Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand. they can steal your motivation and often mask your life purpose. they put debilitating obstacles to basic daily routines: even getting out of bed in the morning or eating can seem like a chore.
While genetics and life circumstances play a role in depression and anxiety, the right tools and information can give anyone a chance to fight back and find happiness. We’ve put together a powerful list of books, recommended (and often authored) by psychologists, to give you the resources to break free from the clutches of depression and live the life you want.
You are reading: Best books about anxiety and depression
1. feeling good: the new mood therapy by david d. burns, dm
In this important book, Stanford psychiatrist David Burns, M.D., explains how cognitive behavioral techniques can change how we feel in each moment. Cognitive distortions are a cause of great suffering in depressed and anxious people. When we learn to challenge our negative thinking and choose different thoughts, we can learn to “feel good.”
Conclusion: When you change what you think, you can change how you feel.
2. healing your inner child by charles l. whitfield, maryland
We all have an inner child that is alive and full of energy, according to physician and psychotherapist Charles Whitfield, M.D. a dysfunctional childhood and the resulting shame can cause our inner child to be lost. Since it was first published in 1987, this classic book has helped countless people find their inner child and heal past pain.
conclusion: contacting and living from our true self is the central task of personal growth.
3. anxiety & phobia workbook by edmund j. bourne, doctorate
Since its publication, this practical book has been a reference for anyone suffering from an anxiety disorder, from GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) to OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Learn to use your breath, food, exercise, meditation, and positive self-talk to ease your fears.
Conclusion: An anxious mind cannot exist in a relaxed body.
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4. Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life by Martin Seligman, Ph.D.
This fascinating book describes the research conducted by Martin Seligman, Ph.D., one of the founders of positive psychology, on depression and its opposite: learned optimism. An optimistic attitude, according to Martin, is a key factor in overcoming depression. The good news is that optimism can be learned. take an optimism test to find out how optimistic you are (or aren’t). Fortunately, you can reset your way of thinking. this book gives you the tools to do just that, for you and your kids.
Conclusion: Pessimism is avoidable.
5. anxiety & Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution by David A. Clark, Ph.D., and Aaron T. beck,md
founder of cognitive behavioral therapy aaron t. Beck, M.D., and psychiatrist David A. Clark, Ph.D., offer strategies for identifying triggers that lead to anxiety. Learn to challenge your thoughts and gain the courage to take small steps to face the situations you fear.
conclusion: leave it and give it a try.
6. The Anxiety Toolkit: Strategies to Sharpen the Mind and Break Through Stuck Points by Alice Boyes, Ph.D.
if you question yourself and are hard on yourself in general, you are more likely to suffer from some form of anxiety. unstick by gaining new coping skills and understanding how your thought patterns may be causing anxiety. recognize your innate resilience and ability to cope with things that don’t go as planned.
bottom line: practice self-compassion. be kind to yourself.
7. on the edge: a journey through anxiety by andrea petersen
A health and wellness writer for the Wall Street Journal, author Andrea Petersen had another factor that motivated her to write a book on anxiety. she has suffered from panic attacks and a diagnosed anxiety disorder since college. on edge is both a memoir and an objective look at the history and understanding of anxiety, including discussions of current research, medication, and non-pharmaceutical treatment. the book makes those experiencing anxiety for the first time (or for a long time) feel like they’re not alone.
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bottom line: get support from family and friends if you suffer from anxiety.
8. the midday demon : an atlas of depression by andrew solomon
An intellectual, historical, and personal study of depression, The Midday Demon is a research-based book that examines the illness from multiple perspectives. National Book Award-winning author Andrew Solomon has also suffered from long-term depression. he describes the depths of despair and offers glimmers of hope in this beautifully written work.
Conclusion: I believe that words are strong, that they can overwhelm what we fear when fear seems worse than life is good.
9. the road less traveled: a new psychology of love, traditional values, and spiritual growth by m. scott peck, md
A message in this classic book is that avoiding our problems causes pain and suffering. Although it’s not strictly about depression or anxiety, The Road Less Traveled has helped millions of people deal with life’s difficulties. just facing our pain, says m. Scott Peck, M.D., We Can Grow Mentally, Emotionally, and Spiritually. once we accept that life is difficult, we can transcend the problems that hold us back.
conclusion: the difficulty we have in accepting responsibility for our behavior lies in the desire to avoid the pain of the consequences of that behavior.
10. When bad things happen to good people by Harold S. kushner
rabbi harold s. Kushner writes that pain is the price we pay for being alive. When his 3-year-old son was diagnosed with a wasting disease that meant he would only live into his early teens, Harold wondered, “Why?” we have a choice: we can capitulate to the pain or use these experiences to create meaning in our lives. Again, although this book is not just about depression, it is about circumstances that can easily cause people to fall into deep depression if they are not equipped with the right tools to choose another path.
Conclusion: Forgiveness is a favor we do ourselves, not a favor we do the other party.
sandra bilbray is a contributing editor to vive feliz and founder and executive director of themediaconcierge.net.
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