Many of us have a propensity to ignore our own mental health or minimise any difficulties we may be going through, but it's crucial to treat your mental health with the same level of care that you would treat your physical health. It can be quite beneficial to enlist the assistance of both qualified professionals and others who have already encountered similar difficulties.
The several excellent works in this field contain a wealth of knowledge, understanding, and beneficial resources. We've highlighted some of the top books on mental health, covering everything from addiction to grieving.
✔ The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. - $11.40
A must-read for anyone who has gone through trauma (especially as a child) or wants to learn more about how trauma impacts the body and brain in a lasting way. Dr. van der Kolk offers optimism in the shape of potential new treatments and explains the pertinent science in an understandable manner.
✔ Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health, by Thomas Insel, M.D. - $20.49
In order to focus his time and efforts on finding methods to enhance the American mental health system, Dr. Insel resigned from his post as director of the National Institute of Mental Health. He reduces the issue to a three-part strategy that combines social and medical support.
✔ What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma, by Stephanie Foo - $13.99
Stephanie Foo was diagnosed with complicated PTSD as a result of parental abuse and abandonment after years of dealing with anxiety and panic attacks. In order to shed light on C-PTSD and its causes as well as share useful treatment alternatives and coping mechanisms, Foo blends her personal experiences with in-depth research.
✔ The Mother of Black Hollywood, by Jenifer Lewis - $12.58
Jenifer Lewis has built an impressive entertainment resume encompassing hundreds of roles in Hollywood and on Broadway. But a breakdown caused by an undiagnosed mental illness led to an unexpected detour, which she details in this touching and inspiring memoir.
✔ Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction, by David Sheff- $9.99
The gripping tale of Sheff's son's battle with addiction and its profound effects on the entire family is told in this compelling book, which was eventually adapted into a film. This narrative will give solace to anyone who are struggling with addiction or who are supporting a loved one who is.
✔ Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction, by Maia Szalavitz - $17.79
Another great resource for those wanting to gain a better understanding of addiction, this book offers a new take on the topic, busting some common beliefs and offering a different way of thinking about the causes and treatments of addiction.
✔ Nothing General about It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital, by Maurice Benard - $12.49
Maurice Benard has become one of daytime television’s most well-known and well-respected actors, but Benard’s incredible real-life journey is more gripping than any of his storylines. In this no-holds-barred memoir, he talks about his lifelong mental health struggles, the bipolar crisis that almost ended his General Hospital career soon after it began, and important lessons he has learned along the way.
✔ An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness, by Kay Redfield Jamison- $13.99
Another dramatic memoir about bipolar disorder, this book by Kay Redfield Jamison offers a unique perspective based on her dual roles as someone who was researching treatments for the condition while also living with bipolar disorder herself. A raw and honest narrative that’s not always pretty but worth the read.
