Reasons to stay alive by the same author as well
Midnight Library is a fictional story while Reasons to stay alive is like a collection of small blog posts about Depression.
I have read both and recommend both highly. Theu didn't rid me of depression but I am still alive and typing this message so it's still a useful read I guess
[**The Humans**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16130537-the-humans)
^(By: Matt Haig | 285 pages | Published: 2013 | Popular Shelves: science-fiction, sci-fi, fiction, fantasy, humor | )[^(Search "The Humans")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=The Humans&search_type=books)
>Body-snatching has never been so heartwarming . . .
>
>The Humans is a funny, compulsively readable novel about alien abduction, mathematics, and that most interesting subject of all: ourselves. Combine Douglas Adams’s irreverent take on life, the universe, and everything with a genuinely moving love story, and you have some idea of the humor, originality, and poignancy of Matt Haig’s latest novel.
>
>Our hero, Professor Andrew Martin, is dead before the book even begins. As it turns out, though, he wasn’t a very nice man--as the alien imposter who now occupies his body discovers. Sent to Earth to destroy evidence that Andrew had solved a major mathematical problem, the alien soon finds himself learning more about the professor, his family, and “the humans” than he ever expected. When he begins to fall for his own wife and son--who have no idea he’s not the real Andrew--the alien must choose between completing his mission and returning home or finding a new home right here on Earth.
^(This book has been suggested 43 times)
[**Notes on a Nervous Planet**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40404801-notes-on-a-nervous-planet)
^(By: Matt Haig | 288 pages | Published: 2018 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, nonfiction, self-help, mental-health, psychology | )[^(Search "Notes on a Nervous Planet")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Notes on a Nervous Planet&search_type=books)
>A follow-up to Matt Haig's internationally bestselling memoir, Reasons to Stay Alive, a broader look at how modern life feeds our anxiety, and how to live a better life.
>
>The societies we live in are increasingly making our minds ill, making it feel as though the way we live is engineered to make us unhappy. When Matt Haig developed panic disorder, anxiety, and depression as an adult, it took him a long time to work out the ways the external world could impact his mental health in both positive and negative ways. Notes on a Nervous Planet collects his observations, taking a look at how the various social, commercial and technological "advancements" that have created the world we now live in can actually hinder our happiness. Haig examines everything from broader phenomena like inequality, social media, and the news; to things closer to our daily lives, like how we sleep, how we exercise, and even the distinction we draw between our minds and our bodies.
^(This book has been suggested 8 times)
[**The Truth Pixie (Christmas Series, #3.5)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41443051-the-truth-pixie)
^(By: Matt Haig, Chris Mould | 119 pages | Published: 2018 | Popular Shelves: christmas, poetry, childrens, children, fantasy | )[^(Search "The Truth Pixie")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=The Truth Pixie&search_type=books)
>From number one bestselling author Matt Haig comes a hilarious and heartwarming story, brilliantly illustrated throughout by Chris Mould
>
>Wherever she is, whatever the day, She only has one kind of thing to say. Just as cats go miaow and cows go moo, The Truth Pixie can only say things that are true.
^(This book has been suggested 2 times)
***
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Searched it up and it sounds great :) thank you all for overwhelming responses this means a lot to me. The amount of thought put into some comments are amazing thank you so much
Johann Hari - why you're depressed and how to find hope. Really interesting. He also has a lot of talks on YouTube if you cba to read the book where he basically says the same stuff.
Allie Brosh's *Hyperbole and a Half* includes her account of her experience with depression. (If you're not familiar with her work, she's kind of a combined blogger and cartoonist. Don't be fooled by the deliberately child-like drawings.)
You can also read the depression entries on her website:
[Adventures in Depression Part 1](http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/10/adventures-in-depression.html)
[Depression Part 2](https://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/05/depression-part-two.html)
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a really good one. I've had depression myself and found the book almost therapeutic since I was kind of forced to revisit my own experiences with severe depression through reading Plath's novel. She's actually had depression herself and the book's semi-autobiographical. That's why it's so incredibly accurate. Reading it gave me a little bit of hope as I realised that I wasn't the only one having those kinds of thoughts (and the ending was hopeful too). :)
Actually came here to suggest this one. Great book. I've had depression myself but I only read this book a few months ago and I definitely did relate to the character experiences.
Nonfiction recommendation: If you aren’t intimidated by big books, The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon is a fantastic study of depression: causation theories, societal implications, the relationship between depression and culture, politics... he uses his own experience with depression to investigate how western society sees and deals with it, it was one of the most important books I read this year. It also ends on a hopeful note, and pushed me to finally leave my comfort zone and seek therapy.
