An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison

Kay Redfield Jamison is an incredibly honest and compassionate writer. If you are looking for a better understanding of manic-depression (bipolar disorder) this is THE book for you. It is a moving and intricate portrait of a psychologist's struggles with mania, depression, mixed states, and suicidal thinking. Jamison's wit, humor, and ardent understanding will blow you away. Whether you want to learn more about manic-depression or depression, or just a great read this book will fit the bill. You will come away from this read with a rich understanding of what it means to suffer from manic-depression and what it means to live meaningfully despite battling such a dangerous disease.

Writing Hard Stories by Melanie Brooks

I read this book in three days; I simply was not able to put it down. I had been incredibly hungry to read other's stories of their trauma and how they are getting through: this book satisfied that need.  Melanie Brooks' Writing Hard Stories serves also as igniter fluid for anyone thinking of writing about their trauma (whether for themselves to read or others).  In the beginning of each memoirist's experience the traumatic event is a chaotic, overwhelming vortex of emotions and memory.  But in the challenges and intricacies of writing the artists were able to put a narrative to their memories, making the pain somewhat more bearable.  The event now had a story arc, a beginning, middle, and end in some way.  At the end of the process the authors had a physical object (a book) that contained their trauma. The ability to take feelings and memories that feel so all encompassing and overpowering, and put them in a container (a confined, finite space with a beginning and an end) is amazingly hopeful. A great read for trauma recovery.

Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter

Grief is the Thing with Feathers is a new novel about a family wrestling with grief:

The poetry of this piece of prose demands a poetic response:

Gut-wrenching.

Challenging immediacy; chaotic raw pain.

Need for comfort; need to comfort; need to/forced to grow (up).

Immersive voice, language, rhythm gets in your head, gets in your speech.

Visceral; discomfort; pushing: vastness.

Supports: coping together, coping separately.

Feeling. GRIEF. ANGER. VIOLENCE. PAIN. Expressed through the body; expressed through the words in this book. 

Unlike any other novel or memoir on grief this text tells you nothing.  But it shows you everything.  The pain and anger and violence and chaos of grief is not told, but shown to you and felt by you.  

I have never felt less alone in my grief.  I hope it helps you feel the same. 

Help Lending Your Self a Hand

 

I was having an off day and trying to stop beating myself up.  A friend kindly reminded me that it is "normal" to be tired on the weekend sometimes, and not do all the projects and chores you wanted to do.  I am a person.  You are a person.  It is ok.  So to make my new found person-ness stick in my brain I drew the above on my hand.

Someone can tell me to "be my own best friend" until said person is blue in the face, and it still will not sink in.  But this works sometimes:

• Stop.
• Come to a Full Stop.
• Imagine your best friend.
• He/she is very upset, maybe even crying.
• You ask your best friend to tell you what is wrong.
• You hear your best friend say all these horrible things about his/her self (insert what you are currently thinking about your self here).
• Now imagine what YOU would say to your BEST friend who shared all this with you.

Depression: A Primer by Ellen

This is a great little illustrated book that goes over the depression basics.  So whether you've been recently diagnosed or you want to understand what a loved one is going through, this book is great. She not only covers what depression is like but hits on the different kinds of depression and different kinds of treatments.  A fantastic quick read.

Meditation vs. Medication: A Graphic Essay

Here is a short graphic essay by Deanna Zandt.  Struggling with depression and anxiety is hard enough without fighting an epic internal struggle about medicating.  This graphic gives a helpful perspective on the subject.  Reminder: You are not weak.  You are fighting a disease.  There is no shame in taking medication.

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Oh my gods!  I can not begin to describe how wonderful this book is! I laughed so hard I cried; I hurt my face and back; I almost peed myself on the subway! If you are in a dark place and need a laugh, or hug, or support you will find it all in Lawson's new book.  I have never had a book make me smile so much.  She has been down in the guck and the mire.  Whether it's depression or anxiety she has been there.  And she is there with you.  Please read this book.  Thanks to Furiously Happy I know I am not alone and I now have an arsenal of funny happy memories to help me fight my monsters.