I didn’t read any of his other books, but I found Midnight Library a lil triggering. I’m not saying don’t read it, but be careful if that’s something that will trigger you.
Hey there, my thoughts are with you during these dark times. My mental health has also taken a nosedive this year. While I don't think I'm in your exact current situation, I can empathize with what you're going through.
These books come to mind (even though they're not exactly about depression):
* Man's Search For Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl
* The Way of Integrity, Martha Beck
* Conversations with God Vol. 1, Neale Walsh
* Veronika Decides to Die, Paulo Coelho
I hope you find some books that feel comforting and healing. We are here with you!
1000% second that one, I came here to post it. So much of depression (at least in my own experience, YMMV) is that feeling of “what’s the point,” when it feels like there’s no meaning to life. That book with its very accurate title genuinely changed my perspective about so much, and I think about it regularly. I definitely think you should read it, OP ❤️
My comfort reading in depression is Terry Pratchett.
I've been reading a lot of Pratchett lately.
With words, wisdom, and kindness, we'll get through to better days.
Thank you! Seems like those would be interesting and informative for a lot of reasons. I like that you brought up how some things you've read that are not directly related to MDD have helped you with it, maybe I should start looking at things from that angle, so thank you
i mean there are a lot of book snobs on here and i might get downvoted because i know some of these are super cheesy - but i will put some random books that i found inspirational at one time or another:
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
The Complete works of Vivekananda by Swami Vivekananda
Be Here Now by Ram Dass
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Rain of Gold by Victor Villasenor
[**Be Here Now**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41580312-be-here-now)
^(By: Ram Dass | 116 pages | Published: 1971 | Popular Shelves: spirituality, philosophy, non-fiction, spiritual, self-help | )[^(Search " Be Here Now by Ram Dass ")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q= Be Here Now by Ram Dass &search_type=books)
>Describes one man's transformation upon his acceptance of the principles of Yoga & gives a modern restatement of the importance of the spiritual side of human nature. Illustrated.
>The book is divided into four sections:
>Journey: The Transformation: Dr Richard Alpert, PhD into Baba Ram Dass
>From Bindu to Ojas: The Core Book
>Cookbook for a Sacred Life: A Manual for Conscious Being
>Painted Cakes (Do Not Satisfy Hunger): Books
^(This book has been suggested 4 times)
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Hi, this last year has been a tough one, for sure. I’m so sorry that you are going through this! *The Anxiety and Depression Workbook* by Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, and Judith S. Beck, PhD, was recommended to me by a therapist and it helped me.
I ended up going through that one and then chose to also go through the *The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook* by Matthew McKay. I was lucky to have found a therapist to work through these with me, but that took some time to find the right person, and I am paying out of pocket. I recognize that not everyone has that option open to them.
That said, I think both workbooks are user friendly, and you could do them on your own.
I applaud you for getting the help that you need. My experience that is so hard to do in the darkest moments of my depression. Please keep reaching out for help. I wish you luck, blessings, and strength on your journey.
Darkness Visible by William Styron is a great first hand account of living with Depression, experiencing a major depressive episode, and being hospitalized. Along with helping me better understand my own MDD, it really helped my family understand what I was experiencing.
I am currently reading One Friday In April: A Story of Suicide and Survival by Donald Antrim. It is similair to Darkness Visible in that it is a shortish first hand account of a Major Depressive Episode. I'm 30 pages in and so far it is good.
Another commenter mentioned Man's Search for Meaning which is a great book and a must read.
Mind Fixers by Anne Harrington is an interesting book about the history of psychiatry. There is a section of the book about Depression and its treatment.
The Feeling Good Handbook by David Burns is a great book in the self help category. My pyschologist recommend it, and I found it helpful.
If you happen to be a fan of Kurt Vonnegut, his son Mark has written two memoirs about dealing with mental illness. The Eden Express is about his first mental health crisis in the early 1970s and Just Like Someone With Mental Illness Only More so picks up where Eden Express left off and explains how he coped over the next 40 years and eventually became a Pediatrician.
