Book Review: “Medical Myths That Can Kill You”
The full title is Medical Myths That Can Kill You And the 101 Truths That Will Save, Extend and Improve Your Life and it’s gotten a lot of buzz this year. The author, Dr. Nancy L Snyderman is one of those “TV doctors” — a real doctor but also is the Chief Medical Editor for NBC News. This book covers all aspects of health care, but does have one section devoted to mental health care.
Myth #7 You Can Just Snap Out of Mental Illness
Sadly, this is the shortest section of the book at a mere 35 pages long, but echoes of caring for your mental health can be seen in previous sections such as “Myth #6 — Natural Means “Safe”" and “Myth #1 — Annual Checkups Are Obselete.” This section focuses on Dr. Snyderman’s personal story — and quite frankly gives a little too much information about her past battles with depression brought on when she was raped in 1969.
However, there are a lot of other tips and supportive sugggestions for anyone battling any kind of mental illness, including depression. She also notes that depression can be brought on by suddenly developing a chronic painful illness or disease. She notes that for the patient to get any relief, they not only need treatment for their physical problems, but for their emotional, as well.
Some Quibbles
Every now and then Dr. Snyderman does address that the current health care system in America is dysfunctional, available only to the rich and filled with incompetant doctors. Although not completely ignoring the problem, her best advice is to just accept that the health system is unfair and get another doctor or therapist if you don’t like the one you have.
Unfortunately, that’s not a realistic alternative for many people. I remember the time when I waws homeless in England and was only allowed to visit the doctors who volunteered to come to Bath’s homeless shelter, Julian House. Although I got along with all of the doctors there, I was lucky. How about if I didn’t? It’s not as if I could choose.
That happens also in America, to not only the homeless but also to the middle class. Because of Medicaid or health insurance restrictions, they may have a whopping one doctor or one therapist to choose from. That’s not acceptable.
July 15th, 2010 at 7:10 am
Since we’re discussing Depression Talk » Blog Archive » Book Review: “Medical Myths That Can Kill You”, Many doctors who want to be general practitioners from the outset achieve their ambition, but also that many doctors who initially aspire to other careers eventually work in general practice.