Description: One in every four women suffers from depression at some point in her life, and most of these women are mothers. Now Anne Sheffield, who is both the daughter of a depressed mother and a depressed mother herself, explains the psychological issues and health consequences, demystifies the symptoms, and offers a plan to help mothers reclaim their lives while learning to cope with the stresses that depression places on child rearing.

Nothing matters more to a mother than her children's well-being. But unrecognized, untreated depression in mothers puts millions of children at risk for lifelong emotional, cognitive, and physical problems. Compared to a child of non-depressed parents, a child of someone who is depressed is six times more likely to develop depression and much more likely to develop ADD, hyperactivity, drug and alcohol abuse, or behavioral problems. In plain language, Sheffield identifies signs of depression and alerts parents to signals that their illness is having negative effects on their children.

Exploring the entire spectrum of issues -- including postpartum depression, the special social issues facing adolescents, what adult children of depressed mothers can do to combat their special legacy, and fathers' needs and responsibilities -- Sorrow's Web also includes an essential chapter that guides readers through the maze of medication and psychotherapy.

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