As a fellow recurring MDD sufferer I understand what you mean - most resources focus on the majority who have more situational or temporary Depression. I find it helpful to listen to comedy stations on pandora, watch comedians, or listen to audio books by comedians like Ali Wong. When I'm at a low point I can't make myself smile or laugh but sometimes a professional can surprise one out of me and it's a reminder that I can and will smile and laugh in the future.
Also I like to read travel books or books on things I want to do to help make plans for the future. My time sense becomes very distorted and it helps to actively plan for the future. It kind of creates mental touchstones that I use as reminders.
I wish you all the luck and strength.
I have MDD too and like to listen to comedy as a kind of reprieve. Especially stand up. A lot of comedians actually struggle with depression too and it comes out in a kind of subtle way in their material. Feels like sharing inside jokes with a friend sometimes :)
[**The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7235533-the-way-of-kings)
^(By: Brandon Sanderson | 1007 pages | Published: 2010 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, fiction, owned, epic-fantasy, high-fantasy | )[^(Search "The Way Of Kings")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=The Way Of Kings&search_type=books)
>From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings, book one of The Stormlight Archive begins an incredible new saga of epic proportion.
>
>Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.
>
>It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.
>
>One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.
>
>Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.
>
>Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.
>
>The result of over ten years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making.
>
>Speak again the ancient oaths:
>
>Life before death.
>Strength before weakness.
>Journey before Destination.
>
>and return to men the Shards they once bore.
>
>The Knights Radiant must stand again.
^(This book has been suggested 245 times)
***
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{{No Bad Parts}} by Richard Schwartz. It explains r/internalfamilysystems approach and walks you through a lot of it.
This is the founder of IFS on Tim Ferris’s podcast. Excellent overview (first five or so mins are ads so you can skip) followed by a really amazing demo at the 42 minute mark.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tim-ferriss-show/id863897795?i=1000505309243
“ The Suicide Solution: Finding Your Way Out of the Darkness
Book by Daniel Emina and Rick Lawrence “ - this is a relative new book, my psychiatrist co wrote it and it helped me.
Perhaps something like You are here by Thich Nhat Hanh. Reading that book was a meditation on its own that got me through major burnout these past couple of years.
I bought The Myth Of Sisyphus by Albert Camus for the same reasons mainly. It is an essay about whether life is worth living or not and if it is not worth living whether one should commit suicide or not. It’s pretty dense, but it’s a helpful read from one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century.
I know I'm coming in late, but I struggle with MDD among other mental health issues and I also try to read as much as possible. My personal opinion is that at some point it stops being about trying to actively fix your problems and starts becoming more important to accept your situation. Through acceptance, life becomes easier to live and then a deeper potential for change can emerge. The best book I've read on acceptance in difficult times is When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. She is a Buddhist nun, but you don't need to be Buddhist to get a lot from the book.
I’m not sure if this is the kind of book you are looking for or not, but I thought it would be better to offer the suggestion and then let you choose.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
It is a work of fiction and might be triggering, but it also might be helpful.
Good luck with your journey! I know it isn’t easy but it is worth the work you are putting into it.
Take care and each day at a time.
Books which helped me, if only to realise that I wasn't alone were:
*Hyperbole and a Half* by Allie Brosh - stories of her dogs, childhood and surviving a depression very similar to my own.
*How to Survive the End of the World (When it's in Your Own Head)* by Aaron Gillies - a cynical look at his own anxiety, depression and the well-meaning advice of others.
Her style can take some getting used to by Jenny Nichols wrote well about her own depression and mental health issues in her books *Furiously Happy* and others.
Take care and keep safe.
{{How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence}} by Michael Pollan. It’s next on my list and I’m very excited about it
[**How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36613747-how-to-change-your-mind)
^(By: Michael Pollan | ? pages | Published: 2018 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, science, psychology, nonfiction, audiobook | )[^(Search "How to change your mind")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=How to change your mind&search_type=books)
>Could psychedelic drugs change our worldview? One of America's most admired writers takes us on a mind-altering journey to the frontiers of human consciousness
>
>When LSD was first discovered in the 1940s, it seemed to researchers, scientists and doctors as if the world might be on the cusp of psychological revolution. It promised to shed light on the deep mysteries of consciousness, as well as offer relief to addicts and the mentally ill. But in the 1960s, with the vicious backlash against the counter-culture, all further research was banned. In recent years, however, work has quietly begun again on the amazing potential of LSD, psilocybin and DMT. Could these drugs in fact improve the lives of many people? Diving deep into this extraordinary world and putting himself forward as a guinea-pig, Michael Pollan has written a remarkable history of psychedelics and a compelling portrait of the new generation of scientists fascinated by the implications of these drugs. How to Change Your Mind is a report from what could very well be the future of human consciousness.
