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The Best Inspirational Books About Depression

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This article showcases our top picks for the Inspirational Books About Depression. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below). We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.

A Man’s Search for Meaning By Viktor Frankl

This product was recommended by Allia Luzong from Sword Encyclopedia

I think it’s one of the best books for navigating depression because it’s based on Frankl’s real-life experiences of surviving a Nazi concentration camp. Frankly (pun intended), it doesn’t get worse than that so the fact that he’s able to use his counseling skills to keep himself together mentally just inspires you to pull through your own depression.

Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope By Johann Hari

This product was recommended by Izabela Soja from Sustainable and Responsible Travel

Hari’s book has completely changed my perspective on the way I view depression. As a person dealing with symptoms of depression at a very young age, I couldn’t really understand why I feel this way. I also felt extremely hopeless at what I could do to make myself feel better. Hari, in his book, explains nine major causes of depression and anxiety, which were uncovered and evidenced by several different scientists from across the world. Hari’s work opened my mind as to why my anxiety levels were so high and I figured out how, unintentionally, some of the major depression causes are present in my own life. Thanks to this discovery, I began a shift in the way I live my life – from being around nature more often, to improving my relationships with friends and family and reflecting on my true values. But this book is not only for those struggling with depression – it’s for everyone who seeks inspiration to improve the quality of their life.

You’re Not Alone By Zach Westerbeck

This product was recommended by Ben Flynn from Manhattan Tech Support

Particularly when it comes to comprehending the problems of college students, Zach Westerbeck is a well-regarded mental health speaker. He provides numerous coping strategies in You’re Not Alone to aid in overcoming anxiety and depression. Zac’s no-holds-barred style appealed to me. In these pages, he exposes his soul by sharing many of his personal first-hand encounters. His opinions on sadness, stress and other traumatic challenges are put in an understanding context by this. In summary, the work maintains realism and relatability. Zach addresses several important subjects. This includes his advice on how to control floods of unfavorable thoughts, spot hidden triggers, develop improved well-being techniques, and much more. Overall, You’re Not Alone is among the best books about depression available, and I highly suggest it. It’s an easy read that will help you begin the process of taking back control of your life.

The Upward Spiral by Alex Korb

This product was recommended by Adrian Paul from NC Cuttingtools

Depression might seem like an unending cycle of melancholy, exhaustion, and brokenness. Neuroscientist Alex Korb hopes to buck the trend in this area. He explains in The Upward Spiral the complex brain connections that lead to sadness and anxiety in simple terms. Additionally, he supports this with sound, fact-based counsel, providing you with concrete methods to fight back. Above all, I believe this to be one of the top depression novels available. It will particularly appeal to readers who are sick of hackneyed self-help pep talks and inspirational advice that is ultimately meaningless. The Upward Spiral, in contrast, is based on data gathered from reliable clinical studies, neuroscientific studies, and decades of professional experience.

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Daniel G. Amen

This product was recommended by Mark McShane from Skills Training Group

Change Your Brain, Change Your Life is a book that offers readers practical advice on how to improve your life by changing your brain habits. The book provides you with an understanding of how the brain works and how certain behaviors and thoughts can lead to negative consequences. The book also includes tips on how to change those behaviors and thoughts in order to improve overall health and well-being.

Don’t Believe Everything You Think By Joseph Nguyen

This product was recommended by Mimi Paul from Kyte Digital

This book helps you change how you think. The author provides so many wonderful tools and analogies that you can easily apply to your actual life if you suffer from depression and anxiety and see positive changes taking place. This book helped me get over my darkest thoughts that was troubling me so quite some time. I recommend it to anyone also struggling to get things out of their mind. Highly recommended.

Light Shines in the Darkness By Lucille F. Sider

This product was recommended by Susan Stitt from Front Edge Publishing

Clinical psychologist and clergywoman Lucille F. Sider adds her voice to the chorus of women in the #WhyIDidntReport and #MeToo movements. This is Lucille’s story of resilience and hope as a survivor of sexual abuse. She explains the challenges of finding her way out of a fear-based spirituality into one that is full of grace, hope and forgiveness. The unique richness of her book is that she wrote it to spark healing discussion. As she describes her experiences in these pages, she also steps back and offers helpful analysis as both a psychologist and a clergywoman. At the end of the book, she includes a complete study guide with questions for reflection for individuals, small groups and classes. “The book is arranged to be a valuable tool in the hands of persons in the helping professions, such as clergy, social workers, psychologists,” writes the Rev. Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent Emerita and Ambassador of The Wesleyan Church. “This writing is so powerful, yet gentle, that people will be able to add their own words to combat the pain. Lucille’s credentials enhance the power of the story. Truly a book for these days!”

