View Full Version : Good Books For Dealing With Depression - Any Suggestions
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
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.
Self-Help for Your Nerves is a really good read and very compassionately written.
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!
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.
I have a signed copy of one of his books!!:D 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.
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.
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
I hope you feel better, :hugs:
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.
Thank you for your advice Pulisa. I will follow it. I do feel that my life is consumed by anxiety and depression. I think that is why This didn't happen during our family holiday, because I was busy with the kids and distracted. I enjoy crossword puzzles. My partner is very supportive which helps a lot. When I just want to lay on the bed, he encourages me to get up and do something constructive, even if it is just sitting outside and admiring nature. I actually did download the audio book that you suggested, but think I will leave it for a few weeks. My psychiatrist has booked me in for an 'acceptance and commitment theory course every Friday. So we will see how that goes. Thank you for your advice, I really do appreciate it. :hugs:
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I hope you feel better, :hugs:
Thanks Beth xx :bighug1:
ACT is a good option. My daughter has completed a 16 week course on it-she is on the autistic spectrum.
I do know that you can very easily get bogged down by anxiety/depression matters and personally I think you should do some things for yourself which are as far removed from mental health issues as possible. I have to admit that I read purely for pleasure and wouldn't choose to read tomes on depression/anxiety/autism/eating disorders (I have one)- I get enough of that in "real life". Books are my escape!! xx
Yes, I am guilty of making anxiety my life. It wasn't until I read your advice that I thought about how much time I spend thinking about it. I do have a book that I started while I was on holiday, so might go back to that and finish it off. I also love reading, usually true crime type books, but not when I'm in this frame of mind. You are a lovely supportive lady. I have changed psychiatrist recently and when I saw her today, she wants me to increase my medication. I can't help but feel that this is part of the problem. I take 100mg Sertraline in the morning (she wants me to start decreasing this and 1mg clonazepam). Then at night I'm on 2.5mg Olanzapine, 100mg Nortriptyline (she wants me to increase to 125), 15 mg Mirtazapine and 1mg of clonazepam). I have decided to reduce the Sertraline slowly (as it is now I'm struggling, so don't want to make it worse) and keep the nortriptyline as is. I feel I'm on way too much medication and I'm still not getting any better. So first step is to get off the Sertraline. Sorry for rambling on, but it helps to put things in perspective.
Did you daughter find ACT beneficial? I did the CBT course in hospital, but didn't really find it that helpful. So I'm hoping this will help out more. I worry a lot about things that 'might' happen.
Fingers crossed. I know that medication can only do so much and the rest is up to me. Xx
My daughter had a specialised course of ACT tailored to her high functioning autism but I think with therapy in general you take from it what you can and disregard the rest. It was certainly more helpful than CBT for her-the therapist acknowledged that CBT has its limitations and was definitely not suited to her needs.
If you don't find that you are improving with your current meds regime then I'd definitely voice your concerns to your psychiatrist. You need to feel in control of your mental health. I hope that going back to work will be a positive thing for you and will distance you from psychiatrists and hospital. I'm sure it won't be easy at first but hopefully you'll get a morale boost from doing your work again and gaining in confidence.
Yes, I am guilty of making anxiety my life. It wasn't until I read your advice that I thought about how much time I spend thinking about it. I do have a book that I started while I was on holiday, so might go back to that and finish it off. I also love reading, usually true crime type books, but not when I'm in this frame of mind. You are a lovely supportive lady. I have changed psychiatrist recently and when I saw her today, she wants me to increase my medication. I can't help but feel that this is part of the problem. I take 100mg Sertraline in the morning (she wants me to start decreasing this and 1mg clonazepam). Then at night I'm on 2.5mg Olanzapine, 100mg Nortriptyline (she wants me to increase to 125), 15 mg Mirtazapine and 1mg of clonazepam). I have decided to reduce the Sertraline slowly (as it is now I'm struggling, so don't want to make it worse) and keep the nortriptyline as is. I feel I'm on way too much medication and I'm still not getting any better. So first step is to get off the Sertraline. Sorry for rambling on, but it helps to put things in perspective.
Did you daughter find ACT beneficial? I did the CBT course in hospital, but didn't really find it that helpful. So I'm hoping this will help out more. I worry a lot about things that 'might' happen.
Fingers crossed. I know that medication can only do so much and the rest is up to me. Xx
I think you are doing awesome. You are a special lady.:bighug1:
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