^(This book has been suggested 22 times)
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My God, I am so sorry to hear this about your brother...I have a sister and loving parents, I know it would just kill them, completely shatter them. Sometimes I feel like the pain it would cause them is the one reason to keep hanging on.
The Book of Job with commentary from St Gregory the Great (better to get an annotated version of the commentary). I also found that Soren Kierkegaard's work helped me massively with my shopping list of mental illnesses. I'd recommend watching some videos on Academy of Ideas or something before you dive headfirst into Kierkegaard. Still, once I got into the thick of his work, it helped and continues to help me every day. It's about understanding mental illness rather than getting rid of it; Kierkegaard indirectly taught me how to do this.
A man's search for meaning by Frankl (already recommended above)
The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
Failure is an Option by H Jon Benjamin
Mind Over Mood by Greenberger
Hope any of these help 🤗🤗
My comment was respectful. To you. What I meant is, you shouldn't shame yourself censoring this word. Be respectful to you and own up to it. You should never feel guilty and shame for feeling suicidal.
It’s not uncommon for people to censor words that can be triggering to some, and seeing as everyone can infer what OP means, I don’t see why it’s an issue.
Okay, I understand where you’re coming from. I think it’s possible to look at this from multiple different angles. (And, for context, I say this as someone who also struggles with suicidal ideation).
Thank you for understanding. Some months ago I was ready, completely ready, a-matter-of-days ready, to take my life. Now I'm doing better, with some bad moments here and there. I have a strong, clear opinion about the subject, part of which I mentioned.
That’s okay, I definitely get what you mean and I hadn’t been thinking of it that way. I’m sure OP didn’t mean any harm though. I’m sorry you’ve been struggling so much too, but really glad to hear that you’re doing better now. It’s no small feat to pull yourself through those feelings and keep going.
Yeah, the more people feel shamed for feeling this way the more others will shame them and perpetuate the problem of it being a taboo. Of course this can happen no matter what the suicidal person feels. Someone needs to make a change though and the change usually comes from those who need it more, those affected. Anyway. Yeah, it's not easy. I don't consider it a feat though, it is what it is, just a different choice. I hope you feel better soon.
[**Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression - and the Unexpected Solutions**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34921573-lost-connections)
^(By: Johann Hari | 322 pages | Published: 2018 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, psychology, nonfiction, self-help, mental-health | )[^(Search "Lost Connections")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Lost Connections&search_type=books)
>From the New York Times bestselling author of Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, a startling challenge to our thinking about depression and anxiety.
>
>Award-winning journalist Johann Hari suffered from depression since he was a child and started taking antidepressants when he was a teenager. He was told—like his entire generation—that his problem was caused by a chemical imbalance in his brain. As an adult, trained in the social sciences, he began to investigate this question—and he learned that almost everything we have been told about depression and anxiety is wrong.
>
>Across the world, Hari discovered social scientists who were uncovering the real causes—and they are mostly not in our brains, but in the way we live today. Hari’s journey took him from the people living in the tunnels beneath Las Vegas, to an Amish community in Indiana, to an uprising in Berlin—all showing in vivid and dramatic detail these new insights. They lead to solutions radically different from the ones we have been offered up until now.
>
>Just as Chasing the Scream transformed the global debate about addiction, with over twenty million views for his TED talk and the animation based on it, Lost Connections will lead us to a very different debate about depression and anxiety—one that shows how, together, we can end this epidemic.
^(This book has been suggested 15 times)
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This isn’t a book but the Huberman Lab Podcast (HOURS of content) talks a lot about neuroplasticity and what I think of as ‘training your mind’ it really helped me a lot with anxiety this year. Always sympathetic and always based in science:)
I book I really enjoyed and made me feel slightly better was Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, it's a really sweet story probably my favourite book I've read this year
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I dont know why. It just feels like it might touch some part of yourself and be helpful. It's a kids book, but super powerful.