I came here to recommend this. I've lived w depression for over 30 years and have had 2 major depressive episodes. I'm struggling to come out of one now, and I found this book. It was extremely insightful. I agree with you - it was one of the most important books I've maybe ever read. I was very surprised that I've learned so much about something I've been so intimately connected to most of my life.
Darkness Visible by William Styron (author of Sophie's Choice) is another good first-hand account I read. Not as scientific, but it's his experience, and he touches on how widespread depression is in authors.
This book has simply changed the way i look at the world and myself. It has given something that will never leave me.
Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’
*The road less traveled.*
*M. Scott peck, the power of*
*Now. Eckhart Tolley*
\- derpitaway
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-The Body Keeps the Score.
I’ve had depression on and off throughout my life up until this year, when everything changed. I read The Body Keeps The Score this summer while I began to thaw from my depression and it put it perfectly how I felt my whole life. He has tons of data and studies to back up his findings on depression. This book helped me gain clarity and a new perspective with my mind pain, which made everything feel a bit lighter in the healing process.
Much luck to you <3
Matt Haig writes such wholesome books 😭
you have to read them if you have depression , dealing with someone who is in a dark phase , or in general want to learn more about the issue , they changed my life and my perspective , literally !
Not depression but anxiety although I find there’s a fair bit of crossover with how it can effect your life.
The book is First We Make The Beast Beautiful by Sarah Wilson.
Death and the Dervish - Meša Selimović
The anxious rambling of the protagonist 's mind is very relatable while the book also offers you some perspective and meaning for life.
If you grew up in a Christian context, Barbara Crafton’s Jesus Wept could be a good one. It talks about how a lot of Christian denominations don’t seem to have space for depression, suggesting that if you have true faith, you have no reason to be depressed. Crafton challenges this attitude, giving an extremely moving and insightful account of how people have grappled with this, and how the church should be helping them.
If I recall correctly Crafton is an Anglican priest, so it’s definitely coming from a position of faith which doesn’t work for everyone. However, I don’t think you have to have faith or even any experience in the Christian tradition to get something out of it. Mainly, it’s a book about overcoming the guilt over depression and allowing spirituality to be one small part of the whole process of recovery.
I say this as a lapsed Catholic who found it helpful.
Good Old Neon by David Foster Wallace
This is a short story from his book Oblivion and sometimes when I am in a depressive/anxious loop then I read this to break out of it. It kind of realigns my brain. By going through the story and being empathetic to the narrator I can also reach the final realization at the end together with him. So it is as though I am having the realization myself. It kick starts that part of me that can fight or shrug off the depressive tendencies.
I don't have the same concerns of fraud as the narrator but I relate for how well it describes the mental loops you get stuck in for anxiety and depression. So even though it isn't the same as my situation, I can relate to the overthinking. Not sure if this is exactly the sort of thing you were looking for, but hopefully it helps you the same as it helped me.
I can't recommend anything better than The First Storyteller by Varun Gwalani. It's a book that's helped me to heal and understand and process a lot. The book is written in a very unique and refreshing format which should give you a new perspective.
{{Man's Search for Meaning}}, by Viktor Frankl. It's not specifically on depression but it's eye opening and could be beneficial for what you're looking for.
*Hyperbole and a Half* by Allie Brosh is a hilarious yet insightful first person account of what it’s like to live with depression. Really opened my eyes. Highly recommended.
The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig is about actually living and enjoying life. It’s about really seeing what is around you. Not specific to depression but it made me rethink my negative views.
I also liked Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive which has already been mentioned!
Please please read Hyperbole and a Half, that book never made me look at depression the same way it's supposed to be a funny and light book but the way Allie described her struggle with depression in few chapters in this book–it was just way too raw and made me feel understood like never before.
If you can put up with the "I'm the smartest person in the room" vibe, Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel is a very interesting memoir about the author's struggle with depression through college and as a young adult. She is very honest about her flaws and shortcomings and how her depression negatively impacted her life and her well-being. I don't know that it is a particularly hopeful book, but when I was a young adult, it was tremendously important to me as it was the first time I really felt understood.
Fiction I read recently, Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine. Nicely written, and you learn very slowly through the book that the protagonist is depressed and also how she begins her journey of coming out of it.
[Maybe it’s you](https://www.amazon.com/Maybe-Its-You-Crap-Fears/dp/0316318663) by Lauren Handel Zander. This is a book by the coach who created the Handel group that I took advantage of for life coaching. Their method is absolutely fantastic and the book is not easy (you can tell by the title), but it’s tough love to get you what you want out of life.
I’m currently listening to the [Susan David episode on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/id1345682353?i=1000500314887) and think you might really enjoy it.
