Top 10 Book Recommendations - Depression

1. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy

For those of you who are sick of philosophizing and feeling stuck in the dark, this book provides some specific recommendations for things like counteracting negative thoughts and building self-esteem. DAVEDOG3 This book has a lot of brilliant exercises in it and is a good first book. I take one exercise a night and do it over and over till I learn how to do easily in my head. Works great. PETA3

2. The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression

...a good layman's text that covers the wide realm of depression with unexpected depth. STRASSTA It is written by a man that has gone through many bouts of depression and breakdowns, so it very much a personal experience, except that he went so much further by researching every aspect of depression. MHODSHON

3. The Beast

One book I read on the subject of depression that kept me connected without bringing me down, was "The Beast" by Tracy Thompson. The author, who is a journalist with The Washington Post, chronicles her lifelong battle with depression . . . good news she's a winner! So, for me, it was a very positive read. TWILIGHTLADY

4. You Can Be Happy No Matter What

A lot of the focus is in teaching people to deal with unwanted thoughts. I have found this helpful in dealing with suicidal and other "negative" thinking. He also has a perspective on thought in general that is beneficial. BILLDTX

5. Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

A great book for understanding fears and giving alternative ways of acting and thinking. PETA3

6. You Can Heal Your Life

I used to call this my bible. I read it so much and lived the ideas. PETA3

7. Undoing Depression

Yes, I was so impressed with O'Connor's book that I accidentally bought it twice! I12BSIM The "Undoing Depression" book is excellent. I bought that when it first came out, and now I'm rereading it. JOE_FRED

8. An Unquiet Mind

I found "An Unquiet Mind" an outstanding book, both for it's literary quality and it's look at bipolar disorder. The author, Kay Jamison is a professor, psychiatrist and sufferer, whose writing style is absolutely melodic. Her insights from inside the walls of academia and the medical world are unique. Worth the read. TWINKIE67

9. Ten Days to Self-Esteem

I also have a book named "Ten Days to Self-Esteem" from David Burns, MD. It's very good for combating negative/self-defeating thoughts. There are also 3 valuable inventories in it, the depression, the anxiety, the relationship inventories. TAIZE

10. The "Elf-Help" Books

Have you ever seen those little books called Elf Help Books? They are tiny lil' things that fit in your pocket and are great little motivators. ML_24MPLS1 I recommend those Elf Help books too. TIVERTON