When depression hit best-selling author Susan Polis Schutz, no one was more surprised than she. Usually an upbeat, fun-loving person, this kind of thing didn t happen to people like her! Suddenly she couldn t get out of bed, was exhausted all the time, and felt miserable, hopeless, lethargic, and overwhelmed. She had collapsed into a severe depression. During her three-year journey through this debilitating disease, Susan kept a journal in which she wrote about what she was feeling. She saw a therapist regularly and took medication to help her get better. Taking pills was particularly hard for her since before this time she had rarely even taken aspirin. Today, thanks to medicine and the support of family, friends, and an outstanding therapist, Susan has recovered from her depression and is once again living a content, productive, and fulfilling life. Depression strikes one in four women and one in eight men at some point in their lifetimes. It remains one of the most misunderstood conditions often not even seen as a medical illness but as something imagined or that people bring on themselves. The author hopes that sharing her experience will bring greater attention and understanding to this life-changing affliction. Depression and Back is not only for people going through depression, but also for their families, friends, and loved ones. It will help anyone who has been touched by this devastating illness. Not only does it show that these people are not alone, but it gives them hope that they can recover.