء وصفة طبية تضم أدوية تقليدية في غالب الأحيان ضررها أكبر من نفعها...أنصح بقراءته بشدة فالترجمة العربية و الإنجليزية متوفرة و الكتاب زاخر بنصائح ثمينة و حلول تستحق النظر...إلى حين ذلك عافى الله الجميع من الأوبئة اللامرئية لهذا العصر الغريب.
تمت
16/08/2020

[Tita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este livro foi-me recomendado pela médica, quando em Outubro passado, eu não conseguia dormir e andava super stressada, no entanto só agora é que senti disposição para o ler, pois não sou pessoa para ler livros de auto-ajuda. No entanto, não posso considerar este livro típico de auto-ajuda., pois apresentamos muitos termos e casos médicos com os quais o autor se cruzou.
O próprio corpo tem "mecanismos" que o podem levar à cura, apenas temos que ir encontrando o nosso equilíbrio. Algo muito interessante é saber que o nosso cérebro se divide em duas partes: a cognitiva (linguagem) – e a emocional (ritmo cardíaco, tensão arterial, apetite, sono, libido e sistema imunológico). Com base nestas duas partes do cérebro, David Servan-Schreiber partilha connosco sete passos que nos permitem combater o stress e manter o nosso corpo num equilíbrio emocional.
No entanto, esperava dicas um pouco mais práticas, no entanto, achei bastante interessante os conhecimentos que transmitiu.

Em jeito de dica, deixo-vos algumas dicas do livro:
1. Coerência cardíaca - Uma forma de o conseguir é duas respirações lentas e profundas, e fazendo a expiração até ao final, fazemos uma pausa de alguns segundos e deixamos que a inspiração surja naturalmente. Depois, devemos imaginar que esta respiração lenta é realizada pelo coração e por fim, a concentração deve ser dirigida à sensação de calor ou de expansão no peito, ao mesmo tempo que nos devemos recordar de uma sensação agradável.
2. Integração neuroemocional pelos movimentos oculares - É uma espécie de hipnose que é estimulada através do movimento rítmico dos olhos, idêntica aos movimentos que os nosso olhos fazem quando sonhamos, sendo muito útil para eliminar traumas. Esta teoria é conhecida como EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), e estimula a actividade do sistema parassimpático.
3. Contacto com o sol - O sol tem efeitos bastante positivos no nosso corpo. Até o próprio acordar deveria ser gradual consoante a luz do dia e não com o despertador. Achei interessante haver uma luz que se coloca no candeeiro que simula o amanhecer e o efeito positivo que trouxe ao paciente.
4. Acupuntura - Ao ler este capitulo perguntei-me a mim própria se as dores que tenho sentido nas costas, se serão ou não sintoma de stress. E fiquei tentada a experimentar esta técnica =)
5. Exercício físico regular - Uma actividade de no mínimo 20 minutos, três vezes por semana, é benéfica quer física quer psicologicamente.
6. Alimentação rica em ómega-3 - Deveríamos comer mais peixe, nomeadamente peixes atum, salmão, crustáceos e legumes verdes.
7. Contacto afectivo - Todos nós necessitamos de boas relações afectivas, sejam com pais, irmãos, amigos, namorado, marido, ou até mesmo com um animal.
8. Saber escutar - É importante sabermos escutar os outros e não apenas ouvir, e numa conversas de 15 minutos conseguimos que os outros se sintam mais "leves".
9. Relação com os outros - E podermos "oferecer" algo à sociedade onde estamos inseridos, de forma a combatermos a solidão.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent livre qui est parfois (surtout au début) juste un peu trop technique pour être parfaitement digeste, mais ce petit défaut s'efface par la suite et tout est merveilleusement intéressant. J'en parlerai beaucoup plus en profondeur sur mon blog donc comme j'ai /un peu/ la flemme de réécrire deux fois les reviews, ce sera : tout pour moi :D
Je conseille vraiment aux personnes sujettes au stress, à l'anxiété ou à la dépression et qui sont en recherche d'éléments de solutions naturels et, pour la plupart, peu onéreux. Je ne vais pas dire que ce livre a changé ma vie, pour la simple bonne raison que je me suis rendu compte arrivée presque à la fin que j'avais déjà mis en place la grande majorité des techniques et conseils donnés, mais ça m'a confirmé que j'étais sur la bonne voix et j'en avais besoin !

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about how to cure depression naturally. I checked it out from the library because I had baby blues. Then I bought it because it had so much useful and interesting information that I thought I needed to loan it out to friends and relatives so they could benefit also. It's dense at first, but his writing gets better as the book progresses, and it is full if fascinating anecdotes.