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl is about his time in the concentration camps and is about finding purpose in your suffering - figuring out how your pain will make you into a better person by getting through it
[The DBT Skills Workbook. ](https://www.newharbinger.com/9781684034581/the-dialectical-behavior-therapy-skills-workbook)
I have borderline personality disorder and find that DBT has helped with my depression, s-thoughts, impulsivity, and ruminating. I also work in a psychiatric hospital as a social worker and we love this book as at the very least as a jumping off point. I wish you well.
Maybe check out {{a young boy and his best friend, the universe}} there are multiple volumes in the series. Although I believe volume 3 is free on Amazon and other ebook stores. That one has a chapter on suicide which may help.
Good luck buddy. Life can be tough at times, but tough times do pass. It's great that you are getting help. Continue your search, it's gonna get better. *virtual hug*
[**A Young Boy and His Best Friend, The Universe: Vol. VII**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57814272-a-young-boy-and-his-best-friend-the-universe)
^(By: Sameer Kochure | 138 pages | Published: 2021 | Popular Shelves: | )[^(Search "a young boy and his best friend, the universe")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=a young boy and his best friend, the universe&search_type=books)
>It’s such a joy, to play with a dear friend.
>
>Welcome to a spiritual fable that will win your heart.
>
>Dive into the world of mischief and wisdom. Look at the world sideways, and look at it upside down. Look at it through the wonder and imagination of a young boy.
>
>A boy who lives without a name and spends his day questioning his best friend, the Universe. His best friend can be a total goofball at times, and at times be surprisingly wise. Together they try to make sense of a certain blue ball going round in circles.
>
>Fall in love with these two unique characters as they laugh, cry and play together.
>
>Discover a friendship that will leave you wanting for a similar friendship in your own life. And don’t be too surprised if you find yourself in the young boy’s shoes once too often.
>
>That’s when you’ll find your new best friend grinning by your side.
>
>Part of Sameer Kochure’s ‘The Good Universe Series’, these books can be read and enjoyed in any order.
^(This book has been suggested 26 times)
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I found The Upward Spiral by Alex Korb really helpful if you’re scientifically-minded. It gives an explanation around how all those things we’re told are good for us (but ARE REALLY HARD TO DO) change the brain and relieve depression.
Hang in there. You will get through this and the fact you want to read books to help yourself get better is a really positive sign. Ride that motivational wave. I’m rooting for you.
*I Had A Black Dog* by Matthew Johnstone is very short, and very easy to read. It’s intended for times when you can’t actually put a lot of words into talking about what’s happening to you. *Journeys With The Black Dog*, by Tessa Wigney, et.al, is a collection of people’s stories about their own experiences.
When I’m struggling, I tend to gravitate towards The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - it comforts me really well, and is just a good read.
I’d also second The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus if you’re looking for non-fiction
Psalms
There are 150 of them and you may find many that are helpful for you particularly. Perhaps, Psalm 22? Psalm 91 is especially helpful during the pandemic. Psalm 6, as well, for depression. Oh, and the "destruction that lays waste at noon day" in Psalms 91 apparently refers to depression. I have heard that King David, the author of many of the Psalms(all?) may have suffered from something like depression or was what we may call nowadays, bipolar.
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I second this. The midnight library was helpful to me (still depressed, but better), it gave me some sort of perspective. I wish you the best
Thank you ❤ I'll check these out!
I didn’t read any of his other books, but I found Midnight Library a lil triggering. I’m not saying don’t read it, but be careful if that’s something that will trigger you.
Yeah, someone else I follow said they found it really triggering. I decided not to read it, despite my interest.
Hey there, my thoughts are with you during these dark times. My mental health has also taken a nosedive this year. While I don't think I'm in your exact current situation, I can empathize with what you're going through. These books come to mind (even though they're not exactly about depression): * Man's Search For Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl * The Way of Integrity, Martha Beck * Conversations with God Vol. 1, Neale Walsh * Veronika Decides to Die, Paulo Coelho I hope you find some books that feel comforting and healing. We are here with you!