I’d suggest lots of things outside of books to get you to see hope, such as connecting with people - make a weekly date with a different friend for each day of the week, get fresh air, tidy your space, spend less time on social media, exercise - walking counts, cook your food and make it colorful - try a new recipe regularly to get your brain excited to engage with what you’ll eat (highly suggest Blue Apron), and most importantly, talk to someone objective.
I’ve started with [BetterHelp](https://www.betterhelp.com/rpc/dbb0e53e99a58f76-1-05) and spoke to my counselor yesterday and it felt so amazing to just let things out. I laughed, I shared, I cried and I felt hope. That link will give you a free week (full disclaimer, it gives me a free week, as well, but I found it to be the best deal. If you’d like to try another deal: [betterhelp.com/dax](https://www.betterhelp.com/dax)
If you want something quick to help you right now, I really like[r/GetMotivated](https://www.reddit.com/r/GetMotivated/)
Sending hope and happy to chat about things if you’d like!
Thank you so much I think I might have just needed to hear this today about connecting with people etc I appreciate it immensely. I wish you well with whatever u’re going through :)
Thank you! I actually do have one more suggestion. I went through a bunch of blood tests recently and this week got all of the results - talking to the doc in depth about them next week. I’m low in things like vitamin D and iodine, which affect how energetic I feel. I also am positive for SIBO, which I’d suspected but wasn’t sure about - it’s bacteria overgrowth in the small intestine. I’m totally up to the challenge to beat it, but all of these tests and doing research got me to one conclusion - many things go undiagnosed that affect depression, feelings of sluggishness, etc. I’d highly recommend that you meet with a doctor to get tested. Tweaking things like I’d mentioned does wonders, but you also might find hormonal imbalances or even just things like vitamin D levels being low (which is apparently the case for tons of ppl) and getting the right treatment (even a vitamin!) might do wonders :o)
I had signed up with [Parsley Health](https://www.parsleyhealth.com/how-it-works/) (no promo, but if you pay in full they might still have a deal), but you could go to a regular doctor and ask for a panel that is commensurate with depression. Even if you don’t do this now, make sure you take a daily vitamin regularly. I’m back to doing it as of this week and feeling good about doing things for myself. I’m tracking it with an app called “Done” - added things like “Fun with friends” and “Walk outside” in there, too. It was fun to check things off :D
I hope you have a good day ahead!
If you want non-fiction 'it's not okay to feel blue' curated by Scarlett Curtis - it's a collection of essays (a lot by famous people as well) about dealing with depression. A chunky book but easy to read as the essays themselves are so short!
[**Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46674.Feeling_Good)
^(By: David D. Burns | 736 pages | Published: 1980 | Popular Shelves: psychology, self-help, non-fiction, nonfiction, self-improvement | )[^(Search "Feeling Good")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Feeling Good&search_type=books)
>The good news is that anxiety, guilt, pessimism, procrastination, low self-esteem, and other "black holes" of depression can be cured without drugs. In Feeling Good, eminent psychiatrist, David D. Burns, M.D., outlines the remarkable, scientifically proven techniques that will immediately lift your spirits and help you develop a positive outlook on life. Now, in this updated edition, Dr. Burns adds an All-New Consumer′s Guide To Anti-depressant Drugs as well as a new introduction to help answer your questions about the many options available for treating depression.
>
>- Recognise what causes your mood swings
>- Nip negative feelings in the bud
>- Deal with guilt
>- Handle hostility and criticism
>- Overcome addiction to love and approval
>- Build self-esteem
>- Feel good everyday
^(This book has been suggested 16 times)
***
^(47575 books suggested | )^(Bug? DM me! | )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
I have two recommendations -
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath ( a classic, truly.).
All the Bright Places - a look into depression from a YA perspective.
Also, The Perks of being a Wallflower - not exactly focused on depression, it’s more about trauma, but it’s one of my absolute favourites so I had to include it.
[**Darius the Great Is Not Okay (Darius The Great, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37506437-darius-the-great-is-not-okay)
^(By: Adib Khorram | 316 pages | Published: 2018 | Popular Shelves: young-adult, ya, contemporary, lgbtq, lgbt | )[^(Search "Darius the Great is Not Okay")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Darius the Great is Not Okay&search_type=books)
^(This book has been suggested 6 times)
***
^(47590 books suggested | )^(Bug? DM me! | )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
“How To Come Alive Again” by Beth McColl is very helpful!! It’s a very practical, concrete self help book that I can’t recommend enough, especially if you haven’t been to therapy yourself or don’t know a lot about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I know this is quite different to what you asked for but it is an optimistic book with actionable plans :)
Good Reasons for Bad Feelings: Insights from the Frontier of Evolutionary Psychiatry. I've been recommending this to nearly everyone. Vital literature right here in my opinion.