[Jevgenia Uusväli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely essential to everyone, but especially to people who struggle with mental health problems like anxiety and depression. It gives a variety of alternatives to traditional medicine. Some of the methods are understood and accepted by the science community, some are still staying in the shadow of the mystery and therefore are not seen as treatment options, even though they have proven their efficiency.

Breathing in a specific way combine with meditation, regulating light especially in the morning, taking enough omega 3 and do regular exercise are the simplest ways to help one heal, the EMDR and china medicine are interesting alternatives but require some extra support from professionals and lastly management of personal relationships are critical for staying healthy.

In this book author describes in detail all these aspects and gives specific guidelines to implement the changes, brings relevant examples from his own medical practice and shares interesting scientific research to back up his ideas.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Très complet. Il décrit plusieurs techniques différentes pour lutter contre le stress et la dépression. Des études de cas qui donnent envie de tester certaines techniques pour aller mieux. Certaines peuvent sembler évidentes comme la pratique d'une activité physique régulière et une nutrition équilibrée mais avec une analyse chiffrée ... Ça fait la différence.

[Jorge Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sin profundizar demasiado en ningún aspecto, resume bien un conjunto de conceptos y técnicas en las que normalmente no tenemos formación, y que ya sea de forma aislada o integral, están orientadas a ayudarnos a vivir en más armonía, mejor y más felices. Enorme cantidad de enlaces a bibliografía y estudios que sustentan las conclusiones y planteamientos.

[Pascal Klinge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een fantastisch boek. Analyseert problemen waar iedereen tegen aan loopt een geeft je kleine oplossingen die iedereen zou kunnen toepassen. Erg verrijkend!

[Rachel Dykes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone gave me this book after I attempted suicide in 2018. My mum read it then and urged me to read it too, but I never did. I wish I had picked up this book back then, but also I’m not sure if I would have taken from it what I’ve taken now. This book is so insightful and genuinely helpful.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book!

[Filipa · Rating 5 out of 5]

O melhor livro sobre estes assuntos! Simples, com exemplos do dia-a-dia e muito prático de começar desde logo a aplicar. Recomendo!

['Izzat Radzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than I actually expected.

*Long review later with Ellul's book.
**A second thought perhaps no review for this one.

See this webtoon comic on prisons.

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

P. 195 - "Em pleno pesadelo [Sarajevo, em 1993], quando já não resta nada, resta isto: a relação afectiva, mesmo com um cão. Poder dar ainda. Para nos sentirmos humanos. Sentirmos que ainda contamos para alguém. E isso é mais forte do que a fome, mais forte do que o medo.
Quando estas relações são perturbadas, a nossa fisiologia degrada-se, e sentimos isso como uma dor. É uma dor afectiva, mas mesmo assim uma dor. Esta chave do nosso cérebro emocional não depende unicamente do amor do nosso companheiro ou companheira. Depende da qualidade de todas as nossas relações afectivas. Com os filhos, os pais, os nossos irmãos e irmãs, os nossos amigos, os nossos animais. Porque o importante é o sentimento de podermos ser nós próprios, completamente, com outra pessoa. Uma pessoa poder mostrar-se tão fraca e vulnerável quanto forte e radiosa. Poder rir mas também chorar. Sentir-se compreendida nas suas emoções. Saber-se útil e importante para alguém. E um mínimo de contactos físicos calorosos. Ser amada, simplesmente. Como todas as plantas que se viram para a luz do sol, precisamos da luz do amor e da amizade. Sem ela, mergulhamos na ansiedade e na depressão. Infelizmente, na nossa sociedade, forças centrífugas estão constantemente a agir no sentido de nos separar uns dos outros. E quando não nos separam, incitam-nos muitas vezes a viver na violências das palavra e não no afecto. Para gerir da melhor maneira a nossa fisiologia, precisamos de aprender a gerir o melhor possível todas as nossas relações com os outros.
E isso é possível desde que nos demos ao trabalho de aprender a controlar os fundamentos daquilo a que poderíamos chamar a "comunicação emocional"."