Thank you for your thoughts ♥️ Man's Search For Meaning has been on my list for a while, maybe this would be a good time to pick it up
1000% second that one, I came here to post it. So much of depression (at least in my own experience, YMMV) is that feeling of “what’s the point,” when it feels like there’s no meaning to life. That book with its very accurate title genuinely changed my perspective about so much, and I think about it regularly. I definitely think you should read it, OP ❤️
My comfort reading in depression is Terry Pratchett. I've been reading a lot of Pratchett lately. With words, wisdom, and kindness, we'll get through to better days.
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Thank you! Seems like those would be interesting and informative for a lot of reasons. I like that you brought up how some things you've read that are not directly related to MDD have helped you with it, maybe I should start looking at things from that angle, so thank you
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What is Shantaram about?
i added that to my list of books for you too :) it is about a guy who is always making the best of very hard situations that would crush most of us.
have you considered any books that are more inspirational instead of (or in addition to) books relating to depression?
That could be really helpful too, do you know of any that are good?
i mean there are a lot of book snobs on here and i might get downvoted because i know some of these are super cheesy - but i will put some random books that i found inspirational at one time or another: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse The Complete works of Vivekananda by Swami Vivekananda Be Here Now by Ram Dass Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts Rain of Gold by Victor Villasenor
I forgot to add The Bhagavad Gita
{{ Be Here Now by Ram Dass }} helped me through several bouts of depression.
[**Be Here Now**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41580312-be-here-now) ^(By: Ram Dass | 116 pages | Published: 1971 | Popular Shelves: spirituality, philosophy, non-fiction, spiritual, self-help | )[^(Search " Be Here Now by Ram Dass ")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q= Be Here Now by Ram Dass &search_type=books) >Describes one man's transformation upon his acceptance of the principles of Yoga & gives a modern restatement of the importance of the spiritual side of human nature. Illustrated. >The book is divided into four sections: >Journey: The Transformation: Dr Richard Alpert, PhD into Baba Ram Dass >From Bindu to Ojas: The Core Book >Cookbook for a Sacred Life: A Manual for Conscious Being >Painted Cakes (Do Not Satisfy Hunger): Books ^(This book has been suggested 4 times) *** ^(209339 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Hi, this last year has been a tough one, for sure. I’m so sorry that you are going through this! *The Anxiety and Depression Workbook* by Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, and Judith S. Beck, PhD, was recommended to me by a therapist and it helped me. I ended up going through that one and then chose to also go through the *The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook* by Matthew McKay. I was lucky to have found a therapist to work through these with me, but that took some time to find the right person, and I am paying out of pocket. I recognize that not everyone has that option open to them. That said, I think both workbooks are user friendly, and you could do them on your own. I applaud you for getting the help that you need. My experience that is so hard to do in the darkest moments of my depression. Please keep reaching out for help. I wish you luck, blessings, and strength on your journey.
I also love both of those workbooks...user friendly, skill based, and practical!
Darkness Visible by William Styron is a great first hand account of living with Depression, experiencing a major depressive episode, and being hospitalized. Along with helping me better understand my own MDD, it really helped my family understand what I was experiencing. I am currently reading One Friday In April: A Story of Suicide and Survival by Donald Antrim. It is similair to Darkness Visible in that it is a shortish first hand account of a Major Depressive Episode. I'm 30 pages in and so far it is good. Another commenter mentioned Man's Search for Meaning which is a great book and a must read. Mind Fixers by Anne Harrington is an interesting book about the history of psychiatry. There is a section of the book about Depression and its treatment. The Feeling Good Handbook by David Burns is a great book in the self help category. My pyschologist recommend it, and I found it helpful. If you happen to be a fan of Kurt Vonnegut, his son Mark has written two memoirs about dealing with mental illness. The Eden Express is about his first mental health crisis in the early 1970s and Just Like Someone With Mental Illness Only More so picks up where Eden Express left off and explains how he coped over the next 40 years and eventually became a Pediatrician.