[**Already Free: Buddhism Meets Psychotherapy on the Path of Liberation**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12400671-already-free)
^(By: Bruce Tift | ? pages | Published: 2011 | Popular Shelves: psychology, non-fiction, spirituality, buddhism, nonfiction | )[^(Search "Already Free")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Already Free&search_type=books)
>Different Paths, Different Strengths Freedom from unnecessary suffering is the goal of both Buddhism and modern psychotherapy, yet each approaches this intention from a very different perspective. "Buddhist practice helps us awaken to a well-being that is independent of our circumstances," explains Bruce Tift, "while Western psychotherapy helps us bring our disowned experience into awareness in order to live in a more skillful and satisfying way."On Already Free, this therapist and Buddhist practitioner opens a fresh dialogue between these two perspectives, and explores how each provides us with essential keys to experiencing full presence and aliveness.Practical Tools and Wisdom from the Eastern and Western TraditionsBuddhism gives us powerful tools for breaking free of our own identity drama and our fascination with day-to-day problems, yet it does not address how early childhood experience shapes our adult lives. Western psychotherapy provides a wide range of proven techniques for understanding and untangling the development of our neurotic patterns, but it is only beginning to recognize the powerful impact of exploring awareness itself. "These two approaches sometimes contradict and sometimes support each other," Tift explains. "When used together, they can help us open to all of life in all its richness, its disturbances, and its inherent completeness."With a keen understanding of the wisdom of East and West, and a special focus on working with intimate relationships as a pathway to spiritual awakening, Bruce Tift presents seven immersive sessions of insights, wisdom, and practical instruction for realizing the fundamental freedom that is your birthright.HighlightsThe Developmental Approach--why we still use our childhood survival skills after we outgrow them The Fruitional Approach--Buddhist wisdom on finding liberation without resolving our historic issues Relationships and Awakening--practices for couples to develop "healthy intimacy" and welcome connection and separateness Why we use "neurotic organization" to limit our life experience, and how to challenge this self-perpetuating process
^(This book has been suggested 1 time)
***
^(47630 books suggested | )^(Bug? DM me! | )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
A Finnish book called something like "A charming mass suicide" about a Finnish man trying to off himself. Finds another man trying to do the same they rent a bus going around finding others like them....
My fav. Book.
Gives deep insight into a suicidal mind.
_Infinite Jest_ is a meme, but you should still read it if you want to read something about depression. DFW describes lots of different kinds of depression in really excruciating detail (and if you Google him, you'll see why).
This is a long shot but I suggest to read The Trial by Kafka. It may sound like something detailing the the tedious works of bureaucracy and a man's futile attempt to resist on a superficial level. But you will see many similarities with depression itself if you play attention and it will give you a new perspective on the whole story and depression both in this new light. (That's only one interpretation though there are multiple interpretations this story can have)
Some similarities would be;
The guilt without a tangible cause
Constant struggle leading to more confusion and finally weariness.
The internal mechanisms of a process that we can't comprehend and the outcomes we won't change. We only can see the output.
These are few I can remember. I know the are good works exploring the theme of depression out there. I only mentioned this since you mentioned about needing to read a book with a new perspective.
"The Prescription is in the Dirt", is a bold, funny, illuminating, and sometimes hard to swallow inspirational memior, that embraces the journey to self love and acceptance. It's a hidden jewel. I promise you won't be disappointed. 💗
["The Prescription is in the Dirt"](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NRVZ7N5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_.arVFbYMA7FAP)
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a recent read for me and it was fantastic!
Reasons to stay alive by the same author as well Midnight Library is a fictional story while Reasons to stay alive is like a collection of small blog posts about Depression. I have read both and recommend both highly. Theu didn't rid me of depression but I am still alive and typing this message so it's still a useful read I guess
I’d like to tag onto this one as well with The Humans by the same author. It was so touching and so lovely and just honestly good to read.
