The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck
While the previous selections offer a tranquil warmth and polite professionalism in their quest to defeat depression, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck utilizes a bolder, take-no-prisoners approach. Drawing from a successful blog, author Mark Manson presents a way to feel better without a focus on staying positive and looking on the bright side all of the time.
This book is based on the concept that life is a struggle that is tough to endure, and people should focus on becoming stronger and more resilient, rather than hoping for their situations to improve. If the reader can learn to handle defeat, face their fears, and accept their limitations, they can achieve the happiness they truly seek.
As the title suggests, this counterintuitive approach to living a good life is profane, rude, and vulgar, in the best ways possible. Manson trades flowery speech found in other texts for clear directives and humor at unforeseen turns.
Ways To Be Less Stressed
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Feelings of anxiety and depression are often triggered and heightened by too much or poorly managed stress. Dr. Caroline Leaf is a neuroscientist and guru in mind and brain health. This book offers many strategies to experiment with and determine which ones are most helpful for each person.
Depression Hates A Moving Target By Nita Sweeney
Many people who suffer with depression feel like they are a victim of their own thoughts, trapped in a downward spiral that seems never-ending. It was Nita Sweeneys passion for running that allowed her to discover her inner strength and push past this type of negative thinking. In this book, Sweeney shares her story with depression and how running healed her mind and transformed her life. Check out Depression Hates a Moving Target here.
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+ Depression Books For Free
Mental disorders and pathologies are becoming more and more frequent in todays society, according to data from the World Health Organization. On this occasion, we are interested that you can access information about this problem that affects the population through our depression books in PDF format.
Our selection of depression books will allow you to learn more about this mood disorder, identify its causes, its repercussions on physical and mental health, as well as the ways to approach it from a clinical and therapeutic point of view.
Depression is understood as a mental disorder that affects the mood and thinking of the sufferer. It is described as a deep sadness, despondency or discouragement. Commonly anyone can feel this way at some point in life and it is a state that usually lasts a short time.
The problem arises when this state of mind is prolonged over time and prevents the person from carrying out their daily activities normally. This is because depression is accompanied by physical and mental symptoms that are difficult to cope with, such as: negative thoughts , insomnia or excessive sleep, changes in appetite, apathy, loss of pleasure, inability to see the meaning of life, fatigue, among others.
In depression there are usually also alterations in brain chemistry that hinder a natural recovery. For this reason, clinical depression requires pharmacological and therapeutic treatment at the same time.
The Upward Spiral By Alex Korb Phd
This book dives into the neuroscience behind depression, looking at whats going on in our brains and how this mental illness affects our thoughts, feelings and behavior.
Author Alex Korb, PhD explains the steps you can take to change your brain chemistry such as muscle relaxation techniques, connecting to nature and more. Small shifts can make a major difference. Check out The Upward Spiral here.
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Its Kind Of A Funny Story By Ned Vizzini
Ever felt the pressure to be perfect? In our quest to succeed, many of us fall into the perfectionism trap and become overwhelmed by the stress that comes along with it. Thats what happened to Craig Gilner. Ned Vizzini tells a story of a boy who went down the dark hole of drugs and depression, which ultimately led to a suicide attempt. As a result, he checked himself into a mental hospital where he learned how to accept himself and heal. Check out Its Kind of a Funny Story here.
Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts
Does your brain decide to remind you of all the embarrassing stuff youve ever done just as youre about to fall asleep? Intrusive thoughts are brutal and play a huge role in the experience of depression and anxiety.
Psychotherapist Sally Winston teaches how to take back control of your brain and quickly curb intrusive thoughts from ruining a good day or a good nights sleep.
Creative people need creative outlets. Certified art therapist Leah Guzman answers that need beautifully with this book. Creativity has been shown to soothe the mind, create new spaces of self-awareness, and create new, positive pathways in the brain. If youre an artistic creative, this book is definitely worth looking into.
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The Noonday Demon: An Anatomy Of Depression By Andrew Solomon
For: A deep dive into depression, breakdowns, treatments and alternatives, as well as the history and politics of depression.
Andrew Solomon combines his first-person account of depression with his keen curiosity as a writer to offer the reader insight into traditional and alternative approaches, from the benefits of exercise to the Senegalese animist ritual called ndeup, which involves drumming, dancing, and the blood of a ram and a cockerel.
Small Steps Big Impact
If a person feels sustained, intense, feelings of sadness or loss of interest in activities, they may have clinical depression. People also refer to this condition as major depressive disorder.
However, there are small steps you can take to help you gain more agency in your life and improve your sense of well-being.
Read on to learn how to incorporate these strategies in a way that makes sense for you.
