20 Best Books On Mental Illness (2023 Update)

My daughter needed this book to do her masters in investigative psychology and looking on the internet, the prices were roughly 100 but I got this for 32 so very pleased. My daughter says its very interesting and has really helped her to get an insight into her degree. Would recommend it.lorrla_20

This is about the greatest guide on the mental disorders that plague modern society with detailed information on symptoms making a diagnoses not only easier, but also more conclusive. Primarily for the qualified clinician,this book is also great for the novice or student of counselling who has in interest in helping people with Mental Illness and recovery. As a counsellor, I refer to it often.feelt21

The new look invites the reader to look further. Crisp, clear, and concise information presented with a touch of colour to inspire the senses while educating the brain. A valuable book!Brainwords

The story of the struggle for success in Hollywood, particularly that of a reluctant child and an obsessed stage mother is well-worn territory. So what made this worth reading? Ms. McCurdy spent several years as a Nickleodean star in the early 2000s, even dabbling in a recording career. What makes this so compelling is her ability and willingness to share painful and unique details of her life, as well as that of her families' struggles, and how she was manipulated by her Mother and other adults at the network. She draws you in with a competing conversational style, and doesn't hold back on anything. By the end of the book, the reader is left feeling both moved and pleased with her decisions and intelligence in deciding to move beyond the grief left behind by her experiences. I was drawn from page to page and finished it in one sitting. I'll probably reread it more slowly, to be able to contemplate her unsparing exposition of the path she took to reach this point in her life. I wish her well. Buy it!fisheye

How does one begin to describe a woman who was a writer from birth but forced into acting but a complicated and narcissistic mother? Make no mistake, Jennette is aa wordsmith with a gift for dialogue. As a counsellor, I often see these memoirs end at the rick bottom stage and then go in with a sweeping epilogue if health abd wealth. Jennette us having none of that. She's done the work and writes of how hard it was to recover from mother. I've not been so struck by a voice in many years. Thank heavens Mom's death made way for Jennette's true colours. How bright and alive they are.”Lexa

Dr. Amen's book is insightful and helpful. I, personally, don't actually believe in his scans theory, but his information and good basic, sound advice in this book is well worth it. It reaffirms good basic mental health, as well as physical health and well-being. The timing of this book, being read during the Cover-19 stay-home period, came at the perfect time for me. I enjoyed the book. I highly recommend it.Michael

Dr. Amen's approach that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed about drives his book into ways to keep depression and other mental conditions at bay,jelell_qeno5u

String of studies thrown together and written in different styles. Very hard to read, most tech manuals these days are much easier. Only partially convincing. Over depends on a few real life examples. Daniel speaks better than he rights.gotlander6

Dr. Amen's book is insightful and helpful. I, personally, don't actually believe in his scans theory, but his information and good basic, sound advice in this book is well worth it. It reaffirms good basic mental health, as well as physical health and well-being. The timing of this book, being read during the Cover-19 stay-home period, came at the perfect time for me. I enjoyed the book. I highly recommend it.Michael

Dr. Amen's approach that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed about drives his book into ways to keep depression and other mental conditions at bay,jelell_qeno5u

String of studies thrown together and written in different styles. Very hard to read, most tech manuals these days are much easier. Only partially convincing. Over depends on a few real life examples. Daniel speaks better than he rights.gotlander6

A really interesting book that made me think. Some of the psychological terminology went over my head, so maybe reading some more entry level psychology works would be helpful.jgro3887

What an interesting perspective!!! And, I agree, as a social worker, that the general society in America has been too quick to lose its balance on acceptable versus unacceptable behavior and labeling. This is a great book – one that takes a little longer to digest and understand, but well worth the read if you are at all interested in mental illness.unimsw

A really interesting book that made me think. Some of the psychological terminology went over my head, so maybe reading some more entry level psychology works would be helpful.jgro3887

What an interesting perspective!!! And, I agree, as a social worker, that the general society in America has been too quick to lose its balance on acceptable versus unacceptable behavior and labeling. This is a great book – one that takes a little longer to digest and understand, but well worth the read if you are at all interested in mental illness.unimsw

This is an amazing book! when i found this book it called out to me. it was hard to put down. (it does also have a workbook also) I believe if you have trauma in your life or have someone you care about who has, this is a great read! I came from a home filled with many area's of trauma. Then married into more areas of trauma! Now i work with kids in the system. I was beyond ready to start trying to find way to help understand and fix my past and would help me,to understand and maybe help the kids i work with.Teresa

Finally, here is writing about the history of the PTSD diagnosis and how it came to be. And the compassion and caring that these psychiatrists and therapists and researchers express for their patients/clients is very touching. To me, it's as good a book as "The Road Less Traveled" by M. Scott Peck, MD. Easy to read, lots of case histories that actually make sense, and are to the point, and the history of research into causation and the relationship between early childhood trauma, and how the brain adapts in order to "function" after it interprets the trauma. Researchers are actually developing standards for measuring what used to be thought of as "immeasurable". As an accountant and financial analyst, it's the kind of stuff I LOVE!gemsfromjan