It’s All in Your Head By Joseph D. Pianka, MD

This product was recommended by ErinNicole Conti from PR by the Book

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Joseph D. Pianka, M.D. faced physician burnout and depression, so he sat at his computer and typed until the sun came out (literally and metaphorically). His book, It’s All in Your Head, compiles insight gained from his experiences as well as prior acquired knowledge for everyone who simply isn’t motivated by traditional fitness ads. He wants to start a conversation about basic concepts that have made an enormous difference for both himself and his patients, everyday individuals with busy lives and varied hobbies.

This is Depression By Diane McIntosh

This product was recommended by Jared Heathman from Active Ketamine

This book offers individuals experiencing depression a source to better understand depression and the impact it has on their life and health. Additionally, this book offers individuals information about how to communicate with others about depression while offering support such as signs of when it is time to seek therapy, what to expect in therapy, and mindfulness practices to help in relaxation. Overall, this book helps individuals reflect on their depression while encouraging them to take a new perspective to improve their symptoms.

Reasons to Stay Alive By Matt Haig

This product was recommended by Elspeth Robertson from Intrinsic Counselling & Art Therapy

This book chronicles Matt Haig’s personal experience with depression in an approachable and inspiring way. Accumulating his reasons for staying alive while in the midst of suicidality, Haig’s experience offers wisdom for anyone struggling to find life worth living. While in the throes of depression, reading can oftentimes seem overwhelming and exhausting – the short chapters (sometimes even just one page long!) allow you to read in short bursts. This book is like a comforting hug from someone who has been there and wants you to get through it too.

The Noonday Demon By Andrew Solomon

This product was recommended by Isabella Diaz from Rubalkhali

The book is divided into three sections: the first section looks at the history of depression and how it has been treated over the centuries; the second section looks at different types of depression and how sufferers experience them; and the third section offers a hopeful vision for the future, with stories of people who have recovered from depression.

A Million Little Pieces By James Frey

This product was recommended by Paul Bowley from Abbeycare Group

This book takes a look at the result of depression and what it can do to you, following a dark journey of addiction and depression James, the main character, has to dig himself out of the pit that his life has become and find hope and meaning in the every day again. It’s a truly inspirational story and makes me believe that things get better.

Ten Things I Hate About Me By Joe Tracini

This product was recommended by Tye Abdul from ABDO Florist

Joe Tracini’s Ten Things I Hate About Me is a funny, relatable, and deeply moving book about self-love and acceptance. Joe Tracini has been through a lot in his life, and he’s learned that the best way to cope with darkness is to find the light within yourself. In this book, he shares ten things he hates about himself, from weight to anxiety. But for each thing he hates, he also finds something to love. As a result, Ten Things I Hate About Me is not only a hilarious book but also an empowering story about learning to accept yourself for who you are. Ten Things I Hate About Me is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and think.

Before The Coffee Gets Cold By Toshikazu Kawaguchi

This product was recommended by Andrew Kemp from Smile Credentials

Sometimes in life, we have regrets and they can make us depressed. Things in the past that we wish had gone differently. This book is about what happens when you get the chance to go back and choose a different path and how living in the past may not always be the best thing for you.

Moments of Grace: Faithfulness When Life Hurts by Janae Hofer

This product was recommended by Janae Hofer from ETD Law LLC

In this memoir, Janae Hofer provides details of her battle with depression arising out of her physical disability of cerebral palsy. Unaware of her hidden turmoil, many are impressed with Hofer’s unrelenting drive to open her own law practice despite needing assistance with every physical task because of cerebral palsy-a disability hindering her every movement. But her life is more than physical struggles. It’s also joy and sorrow, laughter and pain, victory, and defeat. In Moments of Grace, Hofer narrates her story in light of God’s grace. This reflective focus reveals grace in all of life’s moments: God provided her with a loving Christian family and carefully cultivated friendships. Preserving her life despite suicide attempts, God granted her strength to persevere despite continual underestimation by others. This memoir contrasts Hofer’s hopeless feelings at different moments and her grateful perspective as she now looks back. She encourages readers to embrace life with attitudes of gratitude and humility. She prays God will use her story to point others toward a deeper understanding of His unfailing grace in every moment-past, present, and future. The Bible tells us that ‘the testing of [our] faith produces perseverance’ (James 1:2-4). You won’t find many people who demonstrate perseverance the way Janae Hofer does. Her story is inspiring, humbling, and at times gut-wrenching-but it will give you insight into the mind and heart of an amazing young woman.

The Happiness Trap By Russ Harris

This product was recommended by Iqbal Ahmad from Britannia School of Leadership and Management

A massive portion of your thoughts will be negative, no matter what you do. These thoughts can’t be overcome; the only solution is to accept them for the negative thoughts they are and move on. Bad thoughts are not YOU; they are things being secreted by your brain and need to be tackled carefully. I would highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with anxiety or depression. This book is not your regular self-help book. If you are paralyzed with thoughts, memories and images causing you great distress then It has the solution for you; the techniques and exercises which are extremely on target, well balanced and measured.