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Or Spend Time With Loved Ones
Depression can tempt you to isolate yourself and withdraw from people you love and trust, but face-to-face time can help wash away those tendencies.
If youre unable to spend time together in person, phone calls or video chats can also be helpful.
Try to remind yourself these people care about you. Resist the temptation to feel like youre a burden. You need the interaction and they likely do, too.
Research has shown that keeping a journal can be a beneficial add-on method for managing mental health conditions.
Writing down your thoughts can help you express what youre feeling more clearly. It can also help you keep track of what symptoms youre having each day and identify what causes them.
You can make a goal to write for a few minutes each day or week. Most importantly, what you want to write about is completely up to you.
When you do the same thing day after day, you use the same parts of your brain.
Research shows doing new things can feel rewarding improve your overall well-being and strengthen your social relationships.
To reap these benefits, consider trying a new sport, taking a creative class, or learning a new cooking technique.
Shoot The Damn Dog: A Memoir Of Depression By Sally Brampton
To the outside world, Sally Brampton had it all: an award-winning journalist who launched Elle magazine in the UK, a glamorous and impressive career. But behind the scenes, Brampton was depressed, suffering from depression and alcoholism. This book is a refreshingly honest portrayal about one womans ability to fight her inner demons, while also addressing the stigma of depression and how to better understand this mental illness. Check out Shoot the Damn Dog here.
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Happy Okay By Mj Fievre
If youre looking for something unique, this poetry book is beautifully written while also sending a powerful message about mental health. M.J. Fievre invites readers to let go of the depression stigma and start loving and believing in yourself. Happy Okay? helps readers see that happiness is a choice and how to start embracing a more optimistic mindset. Check out Happy Okay? here.
The Depression Cure By Stephen Ilardi
Depression is a multifaceted disorder. Genetics, psychology, and environment can all play a role in its prevalence and manifestations.
In The Depression Cure, clinical psychologist Stephen Ilardi provides a multi-pronged approach to treating and managing this multi-pronged condition. What I like about Ilardis book is that its incredibly action-oriented. Mood and thoughts often follow action. Consequently, Ilardi focuses on easy lifestyle changes that you can make that can help alleviate depression, like exercising, getting outside in nature, and socializing.
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An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir Of Moods And Madness By Kay Redfield Jamison
Not only is Dr. Jamison an expert on bipolar disorder, she has also lived through it. She experienced the same highs and lows that affected her patients. Her mental illness took some surprising and scary turns, which she shares in An Unquiet Mind. Written from a dual perspective, this memoir is both insightful and empowering. Check out An Unquiet Mind here.
Grief Works: Stories Of Life Death And Surviving
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Grief and depression are two very different things, but sometimes grief can trigger bouts of depression. Learning to manage and process grief can help prevent future episodes of depression and provide a clearer sense of direction through the healing process. Psychotherapist Julia Samuel provides both stories and sound guidance to navigate the complicated healing journey of grieving.
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Learned Hopefulness: Harnessing The Power Of Positivity
This book, Learned Hopefulness: Harnessing the Power of Positivity to Overcome Depression, Increase Motivation, and Build Unshakable Resilience, by Dr. Dan Tomasulo is for individuals who feel hopeless but want to live life with positivity.
It helps readers identify their strengths and feel motivated so that they can plan their future with a positive outlook.
The author has a doctorate in psychology, a master of fine arts in writing, and a master of applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. He also works as a review editor for Frontiers in Psychology.
Learned Hopefulness has a 4.7-star average rating on Amazon and costs about $10 for the Kindle and paperback versions. Individuals can purchase the audio CD for approximately $23.
This Is Depression: A Comprehensive Compassionate Guide For Anyone Who Wants To Understand Depression
Dr. Diane McIntosh offers a comprehensive and informative guide perfect for anyone looking to better understand depression, either for themselves or a loved one. Her evidence-based approach outlines how genetics, experience, and even hormones all play a part in depressions impact.
It also dives into how depression can affect relationships, work, and home life while offering tools and practical advice for talking to loved ones, doctors, and others about mental health. An all-encompassing staple in depression reading, this book is a must-read for anyone dealing with depression in any form.
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Lost Connections: Why Youre Depressed And How To Find Hope By Johann Hari
After suffering from depression for many years, Johann Hari was determined to learn more about mental illness and traveled around the world interviewing experts in the field. Lost Connections analyzes the causes of depression, describes symptoms and provides solutions that will leave readers feeling enlightened and empowered. Check out Lost Connections here.