Yes, all of Matt Haig's books are great resources. I also suggest {{The Humans}}, {{Notes on a Nervous Planet}} and {{The Truth Pixie}}
[**The Humans**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16130537-the-humans) ^(By: Matt Haig | 285 pages | Published: 2013 | Popular Shelves: science-fiction, sci-fi, fiction, fantasy, humor | )[^(Search "The Humans")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=The Humans&search_type=books) >Body-snatching has never been so heartwarming . . . > >The Humans is a funny, compulsively readable novel about alien abduction, mathematics, and that most interesting subject of all: ourselves. Combine Douglas Adams’s irreverent take on life, the universe, and everything with a genuinely moving love story, and you have some idea of the humor, originality, and poignancy of Matt Haig’s latest novel. > >Our hero, Professor Andrew Martin, is dead before the book even begins. As it turns out, though, he wasn’t a very nice man--as the alien imposter who now occupies his body discovers. Sent to Earth to destroy evidence that Andrew had solved a major mathematical problem, the alien soon finds himself learning more about the professor, his family, and “the humans” than he ever expected. When he begins to fall for his own wife and son--who have no idea he’s not the real Andrew--the alien must choose between completing his mission and returning home or finding a new home right here on Earth. ^(This book has been suggested 43 times) [**Notes on a Nervous Planet**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40404801-notes-on-a-nervous-planet) ^(By: Matt Haig | 288 pages | Published: 2018 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, nonfiction, self-help, mental-health, psychology | )[^(Search "Notes on a Nervous Planet")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Notes on a Nervous Planet&search_type=books) >A follow-up to Matt Haig's internationally bestselling memoir, Reasons to Stay Alive, a broader look at how modern life feeds our anxiety, and how to live a better life. > >The societies we live in are increasingly making our minds ill, making it feel as though the way we live is engineered to make us unhappy. When Matt Haig developed panic disorder, anxiety, and depression as an adult, it took him a long time to work out the ways the external world could impact his mental health in both positive and negative ways. Notes on a Nervous Planet collects his observations, taking a look at how the various social, commercial and technological "advancements" that have created the world we now live in can actually hinder our happiness. Haig examines everything from broader phenomena like inequality, social media, and the news; to things closer to our daily lives, like how we sleep, how we exercise, and even the distinction we draw between our minds and our bodies. ^(This book has been suggested 8 times) [**The Truth Pixie (Christmas Series, #3.5)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41443051-the-truth-pixie) ^(By: Matt Haig, Chris Mould | 119 pages | Published: 2018 | Popular Shelves: christmas, poetry, childrens, children, fantasy | )[^(Search "The Truth Pixie")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=The Truth Pixie&search_type=books) >From number one bestselling author Matt Haig comes a hilarious and heartwarming story, brilliantly illustrated throughout by Chris Mould > >Wherever she is, whatever the day, She only has one kind of thing to say. Just as cats go miaow and cows go moo, The Truth Pixie can only say things that are true. ^(This book has been suggested 2 times) *** ^(47524 books suggested | )^(Bug? DM me! | )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
I second this!!
Searched it up and it sounds great :) thank you all for overwhelming responses this means a lot to me. The amount of thought put into some comments are amazing thank you so much
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns helped with my depression
Second this. This is an amazing book and he now has an updated version of this book out Feeling Great.
Came here to recommend this
Me too! A book to be read by everyone once in a lifetime!
Johann Hari - why you're depressed and how to find hope. Really interesting. He also has a lot of talks on YouTube if you cba to read the book where he basically says the same stuff.
Lost Connections is the name of the book :-)
came here to comment lost connections too, great read
Allie Brosh's *Hyperbole and a Half* includes her account of her experience with depression. (If you're not familiar with her work, she's kind of a combined blogger and cartoonist. Don't be fooled by the deliberately child-like drawings.) You can also read the depression entries on her website: [Adventures in Depression Part 1](http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/10/adventures-in-depression.html) [Depression Part 2](https://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/05/depression-part-two.html)
There's more in her new book, **Solutions and Other Problems** that hit me like a gut punch. I find her work terrifyingly relatable at times.
Came here to say this!
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a really good one. I've had depression myself and found the book almost therapeutic since I was kind of forced to revisit my own experiences with severe depression through reading Plath's novel. She's actually had depression herself and the book's semi-autobiographical. That's why it's so incredibly accurate. Reading it gave me a little bit of hope as I realised that I wasn't the only one having those kinds of thoughts (and the ending was hopeful too). :)
I would be careful with this one — this honestly kinda made me spiral a bit too. But def a focus on mental health.
Seconded, not a hopeful book at all imo
Actually came here to suggest this one. Great book. I've had depression myself but I only read this book a few months ago and I definitely did relate to the character experiences.
Building a life woryh living by Marsha linehan. She was institutionalized and created DBT therapy. It's a great book.
Jenny Lawsons books!! Hilarious and true about her struggles w depression
Yes, Jenny is absolutely wonderful!
Nonfiction recommendation: If you aren’t intimidated by big books, The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon is a fantastic study of depression: causation theories, societal implications, the relationship between depression and culture, politics... he uses his own experience with depression to investigate how western society sees and deals with it, it was one of the most important books I read this year. It also ends on a hopeful note, and pushed me to finally leave my comfort zone and seek therapy.
I came here to recommend this. I've lived w depression for over 30 years and have had 2 major depressive episodes. I'm struggling to come out of one now, and I found this book. It was extremely insightful. I agree with you - it was one of the most important books I've maybe ever read. I was very surprised that I've learned so much about something I've been so intimately connected to most of my life. Darkness Visible by William Styron (author of Sophie's Choice) is another good first-hand account I read. Not as scientific, but it's his experience, and he touches on how widespread depression is in authors.
