Betsy Lerner

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Dear Ms Lerner, I just finished your book Food & Loathing and found so much of myself in that book. I too suffer from depression but I am not sure what type as I have been put on so many different medications that have not helped. I cannot tell you how agonizing it is to just wake up in the morning and wish I hadn't. I would never try to harm myself again(I am forty one and twenty years ago tried to commit suicide). I have a six year old whom I love so much and would never think of putting her through that. I am trying to function without meds (stopped taking Prozac about a month ago) but find I am still down. I have been on Celexa, Zoloft, Wellbutrim but none seem to help. All of have been prescribed by a family physician not by someone who specializes in mental health which I wonder if that is my problem? any advice you can give me would be wonderful - thank you

Dear Ms. Lerner: I love your books! You are an amazing person, a role-model, an inspiration! Finally I have a favorite author who is female! My jouney after Food and Loathing includes a psych-eval, diagnosis of Adult-ADD, and treatment for this disorder I've had all my life, but did not understand until your book inspired me to help myself. Thank you! Respectfully yours, L.J. Fairchild (P.S. Please choose me!)



I can't even begin to express the gratitude I feel for your book Food and Loathing. I discovered it in the local Barns & Noble store near my home and from that moment on I was caught in this amazing, vividly depicted story of your struggle that mirrored my own life in so many ways. Although I'm only 14 years old, the things you described in your book; your feelings, your hopes and fears, everything, is exactly what I feel and think. Your book has shown me the struggles that may lie ahead but it has also given many of us who second-guess ourselves so much hope. You are a true inspiration to me and because of your book, I am trying to go on with my life and battle the depression that plagues me everyday. I see the world in all it's beauty but when I look at the mirror, I see a hideous creature that is unfit for this world. But your book shows the true colors of how weight and depression are externally linked. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you Miss Lerner, for writing this book and showing me and so many others, your story of hope and despair, all beautifully weaved together in a way that only you can make it so. Forever Grateful, Daisy O. (I loved The Forest for the Trees, by the way. It was very informative and I found it to be comical as well ^^)

Although I've never met you, you've already helped me edit my current manuscript. Thank you! Please accept my appreciation for your book "The Forest for the Trees." As a first time novelist, the publication world can seem a bit overwhelming, but your book gave me clear direction on how to approach the industry with a higher degree of confidence. I enjoyed your humor and realistic insight from the eyes of a person sitting on the other side of the desk. Your message was delivered in a firm yet caring way and your experience as an editor came across in your empathy towards the writer. It was a very thoughtful project. Well done. Mark Carpan

Thank you so much for writing Food and Loathing. I have been suffering from bulimia/binge eating for almost 5 years and have never been underweight. I've always felt that my problem is less valid because I'm not underweight and sometimes feel like therapists treat it that way as well. I hope your book will bring more awareness to how horrible it is to feel like you have no control over you eating and it is not through willpower that you can gain control. I have also suffered from major depression and believe the two are definately connected. Thank you for bravely sharing your story for the many of us out there who are still too scared to speak. You have given me courage that there are others out there struggling like me, but through the struggle there is light.

Thank you Betsy Lerner for your fearless book Food and Loathing. I'm a bipolar woman who just hit age 30 and didn't even guess that my food and mood tidal waves were so closely connected until the past year and a half ago. Three months ago I had the worst depression of my life. Around that time I found it necessary to leave my own Overeater's Anonymous group, because the harsh, fear-based, peer pressure crushing, one size fits all abstinence mentality was nothing but salt in my wounds. I lost 25 pounds with OA, but am now on a drug cocktail of Eskalith, Neurontin, and Wellbutrin --- all drugs that can potentially cause weight gain. I've worried about the situation and even went to Goodwill to see if I could find all my donated clothes in case I do gain weight. But I’m starting to find that the longer I stay away from Overeaters Anonymous, the healthier I am getting…mentally and physically. And despite the dire warnings of some of my former fellow OA members I have yet to “relapse” and gain back all my weight and then some. These days as I get back on my feet, I’m learning to trust myself and look for alternatives to addiction models (that just plain don’t apply to eating disorders), such as cognitive therapy, more objective books on compulsive overeating, and peer support that isn’t trying to pattern itself after Alcoholics Anonymous. Thank you for revealing the truth about the devastating effects of food and mood disorders when they collide. I hope everybody reads Food and Loathing, because you’ve shared something with all of us that will change the way people view mood/eating disorders. Gratefully, Amy D.

Hi Betsy, I'm an unpublished writer about to start a 2-year writing programme in London. I've got a pile of books on writing as tall as myself, but have to write to say your "Forest for the Trees" is the most comforting and inspirational work I've read in years. I won't wax lyrical, but I wanted to say thank you for taking the time and trouble to make this advice and encouragement available to a wider audience. Alix McCulloch

About a year ago, I read The Forest for the Trees and thought it was absolutely brilliant, funny, and so human, but I didn't know how to tell you. After finding your web-page, learning of the difficult times you've had, and seeing how much your photo matches my internal image of you (tres collected, neat woman), let me tell you that we need you Betsy. You're a class act.