Robyn Wheeler is a courageous woman. She writes openly about a condition that's not easy to talk about. For years Robyn has struggled with chronic anger, anxiety, and hopelessness until one day she was given a diagnoses that turned her life around. She has dysthymia.

It sounds exotic, doesn't it? But it's actually quite common, although most who have it might not be aware of it. Dysthymia is a chronic, low-grade, long lasting depression. It's the kind of mental disorder that still allows one to take care of their daily activities, their work, and their families, but the sufferer struggles with depression, anger, low feelings of self-worth, guilt, emotional pain, anxiety and thoughts of suicide.

Robyn's book is easy to read as she chronicles the events in her life that brought her to the point of seeking psychiatric help. She is candid and forthright about the things she's said and done, and the guilt and anxiety it has caused her. The purpose of her book is to inform so that others who may be suffering from this disorder can seek help and experience the peace and happiness she finally achieves through medication—in this case, the much talked about Prozac.

I was keen on the pages that stated the facts and symptoms of dysthymia, as well as the ways to cope with it. Apart from finding the right anti-depressant for her, Robyn also talks about her new-age spiritual beliefs. Although I didn't always agree with her viewpoint, I feel just as strongly that a relationship with God and belief in his Holy Word do make a difference for those fighting depression.

Robyn's book inspired me. Apart from dealing with mental illness in my work field, I know first-hand what it means to experience depression ever since I went through post-partum depression after the birth of my second child. Years later I still cope with this lingering illness but through natural remedies, and after reading this book I now have a name for what I'm up against!

I highly recommend this book to any who are interested in mental illness, for professional or personal reasons. Robyn has, in effect, written a book that is almost like a case study, using her life's journey to encourage others to get professional help. It's a captivating, insightful, and inspiring read.  

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