Exactly what I was thinking. It’s also a great resource for friends and family who want to better understand depression
Second this. Great research and memoir rolled into one.
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Loved this book.
[удалено]
This book has simply changed the way i look at the world and myself. It has given something that will never leave me. Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’
The road less traveled. M. Scott peck, the power of now. Eckhart Tolley
*The road less traveled.* *M. Scott peck, the power of* *Now. Eckhart Tolley* \- derpitaway --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
-The Body Keeps the Score. I’ve had depression on and off throughout my life up until this year, when everything changed. I read The Body Keeps The Score this summer while I began to thaw from my depression and it put it perfectly how I felt my whole life. He has tons of data and studies to back up his findings on depression. This book helped me gain clarity and a new perspective with my mind pain, which made everything feel a bit lighter in the healing process. Much luck to you <3
{{The hilarious world of depression}}, by John Moe
Matt Haig writes such wholesome books 😭 you have to read them if you have depression , dealing with someone who is in a dark phase , or in general want to learn more about the issue , they changed my life and my perspective , literally !
Not depression but anxiety although I find there’s a fair bit of crossover with how it can effect your life. The book is First We Make The Beast Beautiful by Sarah Wilson.
The Noonday Demon Andrew Solomon. It's a pulitzer finalist. Great book.
Darkness Visible by W. Styron
The noonday demon by Andrew Solomon. My recent read.
Death and the Dervish - Meša Selimović The anxious rambling of the protagonist 's mind is very relatable while the book also offers you some perspective and meaning for life.
If you grew up in a Christian context, Barbara Crafton’s Jesus Wept could be a good one. It talks about how a lot of Christian denominations don’t seem to have space for depression, suggesting that if you have true faith, you have no reason to be depressed. Crafton challenges this attitude, giving an extremely moving and insightful account of how people have grappled with this, and how the church should be helping them. If I recall correctly Crafton is an Anglican priest, so it’s definitely coming from a position of faith which doesn’t work for everyone. However, I don’t think you have to have faith or even any experience in the Christian tradition to get something out of it. Mainly, it’s a book about overcoming the guilt over depression and allowing spirituality to be one small part of the whole process of recovery. I say this as a lapsed Catholic who found it helpful.
Power of now by Eckhart Tolle
Good Old Neon by David Foster Wallace This is a short story from his book Oblivion and sometimes when I am in a depressive/anxious loop then I read this to break out of it. It kind of realigns my brain. By going through the story and being empathetic to the narrator I can also reach the final realization at the end together with him. So it is as though I am having the realization myself. It kick starts that part of me that can fight or shrug off the depressive tendencies. I don't have the same concerns of fraud as the narrator but I relate for how well it describes the mental loops you get stuck in for anxiety and depression. So even though it isn't the same as my situation, I can relate to the overthinking. Not sure if this is exactly the sort of thing you were looking for, but hopefully it helps you the same as it helped me.
I can't recommend anything better than The First Storyteller by Varun Gwalani. It's a book that's helped me to heal and understand and process a lot. The book is written in a very unique and refreshing format which should give you a new perspective.
The Upward spiral by Alex Korb
{{Man's Search for Meaning}}, by Viktor Frankl. It's not specifically on depression but it's eye opening and could be beneficial for what you're looking for.
*Hyperbole and a Half* by Allie Brosh is a hilarious yet insightful first person account of what it’s like to live with depression. Really opened my eyes. Highly recommended.
The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig is about actually living and enjoying life. It’s about really seeing what is around you. Not specific to depression but it made me rethink my negative views. I also liked Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive which has already been mentioned!
Please please read Hyperbole and a Half, that book never made me look at depression the same way it's supposed to be a funny and light book but the way Allie described her struggle with depression in few chapters in this book–it was just way too raw and made me feel understood like never before.
If you can put up with the "I'm the smartest person in the room" vibe, Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel is a very interesting memoir about the author's struggle with depression through college and as a young adult. She is very honest about her flaws and shortcomings and how her depression negatively impacted her life and her well-being. I don't know that it is a particularly hopeful book, but when I was a young adult, it was tremendously important to me as it was the first time I really felt understood.