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The Body Keeps The Score
Depression stems from all types of issues, and The Body Keeps the Score targets the influence of past trauma on mood. Though people recognize the significance of trauma in the form of combat exposure, life-threatening incidents, and serious assaults, the Bessel Van Der Kolk book explores other sources of trauma and the negative impact they have on individuals and society.
By recognizing alternative roots of trauma, like having an alcoholic parent or witnessing domestic violence, this work expands on what it means to have trauma and ways to heal the damage. For people with post-traumatic stress and depression, or people with depression that may have been triggered traumatic experiences, The Body Keeps the Score is a must-read to better understand and deal with symptoms.
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Volunteering Can Be A Great Way To Do Both
Knock out a few birds with one stone spending time with other people and doing something new by volunteering and giving your time to someone or something else.
You may be used to receiving help from friends, but reaching out and providing help may actually improve your mental health more.
Bonus: People who volunteer experience physical benefits, too. This includes a
The Mindful Way Through Depression By Mark Williams John Teasdale Zindel Segal And Jon Kabat
Mindfulness is well-known for helping enhance your overall well-being and this is especially true for people with depression. Using expert-backed mindfulness techniques, you can rewire your negative thinking patterns. This book combines Eastern meditative traditions and cognitive therapy to help you improve your mental habits and find inner peace. Check out The Mindful Way Through Depression here.
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Best Self Help Books For Depression And Anxiety 2021
We all know that books are the best escape from the world when we are stressed. Reading books is very beneficial for battling anxiety and depression. Some people refer to reading books as Bibliotherapy.
So, for those who are struggling with anxiety or depression in their daily lives, we have adjoined the top 15 self-improvement books for sailing through this tough phase like a champ!
So lets get started with the small reviews of the books for self-improvement.
The Happiness Trap: How To Stop Struggling And Start Living By Russ Harris
Focuses on: Anxiety and DepressionType: Greater Understanding/Research and Exercises/Action
I love this book. It was quite influential on me when I read it years and years ago and I was quite upset to find out that I had inadvertently ripped off one of the exercises in it in my Self-Knowledge PDF .
Harris is probably the most visible proponent of something called ACT or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. ACT is a relatively new form of therapy that argues that the key to dealing with depression, anxiety, or addiction is to not necessarily to remove bad feelings. Instead, ACT focuses on developing mental tools and habits to simply weather those bad feelings more effectively. Whereas CBT is focused on channeling pain and suffering into more productive interpretations and actions, ACT just says fuck it, bad feelings are bad feelings and they dont necessarily have to mean anything at all, if we dont let them. To me, ACT is one of the more promising recent developments in psychology as it incorporates some of the benefits of mindfulness, with a zest of eastern philosophy thrown in.
The Happiness Trap is also one of the most approachable and enjoyable psych reads out there. The writing is clear and fun, and the exercises are engaging. In my opinion, the best pop psychology books bring some humor and humanity to the subject, and this is one of the few books that pulls that off really well.
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Do Something You Enjoy
Depression can push you to give in to your fatigue. It may feel more powerful than preferred emotions.
Try to push back and do something you love something thats pleasurable or meaningful. It could be playing an instrument, painting, hiking, or biking.
The byproduct of engaging in meaningful activities can be a lift in your mood or energy, which can further motivate you to continue to engage in helpful activities that help with navigating symptoms.
Research suggests that walks in nature may improve depressive symptoms in people with clinical depression.
Time in natural spaces may improve mood and cognition, and lower the risk of mental health disorders. However, theres only limited research on the direct effect of nature on those with clinical depression.
Consider taking a walk at lunch among the trees or spending some time in your local park. Or plan a weekend hike. These activities can help you reconnect with nature and soak in some rays at the same time.
Full Catastrophe Living By Jon Kabat
Its no secret that chronic stress can lead to a long list of health problems, and depression is at the top of the list. If we dont find ways to manage stress, it makes us more prone to mental illness and disease. In this book, Jon Kabat-Zinn offers mindfulness-based stress reduction exercises, and explains how to utilize meditation and yoga to combat stress. Check out Full Catastrophe Living here.
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Feeling Great By David Burns
One of the many factors that contributes to depression is faulty thinking. Depressives are often depressed because they see the world through an inaccurate, overly-pessimistic lens. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of effective talk therapy that aims to help the depressed individual challenge those faulty thoughts and replace them with ones that align more closely with reality.
In Feeling Great, psychiatrist David Burns gives the lay reader a comprehensive, easy-to-read guide to implementing CBT to manage a variety of mood disorders, including depression.
Feeling Good is one of the most valuable books Ive read on managing depression through better cognition and one that I keep going back to for a refresher when I need to scrub the barnacles off my psyche.