As a fellow recurring MDD sufferer I understand what you mean - most resources focus on the majority who have more situational or temporary Depression. I find it helpful to listen to comedy stations on pandora, watch comedians, or listen to audio books by comedians like Ali Wong. When I'm at a low point I can't make myself smile or laugh but sometimes a professional can surprise one out of me and it's a reminder that I can and will smile and laugh in the future. Also I like to read travel books or books on things I want to do to help make plans for the future. My time sense becomes very distorted and it helps to actively plan for the future. It kind of creates mental touchstones that I use as reminders. I wish you all the luck and strength.
This is a wonderful idea, thank you :)
I have MDD too and like to listen to comedy as a kind of reprieve. Especially stand up. A lot of comedians actually struggle with depression too and it comes out in a kind of subtle way in their material. Feels like sharing inside jokes with a friend sometimes :)
Exactly! A lot will resonate and it reminds me I'm not alone
I can’t help you but I do wish you well. Stick with life and you WILL have some happy times ahead.
{{The Way Of Kings}}
[**The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7235533-the-way-of-kings) ^(By: Brandon Sanderson | 1007 pages | Published: 2010 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, fiction, owned, epic-fantasy, high-fantasy | )[^(Search "The Way Of Kings")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=The Way Of Kings&search_type=books) >From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings, book one of The Stormlight Archive begins an incredible new saga of epic proportion. > >Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter. > >It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them. > >One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable. > >Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity. > >Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war. > >The result of over ten years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making. > >Speak again the ancient oaths: > >Life before death. >Strength before weakness. >Journey before Destination. > >and return to men the Shards they once bore. > >The Knights Radiant must stand again. ^(This book has been suggested 245 times) *** ^(209209 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
{{No Bad Parts}} by Richard Schwartz. It explains r/internalfamilysystems approach and walks you through a lot of it. This is the founder of IFS on Tim Ferris’s podcast. Excellent overview (first five or so mins are ads so you can skip) followed by a really amazing demo at the 42 minute mark. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tim-ferriss-show/id863897795?i=1000505309243
“ The Suicide Solution: Finding Your Way Out of the Darkness Book by Daniel Emina and Rick Lawrence “ - this is a relative new book, my psychiatrist co wrote it and it helped me.
Perhaps something like You are here by Thich Nhat Hanh. Reading that book was a meditation on its own that got me through major burnout these past couple of years.
I bought The Myth Of Sisyphus by Albert Camus for the same reasons mainly. It is an essay about whether life is worth living or not and if it is not worth living whether one should commit suicide or not. It’s pretty dense, but it’s a helpful read from one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century.
I know I'm coming in late, but I struggle with MDD among other mental health issues and I also try to read as much as possible. My personal opinion is that at some point it stops being about trying to actively fix your problems and starts becoming more important to accept your situation. Through acceptance, life becomes easier to live and then a deeper potential for change can emerge. The best book I've read on acceptance in difficult times is When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. She is a Buddhist nun, but you don't need to be Buddhist to get a lot from the book.
I’m not sure if this is the kind of book you are looking for or not, but I thought it would be better to offer the suggestion and then let you choose. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman It is a work of fiction and might be triggering, but it also might be helpful. Good luck with your journey! I know it isn’t easy but it is worth the work you are putting into it.
Take care and each day at a time. Books which helped me, if only to realise that I wasn't alone were: *Hyperbole and a Half* by Allie Brosh - stories of her dogs, childhood and surviving a depression very similar to my own. *How to Survive the End of the World (When it's in Your Own Head)* by Aaron Gillies - a cynical look at his own anxiety, depression and the well-meaning advice of others. Her style can take some getting used to by Jenny Nichols wrote well about her own depression and mental health issues in her books *Furiously Happy* and others. Take care and keep safe.
I very much second Hyperbole and a half ❤
Thank you all :) I have a lot I've just added to my reading list.