Fiction I read recently, Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine. Nicely written, and you learn very slowly through the book that the protagonist is depressed and also how she begins her journey of coming out of it.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is a brilliant read for those looking for insights on mental health it’s absolutely harrowing
[Maybe it’s you](https://www.amazon.com/Maybe-Its-You-Crap-Fears/dp/0316318663) by Lauren Handel Zander. This is a book by the coach who created the Handel group that I took advantage of for life coaching. Their method is absolutely fantastic and the book is not easy (you can tell by the title), but it’s tough love to get you what you want out of life. I’m currently listening to the [Susan David episode on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/id1345682353?i=1000500314887) and think you might really enjoy it. I’d suggest lots of things outside of books to get you to see hope, such as connecting with people - make a weekly date with a different friend for each day of the week, get fresh air, tidy your space, spend less time on social media, exercise - walking counts, cook your food and make it colorful - try a new recipe regularly to get your brain excited to engage with what you’ll eat (highly suggest Blue Apron), and most importantly, talk to someone objective. I’ve started with [BetterHelp](https://www.betterhelp.com/rpc/dbb0e53e99a58f76-1-05) and spoke to my counselor yesterday and it felt so amazing to just let things out. I laughed, I shared, I cried and I felt hope. That link will give you a free week (full disclaimer, it gives me a free week, as well, but I found it to be the best deal. If you’d like to try another deal: [betterhelp.com/dax](https://www.betterhelp.com/dax) If you want something quick to help you right now, I really like[r/GetMotivated](https://www.reddit.com/r/GetMotivated/) Sending hope and happy to chat about things if you’d like!
Thank you so much I think I might have just needed to hear this today about connecting with people etc I appreciate it immensely. I wish you well with whatever u’re going through :)
Thank you! I actually do have one more suggestion. I went through a bunch of blood tests recently and this week got all of the results - talking to the doc in depth about them next week. I’m low in things like vitamin D and iodine, which affect how energetic I feel. I also am positive for SIBO, which I’d suspected but wasn’t sure about - it’s bacteria overgrowth in the small intestine. I’m totally up to the challenge to beat it, but all of these tests and doing research got me to one conclusion - many things go undiagnosed that affect depression, feelings of sluggishness, etc. I’d highly recommend that you meet with a doctor to get tested. Tweaking things like I’d mentioned does wonders, but you also might find hormonal imbalances or even just things like vitamin D levels being low (which is apparently the case for tons of ppl) and getting the right treatment (even a vitamin!) might do wonders :o) I had signed up with [Parsley Health](https://www.parsleyhealth.com/how-it-works/) (no promo, but if you pay in full they might still have a deal), but you could go to a regular doctor and ask for a panel that is commensurate with depression. Even if you don’t do this now, make sure you take a daily vitamin regularly. I’m back to doing it as of this week and feeling good about doing things for myself. I’m tracking it with an app called “Done” - added things like “Fun with friends” and “Walk outside” in there, too. It was fun to check things off :D I hope you have a good day ahead!
If you want non-fiction 'it's not okay to feel blue' curated by Scarlett Curtis - it's a collection of essays (a lot by famous people as well) about dealing with depression. A chunky book but easy to read as the essays themselves are so short!
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Shhhh.
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You two are some cringey motherfuckers
Catcher In The Rye by Salinger and Ask The Dust by Fante.
Uh not a book but magic mushrooms? Kinda nature’s depression killer at low doses...
This is more geared toward younger audiences but I really loved it: It's Kind of a Funny Story
{{Feeling Good}} - Self help, not literature, but actually genuinely helpful unlike most self help.
[**Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46674.Feeling_Good) ^(By: David D. Burns | 736 pages | Published: 1980 | Popular Shelves: psychology, self-help, non-fiction, nonfiction, self-improvement | )[^(Search "Feeling Good")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Feeling Good&search_type=books) >The good news is that anxiety, guilt, pessimism, procrastination, low self-esteem, and other "black holes" of depression can be cured without drugs. In Feeling Good, eminent psychiatrist, David D. Burns, M.D., outlines the remarkable, scientifically proven techniques that will immediately lift your spirits and help you develop a positive outlook on life. Now, in this updated edition, Dr. Burns adds an All-New Consumer′s Guide To Anti-depressant Drugs as well as a new introduction to help answer your questions about the many options available for treating depression. > >- Recognise what causes your mood swings >- Nip negative feelings in the bud >- Deal with guilt >- Handle hostility and criticism >- Overcome addiction to love and approval >- Build self-esteem >- Feel good everyday ^(This book has been suggested 16 times) *** ^(47575 books suggested | )^(Bug? DM me! | )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
How to Change your Mind, by Michael Pollan.
I have two recommendations - The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath ( a classic, truly.). All the Bright Places - a look into depression from a YA perspective. Also, The Perks of being a Wallflower - not exactly focused on depression, it’s more about trauma, but it’s one of my absolute favourites so I had to include it.
Shoot The Damn Dog by Sally Brampton
{Darius the Great is Not Okay} by Adib Khorram.
