Good Books For Dealing With Depression - Any Suggestions

[Mermaid16]

Hi! Just wondering if anyone can recommend any good books about dealing with depression. I've had a kind of crazy last six months. Suffering from really bad anxiety since July, hospitalised in a psychiatric hospital for a month, underwent 5 treatments of ECT, medications changed and was discharged. Went away on holiday with my family, still had anxiety, but used the 'Dare' technique and my agoraphobia has improved immensely. Kids are with their Dad for a week and I felt a bit lost, as everything suddenly slowed right down and I had a chance to rest. The thing is now I feel depressed. I have no motivation to do anything. I go back to work tomorrow and hope the distraction lifts my mood. In any case I really like reading, so if anyone can recommend any good books, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Tracy

[Annie0904]

The Curse of the Strong by Tim Cantopher

I find some books difficult to read when depressed as my concentration goes but this one was easy to read and very helpful.

[SLA]

Self-Help for Your Nerves is a really good read and very compassionately written.

[pulisa]

The Curse of the Strong by Tim Cantopher

I find some books difficult to read when depressed as my concentration goes but this one was easy to read and very helpful.

Tim Cantopher was my psychiatrist many moons ago!

[Annie0904]

Tim Cantopher was my psychiatrist many moons ago!

I really like this book, it is the only one of his that I have read but I believe there are others.

[pulisa]

I have a signed copy of one of his books!! I wasn't aware that he was well known now. I know he started off by being an alcohol and addictions specialist. He gave me an "agitated depression" diagnosis and was my consultant during my hospitalisation.

[NoraB]

Claire Weekes' books are amazingly good and comforting. I've spent many an hour with Claire..

Also, Matt Haig's Reasons To Stay Alive is a great book. It's more of a biography than self-help but he writes about is own experience with depression and how he came through it. Well worth a read.

[Mermaid16]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I have some of the Claire Weekes books, so will go back through them to start with and have a look at the other suggestions. Tracy xx

[bdale1234]

I hope you feel better,

[pulisa]

I hope your return to work goes smoothly. I'd recommend a break from mental health literature-maybe read for pleasure and distraction? You have had a bellyful of mental health focus over the past 6 months so my suggestion is based purely on giving you a break from it.