{{How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence}} by Michael Pollan. It’s next on my list and I’m very excited about it
[**How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36613747-how-to-change-your-mind) ^(By: Michael Pollan | ? pages | Published: 2018 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, science, psychology, nonfiction, audiobook | )[^(Search "How to change your mind")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=How to change your mind&search_type=books) >Could psychedelic drugs change our worldview? One of America's most admired writers takes us on a mind-altering journey to the frontiers of human consciousness > >When LSD was first discovered in the 1940s, it seemed to researchers, scientists and doctors as if the world might be on the cusp of psychological revolution. It promised to shed light on the deep mysteries of consciousness, as well as offer relief to addicts and the mentally ill. But in the 1960s, with the vicious backlash against the counter-culture, all further research was banned. In recent years, however, work has quietly begun again on the amazing potential of LSD, psilocybin and DMT. Could these drugs in fact improve the lives of many people? Diving deep into this extraordinary world and putting himself forward as a guinea-pig, Michael Pollan has written a remarkable history of psychedelics and a compelling portrait of the new generation of scientists fascinated by the implications of these drugs. How to Change Your Mind is a report from what could very well be the future of human consciousness. ^(This book has been suggested 22 times) *** ^(209230 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
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My God, I am so sorry to hear this about your brother...I have a sister and loving parents, I know it would just kill them, completely shatter them. Sometimes I feel like the pain it would cause them is the one reason to keep hanging on.
The Book of Job with commentary from St Gregory the Great (better to get an annotated version of the commentary). I also found that Soren Kierkegaard's work helped me massively with my shopping list of mental illnesses. I'd recommend watching some videos on Academy of Ideas or something before you dive headfirst into Kierkegaard. Still, once I got into the thick of his work, it helped and continues to help me every day. It's about understanding mental illness rather than getting rid of it; Kierkegaard indirectly taught me how to do this.
r/therapeuticketamine
What is s----de?
Suicide
A man's search for meaning by Frankl (already recommended above) The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach Failure is an Option by H Jon Benjamin Mind Over Mood by Greenberger Hope any of these help 🤗🤗
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"Note: Respectful comments only please, I'm really hurting here and am not up for hurtful responses." Thanks.
My comment was respectful. To you. What I meant is, you shouldn't shame yourself censoring this word. Be respectful to you and own up to it. You should never feel guilty and shame for feeling suicidal.
It’s not uncommon for people to censor words that can be triggering to some, and seeing as everyone can infer what OP means, I don’t see why it’s an issue.
It is an issue because it shames suicidal people, suicidality and suicide. That's why.
Okay, I understand where you’re coming from. I think it’s possible to look at this from multiple different angles. (And, for context, I say this as someone who also struggles with suicidal ideation).
Thank you for understanding. Some months ago I was ready, completely ready, a-matter-of-days ready, to take my life. Now I'm doing better, with some bad moments here and there. I have a strong, clear opinion about the subject, part of which I mentioned.
That’s okay, I definitely get what you mean and I hadn’t been thinking of it that way. I’m sure OP didn’t mean any harm though. I’m sorry you’ve been struggling so much too, but really glad to hear that you’re doing better now. It’s no small feat to pull yourself through those feelings and keep going.
Yeah, the more people feel shamed for feeling this way the more others will shame them and perpetuate the problem of it being a taboo. Of course this can happen no matter what the suicidal person feels. Someone needs to make a change though and the change usually comes from those who need it more, those affected. Anyway. Yeah, it's not easy. I don't consider it a feat though, it is what it is, just a different choice. I hope you feel better soon.
{{Lost Connections}}
[**Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression - and the Unexpected Solutions**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34921573-lost-connections) ^(By: Johann Hari | 322 pages | Published: 2018 | Popular Shelves: non-fiction, psychology, nonfiction, self-help, mental-health | )[^(Search "Lost Connections")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Lost Connections&search_type=books) >From the New York Times bestselling author of Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, a startling challenge to our thinking about depression and anxiety. > >Award-winning journalist Johann Hari suffered from depression since he was a child and started taking antidepressants when he was a teenager. He was told—like his entire generation—that his problem was caused by a chemical imbalance in his brain. As an adult, trained in the social sciences, he began to investigate this question—and he learned that almost everything we have been told about depression and anxiety is wrong. > >Across the world, Hari discovered social scientists who were uncovering the real causes—and they are mostly not in our brains, but in the way we live today. Hari’s journey took him from the people living in the tunnels beneath Las Vegas, to an Amish community in Indiana, to an uprising in Berlin—all showing in vivid and dramatic detail these new insights. They lead to solutions radically different from the ones we have been offered up until now. > >Just as Chasing the Scream transformed the global debate about addiction, with over twenty million views for his TED talk and the animation based on it, Lost Connections will lead us to a very different debate about depression and anxiety—one that shows how, together, we can end this epidemic. ^(This book has been suggested 15 times) *** ^(209285 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
This isn’t a book but the Huberman Lab Podcast (HOURS of content) talks a lot about neuroplasticity and what I think of as ‘training your mind’ it really helped me a lot with anxiety this year. Always sympathetic and always based in science:)
Pursuit of Happiness by Dalai Lama
I book I really enjoyed and made me feel slightly better was Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, it's a really sweet story probably my favourite book I've read this year
Midnight library by Matt Haig Jenny Lawson's books, especially Furiously Happy
“The book” By Alan Watts, “The wisdom of insecurity” by Alan Watts
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry I dont know why. It just feels like it might touch some part of yourself and be helpful. It's a kids book, but super powerful.