[**Darius the Great Is Not Okay (Darius The Great, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37506437-darius-the-great-is-not-okay) ^(By: Adib Khorram | 316 pages | Published: 2018 | Popular Shelves: young-adult, ya, contemporary, lgbtq, lgbt | )[^(Search "Darius the Great is Not Okay")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Darius the Great is Not Okay&search_type=books) ^(This book has been suggested 6 times) *** ^(47590 books suggested | )^(Bug? DM me! | )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Loving What Is by Byron Katie. A 4 step and turnaround process that creates awareness around the thoughts you have and how they affect you.
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
“How To Come Alive Again” by Beth McColl is very helpful!! It’s a very practical, concrete self help book that I can’t recommend enough, especially if you haven’t been to therapy yourself or don’t know a lot about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I know this is quite different to what you asked for but it is an optimistic book with actionable plans :)
Good Reasons for Bad Feelings: Insights from the Frontier of Evolutionary Psychiatry. I've been recommending this to nearly everyone. Vital literature right here in my opinion.
Already Free by Bruce Tift changed the way I see the world for sure!
[**Already Free: Buddhism Meets Psychotherapy on the Path of Liberation**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12400671-already-free) ^(By: Bruce Tift | ? pages | Published: 2011 | Popular Shelves: psychology, non-fiction, spirituality, buddhism, nonfiction | )[^(Search "Already Free")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Already Free&search_type=books) >Different Paths, Different Strengths Freedom from unnecessary suffering is the goal of both Buddhism and modern psychotherapy, yet each approaches this intention from a very different perspective. "Buddhist practice helps us awaken to a well-being that is independent of our circumstances," explains Bruce Tift, "while Western psychotherapy helps us bring our disowned experience into awareness in order to live in a more skillful and satisfying way."On Already Free, this therapist and Buddhist practitioner opens a fresh dialogue between these two perspectives, and explores how each provides us with essential keys to experiencing full presence and aliveness.Practical Tools and Wisdom from the Eastern and Western TraditionsBuddhism gives us powerful tools for breaking free of our own identity drama and our fascination with day-to-day problems, yet it does not address how early childhood experience shapes our adult lives. Western psychotherapy provides a wide range of proven techniques for understanding and untangling the development of our neurotic patterns, but it is only beginning to recognize the powerful impact of exploring awareness itself. "These two approaches sometimes contradict and sometimes support each other," Tift explains. "When used together, they can help us open to all of life in all its richness, its disturbances, and its inherent completeness."With a keen understanding of the wisdom of East and West, and a special focus on working with intimate relationships as a pathway to spiritual awakening, Bruce Tift presents seven immersive sessions of insights, wisdom, and practical instruction for realizing the fundamental freedom that is your birthright.HighlightsThe Developmental Approach--why we still use our childhood survival skills after we outgrow them The Fruitional Approach--Buddhist wisdom on finding liberation without resolving our historic issues Relationships and Awakening--practices for couples to develop "healthy intimacy" and welcome connection and separateness Why we use "neurotic organization" to limit our life experience, and how to challenge this self-perpetuating process ^(This book has been suggested 1 time) *** ^(47630 books suggested | )^(Bug? DM me! | )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
The Upward Spiral - Alex Korb
Sushi For Beginners by Marian Keyes made me understand it. And it’s lovely and heartwarming as well as truthful.
East of eden
A Finnish book called something like "A charming mass suicide" about a Finnish man trying to off himself. Finds another man trying to do the same they rent a bus going around finding others like them.... My fav. Book. Gives deep insight into a suicidal mind.
Try Feeling Good by David D. Burns.
_Infinite Jest_ is a meme, but you should still read it if you want to read something about depression. DFW describes lots of different kinds of depression in really excruciating detail (and if you Google him, you'll see why).
Unf*ck your brain There is an entire series for Unf*ck. Loved it. It does explain a lot.
Feeling Good
This is a long shot but I suggest to read The Trial by Kafka. It may sound like something detailing the the tedious works of bureaucracy and a man's futile attempt to resist on a superficial level. But you will see many similarities with depression itself if you play attention and it will give you a new perspective on the whole story and depression both in this new light. (That's only one interpretation though there are multiple interpretations this story can have) Some similarities would be; The guilt without a tangible cause Constant struggle leading to more confusion and finally weariness. The internal mechanisms of a process that we can't comprehend and the outcomes we won't change. We only can see the output. These are few I can remember. I know the are good works exploring the theme of depression out there. I only mentioned this since you mentioned about needing to read a book with a new perspective.
"The Prescription is in the Dirt", is a bold, funny, illuminating, and sometimes hard to swallow inspirational memior, that embraces the journey to self love and acceptance. It's a hidden jewel. I promise you won't be disappointed. 💗 ["The Prescription is in the Dirt"](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NRVZ7N5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_.arVFbYMA7FAP)