Books That Understand Us

We have all been told at least once in our lives that it's important for us to take care of our mental health.  However, that can be easier said than done, especially when life becomes busy or stressful. Do not fret; here is a wonderful list of mental health books that are helpful and reassuring for everyone.

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D. is about the trauma of surviving veterans, and dives deeper into how this PTSD affects the lives of others and how it all gets passed down over time. A trauma expert, Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he transforms our understanding of traumatic stress, revealing how it rearranges the brain’s wiring, specifically in areas dedicated to pleasure, engagement, control, and trust. He shows how these areas can be reactivated through innovative treatments including neurofeedback, mindfulness techniques, play, yoga, and other therapies. Kolk explains how to move past these restrictions and start living fully once again.

Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottlieb

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb dives into the author's own experience with being a therapist and treating with a therapist.  She explores five patients, including herself, and their different scenarios and viewpoints on life. The mix of both listening and talking takes readers through a thrilling and emotional tale of how mental health is important and should be taken seriously.

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green is the story of 16-year-old Aza Holmes, a high school student with OCD and anxiety, and her search for a fugitive billionaire who happens to be a neighbor's father. This young adult drama dives deep into the struggles of mental disorders and how one can overcome them and move forward. 

It Didn't Start With You by Mark Wolynn

It Didn’t Start with You by Mark Wolynn offers step-by-step help to unravel the cycle of destructive family habits and traumas, and will help you learn how to identify inherited family trauma that lives in your anxious words, fears, behaviors, and unexplained physical symptoms.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven follows two teenages, Finch and Violet, as they navigate mental health struggles. They quickly go from meeting six stories above the ground on the edge of the school bell tower to being friends. This connection leads them to rely on each other as they go through their own mental health struggles.

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig is a memoir based on Haig’s experiences of living with depression and anxiety disorder, which he suffered from the age of 24. It is Matt Haig’s first nonfiction piece and the first time he wrote about his illness publicly. This book is extremely personal and makes one feel like they are not alone in this crazy world. 

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath follows Esther Greenwood through her mental struggles, exploring themes of societal expectations, particularly for women, and the stifling nature of the 1950s American culture. Because of her depression and harm to herself, Esther goes through many treatments, including electric shock therapy, and her interactions with other patients form a central part of the narrative. Be warned, this book will make you cry but do not let that stop you from engaging in this emotional and ground breaking tale.

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt explores the "great rewiring" of childhood which has changed life from a play-based childhood to one full of  smartphones and social media, negatively impacting social and neurological development, and leading to increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. If you're trying to understand your kids or the kids around you then this book is right for you.

The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté, MD and Daniel Maté

The Myth of Normal by Daniel Maté and Gabor Maté book explores how societal norms, particularly in Western cultures, contribute to chronic illness and mental health issues, revealing that our way of life may contribute to a lot of mental illness issues. The book challenges the idea that what is considered "normal" in terms of health and behavior is truly healthy, arguing that stress, trauma, and social disconnection are often overlooked as root causes of disease. 

Codefendant No More by Melody Beattie

Codependent No More by Melody Beatti is a self-help guide that helps readers understand and overcome codependency. We often forget that a lot of our world relies on codependency. For example, we are codependent on our phones, clocks, cars, the weather, and most importantly, each other. The book explains how codependents often become overly focused on controlling others' behaviors, neglecting their own needs and creating unhealthy relationship dynamics.

Remember that is it very important to take care of one's self and those around you. A very good way to do this is to educate yourself on the effects and processes of mental health and how to grow from the past and move towards the future. You got this and stay healthy this summer!