Individual therapy is great, as a therapist, I'm one hundred percent in favor of counseling...
Individual therapy is great, as a therapist, I'm one hundred percent in favor of counseling.
But counseling has its limitations; the primary limitation is frequency.
1 hour per week is not enough to see rapid changes in mental health or stable changes over long periods of time.
Every individual must take responsibility for the other one hundred sixty-seven hours of the week by putting in the work to make the changes they want to see.
A lot of counselors, myself included, often assign homework to complete over the week to help reinforce positive changes.
But, one of the best supports a therapist and client can have are books.
When counselors use books to help boost their point and help facilitate positive change it's called bibliotherapy.
Bibliotherapy is a great way to stay engaged in relevant topics, theories, and practices throughout the week.
Assigned reading keeps everyone on the same page (pun intended) and helps reinforce key ideas.
It's also extremely helpful to hear the same (or similar) information from multiple different sources.
This helps get you on board and instills confidence that you are heading in the right direction and, more importantly, that you aren't wasting your time.
So, today I'm going over 3 books to decrease depression and anxiety.
I'll go over what I like about them and how they can help you.
Let's take a look at one of the first books to decrease depression and anxiety.
"Move the Body Heal the Mind" was written by Dr. Jennifer Heisz and was published in 2022.
I love this book, it's hands down one of the most practical books to decrease depression and anxiety I have ever come across.
Dr. Heisz does a great job of breaking down complex neuroscience into related, digestible pieces of information that are immediately relevant to the reader.
She does a tremendous job demonstrating, as you might have guessed from the title, how exercise reduces depression and anxiety.
Dr. Heisz also gives detailed protocols and exercise programs for every level of fitness making this book a 2-for-1 deal; information and exercise playbook all in one.
It has been a well-known fact for a very long time (we are talking over 2000 years) that physical wellness impacts mental wellness.
In fact, the two are so interrelated it's been hypothesized that the caduceus (two serpents circling the staff) used as a medical symbol may represent the physical and mental aspects of life intertwined.
Dr. Heisz, thankfully, discusses why it is so difficult to start exercising regularly and gives a few wonderful life hacks to get you started and stay motivated.
Now let's take a look at another one of my recommended books to decrease depression and anxiety.
This next one on my list of books to decrease depression explores a holistic and in-depth perspective on mental health.
"The Instinct to Heal: Curing Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Without Drugs and Without Talk Therapy" was written by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber and was published in 2003 (a little older than I typically like for scientific work, but still great!)
Similar to "Move the Body, Heal the Mind," "The Instinct to Heal" includes detailed scientific information on how exercise benefits mental health.
However, Dr. Servan-Schreiber extends his research findings into the realm of nutrition, social connection, and other holistic approaches to wellness.
He does a wonderful job demonstrating how important every aspect of life is when it comes to stress and mental health.
He urges everyone to take a look at who they spend time with, what they spend time doing, what they may be lacking in their life, as well as approaches to resolving trauma.
He dedicates a good amount of the book discussing a specific trauma treatment called EMDR, but this is where the publishing date matters.
In 2003, EMDR was an up-and-comer in mental health and early studies were finding massive success.
More recent studies demonstrate that, though EMDR can be very effective in treating trauma, it isn't the wonder cure-all that he makes it out to be in the book.
With that caveat, the book is otherwise still hugely relevant and chock-full of wonderful information making it one of the best books to decrease depression and anxiety.
The last of the books to decrease depression and anxiety is called "The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness" and was originally written nearly 2000 years ago by an ancient Greek philosopher named Epictetus.
You may be wondering why I mentioned previously how a book from 2003 CE was a little dated for my taste, but here I am suggesting a book from 100 CE.
Well, the reason is, this book is a philosophical work opposed to a scientific work.
This particular philosopher is also a major cornerstone for an entire branch of modern psychotherapy; "people are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them."
In other words, if you change the way you think, you'll change the way you feel.
This is the tagline for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the most popular psychotherapy in the world and it was conceptualized first by Epictetus nearly 2000 years ago.
So, if you want to get the inside scoop on CBT this is a great place to start.
This book is really more of a collection of paragraphs.
But at its core, it is a guide to learning that your thoughts are subject to change and that you can learn to control your thoughts, alter your perceptions, and therefore change your lived experience.
This is immensely empowering to anyone suffering from depression, anxiety, and many other things.
It's also quite inexpensive.
You can read the whole thing in a day, but it will become invaluable to you throughout the rest of your life if you are able to put it into practice.
This brings us to a close for my 3 recommended books to decrease depression and anxiety.
The reality is, there are tons of wonderful books to decrease depression and anxiety out there.
The three I've discussed here demonstrate the full range of areas that you have control of.
Depression tricks you into thinking that there's nothing you can do.
But the truth is you have control over what you do, what you eat, and how you think.
And at the end of the day, that's all you need control over in order to decrease depression, anxiety, stress, and so much more.
We are born with everything we need to conquer every challenge life throws at us.
Our job is to figure out how to use what we have.
And that's what these books to decrease depression and anxiety teach.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
It's important to remember that you are allowed to grieve however you need to, and that doesn't mean you have to ruin the holidays for everyone else. If you need to take a break from holiday festivities, do so. Go for a walk, take a nap, watch a movie—whatever you need to do to take care of yourself. You can also try talking to your family about your grief ahead of time and asking for their understanding and support.
While medication is not always required for managing depression, it can be beneficial in some cases. If you decide that medication is right for you, medications such as antidepressants work by balancing certain brain chemicals involved in regulating moods. Other options include mood stabilizers or antipsychotic drugs which may also prove helpful for certain individuals struggling with symptoms of depression.
Therapy provides many benefits for people battling depression. Research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is particularly effective in managing depressive symptoms. In addition, therapy can teach healthy coping skills and provide emotional support during difficult times. It may also be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan which includes medication as well as lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and improved nutrition.
Depression is a mental disorder (a common one) that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.In this section, we will discuss the various types of depression, including major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder.Gaining a deeper understanding of your depression is the first step in finding the right treatment and support.
Yes! There are many effective natural remedies that may be beneficial in managing depressive symptoms, such as participating in regular physical activity, changing your diet, getting adequate sleep, practicing relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation, journaling about your feelings/thoughts/emotions, seeking out social activities/support groups with other individuals struggling with similar issues
If your symptoms of depression have been persistent and interfere with your daily life, it's important to seek help from a mental health professional. It's also a good idea to get medical advice if you experience any thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