A guide for gaining empathy, The Body Keeps The Score: Brain Mind And Body In The Healing Of Trauma is a must-read for anyone recovering from trauma. The book has a three part thesis, supported by science, case studies and experience. 1. Trauma (violence, abuse) embeds itself in the most primal parts of our brains, 2. changing our bodies’ aches and pains into a document of our psychic distress, 3. and our rational minds “hide” the wounds through shame, convincing us the trauma was our fault. As a curious cat with PTSD, this book answered most questions about “how/why” I wound up so easily spooked. It also offers insight into various healing modalities. So far, I’ve tried yoga and psychodrama (#cosplay yay!).andrea.f

An amazing account of a successful woman's battle with schizophrenia. I would highly recommend this for anyone interested in psychology and especially for anyone who is directly effected by mental illness, either as someone who has a mental illness or is close to someone who does.wildequineheart

Such a fascinating compelling story, told by Elyns. Shes intelligent and has a bright future, the only thing holding her back is her own mind. Its a journey through mental illness and how she learns to cope.rentalcouture

Elyn is truly amazing. Absolutely loved this book and the raw insight she provides about the many battles and hardships people living with schizophrenia endure. Very educational but also a tale of conquest.Kate vB

My husband and I lead a bipolar support group. Of all the books we have read and recommend, this remains Number 1. I bought another because someone borrowed mine and didn't return it. This lady is bipolar, but also heads a university psychology department in Southern California. Her insights are invaluable to those trying to deal with this disorder – as someone with the illness or as a support person.woodwardjanice

Excellent resource on the subject of bipolar disorder. Jamison's firsthand experiences teach us what it's like for victims who struggle with mental illness.wyleecoyote_2

I liked this book because it gave a very good description of what people who are suffering from bipoplar illness experience. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in this subject or who knows someone who suffers from this illness. I decided to buy it because I am a retired psychiatric nurse and am still interested in mental illness.mollytaraghee

This book really is for everyone! Regardless of if you worry or not. This book made me laugh in so many places as it captures the exact ridiculas thoughts and worries that have gone through my head. Highly reccommend!robb7189_znpcptnzgj

The book was great as far as reading. The book had lots of highlighting in it and pen underwriting in it. Price was better then most web sites but not worth 11.00 for a marked up book!lsppcanoe

Must read book on dealing with the issues of the past and moving into your future. It feels like Dr. Deloney is in the room with you helping guide you.weewaa2006

Dr. Delony has a writing style that is easy to read, follow, and connects the reader in a way that makes you feel he is with you, in person – coaching you through the processing of your own mental health journey and recovery. His sense of humor and wit are pretty epic in his book – in a very good way. Don't forget to read the footnotes – there are some pretty funny stuff in there! The only criticism I have is I wish the book came with a journal or workbook, which aligned with chapters in the book. Make no mistake, Dr. Delony will make you do homework in this book (ask the hard questions for you to ponder and self-assessment), and I believe a workbook/journal would be an awesome addition to organize your thoughts, write them down and self reflect on your answers. If you are serious in getting and being well – then please read this book! I look forward to seeing other works from Dr. Delony in the future.Des Crane

So insightful and to the point excellent story telling and a beautiful journey to read will be reading all of Gabor Mate books now thanks so much to Gabor and his son Daniel A+++++++Jules

The Myth of normal gives an indepth insight into the toxic culture that is our current paradigm and gives a foundational understanding of what trauma truly is and ways to heal. Everyone needs to read this book to start a global change.Katie

Absolutely love this book, it's definitely opened my eyes on the deep root causes of issues rather than the outer layer that only gets scratched. Definitely worth a read 👍Ricki

This book is just fantastic for anyone needing help with anxiety and depression (although I’m only looking for help with anxiety). It has really identifiable examples and really easy ways to help yourself. Just amazing for me! Super quality book too. Absolutely high quality. Thank youKatharine M.

This book is a helpful resource for my husband who is on a part-time course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. It is in excellent condition and the order arrived promptly.Ann D.

I will say this is one of the most well written books I have read. The author’s words come alive and brings the reader into the journey. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone one struggling with finding “their own safe space “. Thank you Target for your swift and safe delivery. AWAwms

A very helpful book for the person with bipolar disorder as well as for family members and friends. I have purchased three of the books to give to family members needing a better understanding of the disorder and their role in helping. The plan for living with bipolar is very good.Gayla