David Servan-Schreiber, psiquiatra francês "simpatizante" das teorias de António Damásio, apresenta-nos neste livro uma abordagem à cura através das emoções, seguindo um caminho de tratamentos alternativos (afastando-se da medicação convencional), destacando o conceito de que o corpo humano possui, associado ao instinto de sobrevivência, um instinto básico para a cura.
O autor divide o cérebro em duas partes: a cognitiva (linguagem) e a emocional (controle da fisiologia do corpo - (ritmo cardíaco, tensão arterial, apetite, sono, libido e sistema imunológico), e com este ponto de partida assenta as suas bases numa medicina integral, composta por sete passos regeneradores: coerência cardíaca, ajuste do relógio biológico, alimentação equilibrada, actividade física, relações afectivas, movimento rítmico dos olhos (EMDR - Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) e acupunctura. São métodos naturais, alguns conhecidos há muito tempo, mas pela primeira vez comprovados pela sua eficácia através de vários testes realizados (o autor apresenta vários casos práticos).

Confesso que fiquei desolada ao descobrir, durante a leitura do livro (através de algumas pesquisas sobre o mesmo), que o autor faleceu em 2011, vítima de cancro.

[Charles Henri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un livre intéressant qui tombe pile dans ma liste de lecture. Le livre débute avec des références au travail du Dr. Damasio (Descartes' error) que j'ai lu l'an passé et se termine avec des références au travail d'Abraham Maslow qui est le prochain livre sur ma liste (The farther reaches of human nature). Il s'insère aussi parfaitement dans mes valeurs. Plus je lis de trucs plus je vois que la santé mentale et la santé physique d'une société ne font qu'un. Tant qu'on continuera à vouloir soigner les gens à coup de pilules, la société occidentale continuera son déclin.

Il faut ramener une médecine plus naturelle dnas les moeurs des gens. Le chapitre le plus frappant à ce sujet, selon moi, est le passage sur les bienfaits des oméga-3. Je connaissais leurs bienfaits, mais ce livre n'a fait que renforcer l'idée d'en ajouter plus à ma diète, ce que je me suis empressé de faire.

Le passage où le plus surprenant, que je ne conaissait pas, est celui de l'EMDR (l'intégration neuro-émotionnelle par les mouvements occulaires). Une technique fort simple qui semble vraiment intéressante.

Le reste du livre semble, selon moi, le gros bon sens. Se lever de façon plus naturelle, faire de l'exercise pour que le corps relâche plus d'endorphines, etc. C'est tellement simple, que la plupart des gens ne croient pas que cela puisse les aider.

La seule chose importante dont il ne fait pas mention, est de boire beaucoup d'eau. C'est probablement la première chose à faire pour aider son organisme et il en est question nulle part.

Donc un livre fort intéressant :) Bonne lecture !

[Sami Al Badri · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ce que je déteste le plus en psychiatrie et en psychologie c'est qu'on trouve tjr des praticiens qui utilisent et parlent enthousiasment sur des méthodes de thérapies qui n'ont pas l'évidence scientifique d'être utile. En faisant cela ils ne respectent pas leur specialité. Car, par exemple, si ils étaient des chirurgiens, ils vont penser deux fois avant faire la meme chose.

La meilleure évaluation de ce livre viendra d'un texte bien académique de la specialite (Manuel de psychiatrie, 4e édition, de Julien Daniel Guelfi, Frédéric Rouillon et Luc Mallet.) p14:

"En l'absence d'épistémologie thérapeutique, toute action peut se prévaloir d'un pouvoir thérapeutique. Il peut devenir légitime d'affirmer que « guérir – le stress, l'anxiété et la dépression – sans médicaments ni psychanalyse» est possible, d'entériner l'existence de 400 formes de psychothérapies, ou d'utiliser d'une manière non adaptée à leurs cibles réelles, les médicaments psychotropes. Notre discipline doit lutter contre ces dérives."

[Chloe Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have first stumbled upon the book in a small bookshop in Bristol, and I immediately bought the Kindle version of it, since I have always been interested in how the mind functions. Of course, this is not about how the mind functions, and if anybody wants to learn how the brain functions instead it would be better to go for Dick Swaab's We Are Our Brains: From the Womb to Alzheimer's.

Dr. Servan-Schreiber gives really practical advice, and the text is not too heavy with the excessive use of medical discourse seen in some other research papers or books.

Moreover, towards the end of the book, he also teaches us how to be human. This is not only for psychologists, psychiatrists or anybody interested in this field, this book is for everybody.

(May you rest in peace, Dr. Servan-Schreiber.)

[Sambasivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This international bestseller looks towards the East for solving the problems related to depression and stress. The oriental heritage and the lifestyle lends itself to balanced living. Which is why the suicide rates in the East due to this reason are much lower than in the West. The author needs to be complimented for the engaging style. It seems as though he is speaking in person due to the conversational tone of the writing. The case studies are apt and enlightening and the personal examples revealed by the author shows his honesty as well. An excellent book on how to live stress free.