Pros of Prozac: A Faith-based Memoir of Overcoming the Stigma

Many people who take antidepressants, like Prozac, rarely reveal this fact to others because of the unfortunate negative stigma attached to treating mental illness with psychotropic medication. In her book Pros of Prozac: A Faith-Based Memoir of Overcoming the Stigma, author Beca Mark courageously shares the personal details of her struggle with anxiety and depression after the birth of her first child. She describes her faith-based journey to achieve spiritual, emotional, physical and psychological balance and stability after 15 months of needless suffering. Read about how taking Prozac allowed her to become more patient, emotionally stable and confident, to align her emotions with her actions and to find her best self all while remaining true to her Christian beliefs.

Mark’s conversational, reader-friendly writing style works well in the context of her memoir. Her work combines autobiographical and self-help elements and at 112 pages, is, as Mack points out, succinct enough “so someone dealing with depression or heightened anxiety can easily start, finish [and] apply” the book’s suggestions. Chapters are short, a few pages at most. Many people could benefit from reading Pros of Prozac. Readers living with a mood or anxiety disorder and considering taking medication to alleviate their suffering will find motivational words and sound advice. Friends and family members of a loved one with depression or anxiety can get a unique glimpse into the life of someone with similar psychological challenges. Readers will especially appreciate the chapter in which Mark reveals three unexpected surprises about Prozac that she wishes she knew before she began taking it.

Appendix A features discussion questions readers can pose to themselves, family members, friends, therapists, doctors and anyone willing to have an open dialogue. Appendix B includes additional resources such as a recommended reading list, frequently asked questions, statistics and contact information for organizations set up to provide help.

It isn’t necessary to have a Christian religious background to benefit from reading Mark’s book, simply because there isn’t much religious discussion. There are only a few references to the Bible and one main chapter that deals with Mack’s own personal feelings about faith and medication. This actually makes it a more relevant book available to more readers. With so few books about mental health available on bookstore shelves, any addition to the genre is a positive step towards starting a conversation about mental health and taking medication for treatment.