A Gentle Reminder By Bianca Sparacino

This product was recommended by Shakirah Forde from Shakirah Forde

A Gentle Reminder offers hugs and empathy it’s words. This book offers gentle reminders to be kind to ourselves, to look at the beauty of the world around us even when we feel dark within. This book is great for those struggling with depression who need to be reminded that they are not alone and reminds us of the life we could be living. Without even knowing her, Author Bianca Sparacino feels like a friend.

Feeling Great By David D. Burns

This product was recommended by Dr. Staci Holweger from Life Patches

More than any other resource I’ve encountered, this book genuinely accomplishes the lofty goal of making incredibly potent and successful therapy available, useable, and accessible to the general people. In Feeling Great, the author offers readers a strong and practical framework for radically, successfully, and quickly reducing anxiety and sadness. It is packed with useful skills and practices that will benefit anyone dealing with depression or anxiety, whether they use it on their own or in collaboration with a therapist. It has never been easier to get quick, efficient, drug-free treatment than it is right now with Feeling Great.

Life Without Limits By Nick Vujicic

This product was recommended by Ryan Knoll from Tidy Casa

This is a very insightful and inspirational book. It is an ideal book to deal with depression situations and give hope to those who are depressed. He discusses his life’s setbacks and that of others who have found a way to succeed despite them. Nick Vujicic explains his experiences and how he found success after challenging his setbacks in this inspirational book.

From Survive to Thrive By Margaret S. Chisolm

This product was recommended by Dr. Prashant Sharma from Concise Psych

Dr. Chisolm expertly describes the Four Main Perspectives through which Mental Illness can be viewed. As an experienced psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dr. Chisolm describes her clinical and personal experiences with different types of Mental Illness including Depression. She includes step by step advice as well as self-assessments and self-reflection exercises. Readers have found her book to be inspirational and practical when dealing with Depression.

Get Out Of Your Head By Jennie Allen

This product was recommended by Sai Blackbyrn from Coach Foundation

Get Out of Your Head, a New York Times best-seller, offers a much-needed Christian perspective on melancholy and anxiety without taking any religious detours. I initially thought the author, Jennie Allen, would aim to provide an always optimistic, Christiany perspective on mental health concerns. She pleasantly surprised me, though, by sharing her own prior struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts. Jennie never sugar-coats her writing; instead, she keeps it real and candid. Jennie ultimately links the aforementioned to the unwavering love of our Father In heaven because this is a Christian book. She reminds us that Jesus Christ is always a source of life to be found, if we decide to set our attention on Him, in the midst of a world that frequently attempts to make us feel inadequate and forlorn. Get Out of Your Head, in my opinion, is one of the best books about depression. It strikes a lovely mix between addressing directly to our daily challenges and keeping our souls tuned to God according to the Bible.

Your Mental Health and You By Sandy Pace

This product was recommended by Steve Elliott from Restoration 1

Sandy Pace’s book Your Mental Health and You describes a world in which everything is black and white. Despite this, we still have the problem of not looking past our preconceived notions. As a result, we fail to see things for what they are, instead of only through our own biases. Mental health stigma is addressed differently in this book. It accomplishes that through comprehending what is within your capability to adjust and how to get the appropriate medical or psychological help for the rest by providing you a specific preference of the things you need to reach your full potential effectively. Those things concern the medical, healing, and medical interventions that support you in accomplishing this and many other things that will enable you to gain that full potential.

Hugs Help By Randy Stocker

This product was recommended by Randy Stocker from N/A

Most depression is caused by some type of grief. Hugs Help assists people to better understand their grief. When people don’t understand why they are always angry or crying, it causes their depression to deepen. My mother, Jean, and my two daughters, Jenelle-age 19, and Amy-age 9, were killed by a distracted semi-truck driver. Our depression was severe for a long time. I wrote this book, Hugs Help, to assist others with their grief and to educate others, comforters, on how to best help grievers.

The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment By Thaddeus Golas

This product was recommended by Brian Kaplan from Almost Happy

80 pages of pure inspiration where not a word is wasted. I’ve read 100s of self help books and nothing comes near this. It changes the way you see the world and encourages you to love yourself for feeling whatever you are feeling – even depression.

Maybe You Should Talk To Someone By Lori Gottlieb

This product was recommended by Jason Vaught from 805Seo

I would recommend reading Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb, as this book deals with the fundamentalism of depression and its major causes, as well as measures to prevent it. The author tells us about some major difficulties in life and why we should talk in order to avoid any mental illness and any similar subjects. This is a pure self-help book dealing with different fragments of life.

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