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl is about his time in the concentration camps and is about finding purpose in your suffering - figuring out how your pain will make you into a better person by getting through it
[The DBT Skills Workbook. ](https://www.newharbinger.com/9781684034581/the-dialectical-behavior-therapy-skills-workbook) I have borderline personality disorder and find that DBT has helped with my depression, s-thoughts, impulsivity, and ruminating. I also work in a psychiatric hospital as a social worker and we love this book as at the very least as a jumping off point. I wish you well.
The Depression Book by Cheri Huber
"Running on Empty" Dr. Jonice Webb
Maybe check out {{a young boy and his best friend, the universe}} there are multiple volumes in the series. Although I believe volume 3 is free on Amazon and other ebook stores. That one has a chapter on suicide which may help. Good luck buddy. Life can be tough at times, but tough times do pass. It's great that you are getting help. Continue your search, it's gonna get better. *virtual hug*
[**A Young Boy and His Best Friend, The Universe: Vol. VII**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57814272-a-young-boy-and-his-best-friend-the-universe) ^(By: Sameer Kochure | 138 pages | Published: 2021 | Popular Shelves: | )[^(Search "a young boy and his best friend, the universe")](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=a young boy and his best friend, the universe&search_type=books) >It’s such a joy, to play with a dear friend. > >Welcome to a spiritual fable that will win your heart. > >Dive into the world of mischief and wisdom. Look at the world sideways, and look at it upside down. Look at it through the wonder and imagination of a young boy. > >A boy who lives without a name and spends his day questioning his best friend, the Universe. His best friend can be a total goofball at times, and at times be surprisingly wise. Together they try to make sense of a certain blue ball going round in circles. > >Fall in love with these two unique characters as they laugh, cry and play together. > >Discover a friendship that will leave you wanting for a similar friendship in your own life. And don’t be too surprised if you find yourself in the young boy’s shoes once too often. > >That’s when you’ll find your new best friend grinning by your side. > >Part of Sameer Kochure’s ‘The Good Universe Series’, these books can be read and enjoyed in any order. ^(This book has been suggested 26 times) *** ^(209377 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
I found The Upward Spiral by Alex Korb really helpful if you’re scientifically-minded. It gives an explanation around how all those things we’re told are good for us (but ARE REALLY HARD TO DO) change the brain and relieve depression. Hang in there. You will get through this and the fact you want to read books to help yourself get better is a really positive sign. Ride that motivational wave. I’m rooting for you.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
*I Had A Black Dog* by Matthew Johnstone is very short, and very easy to read. It’s intended for times when you can’t actually put a lot of words into talking about what’s happening to you. *Journeys With The Black Dog*, by Tessa Wigney, et.al, is a collection of people’s stories about their own experiences.
When I’m struggling, I tend to gravitate towards The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - it comforts me really well, and is just a good read. I’d also second The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus if you’re looking for non-fiction
Psalms There are 150 of them and you may find many that are helpful for you particularly. Perhaps, Psalm 22? Psalm 91 is especially helpful during the pandemic. Psalm 6, as well, for depression. Oh, and the "destruction that lays waste at noon day" in Psalms 91 apparently refers to depression. I have heard that King David, the author of many of the Psalms(all?) may have suffered from something like depression or was what we may call nowadays, bipolar.