5 Books to Read About Mental Health
It’s a lovely time to be alive. And, this is simply because you and I, as humans, have got the basic conversation around mental health rolling. Fortunately, besides us, the magical world of books too has evolved. Today, they speak to us about aspects that affect our mental well being. And, to be honest, befriending books can turn out to be great for your mental upkeep.
So, if you’re a casual or an avid reader looking to understand and learn about mental health, these books are a great place to start.
Now, having said that, let’s turn some pages, shall we?
How will these books help you?
Before we discuss the books, let’s quickly understand how reading about mental health can help you.
So, reading these books can prove to be a valuable way for you to understand your psychology, process your thoughts, practice empathy, & feel normal.
Furthermore, the content will make you feel like a part of this world, especially because most of these books contain real-life stories & experiences of people facing hurdles which you might resonate with.
And, since most of these are written in a witty and fun language, you’ll find yourself immersed & captivated by its tone. This will help you think about your own mental wellbeing with the much required clarity.
Lastly, you can always go back to these books during strange and difficult times.
Here are some of the top 5 mental health books I would recommend!
1. Burnout – The secret to unlocking the stress cycle by Emily Nagoski & Amelia Nagoski
The last 2-3 years were nothing short of a roller-coaster ride filled with emotional & mental exhaustion. Thankfully, burnout, in the form of a book, is truly a blessing.
Written by sisters, this book talks about how humans, especially women, experience burnout differently than men. Furthermore, you can also draw advice on how to reduce stress, manage emotions, and lead a better & happier life.
And, what’s better is that the book also focuses on the science behind various emotions. This helps you in understanding and gaining clarity on the problem areas.
This book is reassuring & easy to read too. Having said that, if you’re looking to pick up something that’ll help in stress management, this might just be the one you’re looking for!
2. Hope & Help for your nerves: End Anxiety Now by Dr. Claire Weekes
This book on understanding anxiety provides great insights on mental wellbeing. Dr. Claire Weeks brings in her years of experience of treating real patients going through anxiety & helping them find the strength to overcome their fears.
Moreover, it also includes a simple step-by-step guidance to understand your own symptoms. The best part about Hope & Help is it talks basics without any complicated concepts or topics.
Some parts of the book are so thought provoking that you’ll feel as if it is written specifically for you and the author knows exactly what you are going through.
Additionally, you’ll also find examples of cases that’ll give you hope and confidence to believe that relief and happy mental peace is a reality.
Also Read : Must Read Books By Indian Authors
3. Kind of Coping by Maureen Marzi Wilson
So, if you’re someone who doesn’t like reading books that go on forever, then this mental health book packed with illustrations on coping with anxiety is right up your alley.
Maureen, a popular Instagram cartoonist strings together hilarious, heartwarming, & relatable doodles that not only makes it fun to read but also helps you understand anxiety in a slightly humorous way.
This book will speak to you as a friend because Maureen talks about herself going through anxiety and will enable you to learn and understand how to deal with your symptoms.
Overall, the author succeeds in providing helpful advice on dealing with anxiety & how to clearly communicate the same to others.
4. Maybe you should talk to someone by Lori Gottleib
Would a therapist ever require therapy?
We are sure this question must’ve crossed your mind. Well, Lori Gottleib, a therapist, finds herself on the other side of the table. In this smartly written story, Lori sheds a light on truths and lies we tell ourselves. She even discusses different aspects of mental well-being – hope, courage, change, guilt, redemption, etc.
This book offers a personal account of the author’s struggles with mental health issues. Plus, you get a good glimpse into understanding the overall picture on mental health.
To top it all, the book provides for an entertaining read that is engaging throughout, especially if you’re curious about therapy.
5. This too shall pass by Julia Samuel
In this engaging and useful book, the author and psychotherapist Julia Samuel explores mental health through multiple stories.
She chooses to focus on how prioritising mental health should remain the same for each and every individual. You will find it extremely helpful to relate to the content as the author has used actual conversations with the patients to get to the bottom of it. And the book also sheds light on how you can adapt & sustain during the most challenging phases of your life.
These are all powerful stories that’ll help you realise that every individual reacts uniquely to different challenges and assures you that this behaviour is totally normal.
To add to this, you also get great exposure as you end up feeling like an attentive audience observing the therapist working their magic.
In the End,
We hope these books help you understand & learn about mental health in an easy fashion. But, most importantly, we hope it gives you better insights into the human mind.
Also, here are some notable mentions that you can read to expand your knowledge and gain more clarity about mental well-being:
- Radical Compassion by Tara Brach
- Are u ok? By Kati Morton
- It didn’t start with you by Mark Wolynn
- Nobody’s Normal by Roy Richard Grinker
- You are not a rock by Mark Freeman
Also, let us know what you think about these books once you’re done reading them; we’d love to hear. Happy reading!
Also Read : 5 Books to Read if You Absolutely Don’t Enjoy Reading!