"As you move through the experiences of your past, know that no matter what happened, your being here, vibrant and alive, makes you worthy. You alone are enough." Sometimes a book will come into your life at exactly the right time. Traumas, both from childhood and more recent times, have been making themselves known to me with an urgency I haven't experienced before, at a time that seems more inconvenient than pretty much any other time in my life. Although I'd love to push it all to the side, with a 'Not now! Can't you see I'm busy reading?', there's also a knowing that there's never going to be a good time and that maybe, just maybe, there's a reason it's all coming up for me now. So, here I am, trying to figure out what healing will look like for me and having conversations with people who are seeing my resilience from the outside in vastly different ways than I'm perceiving it from the inside. Then this book, which covers the trifecta of what my brain has decided is my priority right now (trauma, resilience and healing), makes its way into my world. The shift from asking 'what's wrong with you?' to 'what happened to you?' is something I've yearned to hear for most of my life. Western society is so fixed on labels, which I know have their place and can be useful, but all too often pasting a diagnosis (or multiple diagnoses) on someone marginalises them more than it helps them. If we don't get to the core of why a person behaves the way they do then we're really missing the point, and the opportunity to best support them. "All of us want to know that what we do, what we say and who we are, matters." Dr. Perry's work in understanding how the brain's development is impacted by early trauma helps explain why we behave the way we do, for example, why some people lash out in anger and others withdraw into themselves. There's science in this book but it was explained in a way that made sense to me, someone who hasn't formally studied science since high school. Even if you don't understand a concept the first time it's mentioned it's okay as it will be referred to in later conversations. If words like 'brainstem', 'diencephalon', 'limbic' and 'cortex' make you want to disengage, I'd encourage you to hold on because how the science relates to someone's life will be explained. This, in turn, will make it easier to apply what's being said to your own life. You'll read about people Dr. Perry has worked with, people Oprah has interviewed and about Oprah's own experiences. Knowledge truly is powerful and simply having an understanding of why a smell or sound ('evocative cues') can cause people with PTSD to have flashbacks, making them feel as though they're right back in that moment, feels like half the battle. If you're not caught up in judging yourself for your brain responding the way that it does, then it frees up so much energy that you can use to regulate yourself. I learned about how our view of the world becomes a "self-fulfilling prophecy", why self harm makes so much sense to the people who do it (even though it baffles the people who don't), the importance of rhythm in regulation, how vital connections with other people are to healing and why I need to learn more about neuroplasticity. I gained a much better understanding of flock, freeze, flight and fight. Dissociation, which I thought I knew all about from personal experience, make much more sense to me now, as does why I find reading so helpful in my everyday life. I love facts and there were some that really put what I was reading into context for me. "During the first nine months, fetal brain development is explosive, at times reaching a rate of 20,000 new neurons 'born' per second. In comparison, an adult may, on a good day, create 700." This book isn't about blaming anyone for your trauma and it's not giving you an excuse for bad behaviour. It does explain why you react the way you do and can help silence the voice inside you that tells you there's something wrong with you because of it – your reaction is reasonable given your history but there is also hope; you can heal. I would recommend this book to so many people. Before I'd even begun reading I'd recommended it to my GP and would not hesitate in recommending it to anyone who works in a profession that brings them into contact with young children and their families or trauma survivors. "To this day, the role that trauma and developmental adversity play in mental and physical health remains under appreciated." I would recommend it to trauma survivors, although with a few caveats: that they stay safe while reading (some of the content is bound to be triggering), read at their own pace and make good use of their support system as needed. Loved ones of trauma survivors will find explanations for why their friend or family member behaves the way that they do and ways they can help. I'm not someone who usually listens to audiobooks but if there's a book that would be more suited for that format than thSchizanthus Nerd

Lots of interesting information. Some parts were a bit repetitive, but I'm really glad to have read it. Worth the time and money, for sure. Even if you didn't experience childhood trauma, this might help you understand the associated behaviors of others around you.HabbinJabbins

This book is perfect for anyone planning on having a child. This will tell you what to do and what not to do when raising a child. This book also helps tremendously with exploring trauma. Whether you are a man or a woman, get this book.madison5thave

as a state expert in behavior and behavioral change, 20 professional presentations, six years teaching psych, twenty years of helping folks overcome addiction and trauma, I know a little bit about this topic. I do agree with the authors that a weekend experiential seminar is not worth much, however, their very independent or anti-dependent, focus on 'autonomy' is similar to the eighties and the kind of new aged woo woo that is preached in those types of seminars. the book is boring, the typical self help story-line, an imaginary teacher and student. humans are a combination of nature, nurture, and self choice, to state that trauma has no impact is dangerous, read up on the ACE study to learn more. Our genes play a large role in personality, like my mom said, all three boys (sons of hers), came out different, one now has a ph.d. in math, one a masters in education and a bachelors in biology, and of course me, masters in counseling/psychology. Can obstacles be overcome, of course they can, we can change, about a third of who we are, but//and our general nature of who we are, will also remain the same. self help books like this are worthless, try a group experience, Alanon, AA, NAMI, on a regular, at least weekly basis, others, anything from ballroom dance to yoga to karate,and therapy, and guaranteed, in about a years you will see some impactful change. don't buy into the simplistic, dichotomous, viewpoint of a book like this one.lewigalwa-0

Easy to read self-help book. I'm halfway through and I like that the book keeps its focus on a central principle – the Adlerian psychology. I've read and liked so much the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People which according to the this book is also following principles from Alfred Adler. Knowing this made me more interested in this book and curious as to how the youth will transform his views towards the end. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about life and wanting to learn how to live simply and happily.marap-ric

Good book but not sure I've changed how "pleasing" I tend to be. Guess I lack courage! The humble will inherit the earth … if it's alright with everyone else.Mr. Despicable