8 Self-Help Books Written from Personal Experience with Depression and Anxiety

by Marsha M. Linehan, PhD

In this remarkable and inspiring memoir, Linehan describes how, when she was eighteen years old, she began an abrupt downward spiral from popular teenager to suicidal young woman. After several miserable years in a psychiatric institute, Linehan made a vow that if she could get out of emotional hell, she would try to find a way to help others get out of hell too, and to build a life worth living. 

She went on to put herself through night school and college, living at a YWCA and often scraping together spare change to buy food. She went on to get her PhD in psychology, specializing in behavior therapy.

In the 1980s, she achieved a breakthrough when she developed Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, a therapeutic approach that combines acceptance of the self and ways to change. Linehan included mindfulness as a key component in therapy treatment, along with original and specific life-skill techniques.

She says, “You can’t think yourself into new ways of acting; you can only act yourself into new ways of thinking.”

by Lisa Shirah-Hiers

Written by a fellow sufferer of depression and bipolar disorder, this little book contains a rule of life for those living with depression and other conditions.

In a friendly, conversational tone, the author presents ways of coping with and thinking about depression that will help you on the road to recovery. Learn to go outside, let in the light, honor the darkness and more.

Intentionally short, Eleven Rules presents the information in a concise way so you don’t have to read a lot of pages when you are depressed and fatigued.

Includes journaling prompts to help you explore your own life and learn what may be contributing to your depression.

by A. Maher Ismael

If you feel trapped in the relentless grip of depression — waking up with no energy, haunted by thoughts like “I can’t take it anymore,” or smiling for loved ones while silently suffering inside — you are not alone.
Lose Depression Through Aimless Change is not about chasing happiness or clinging to fleeting moments of joy. It’s about something much more powerful: changing your path, one small step at a time.

A Raw, Honest, and Personal Approach
This book was born from my own experience of navigating the darkest depths of depression, reaching the brink of collapse, and slowly, patiently, finding my way out. I share the exact steps I took to loosen the grip of depression and free myself from its unbearable weight.

For Those Who Feel Like They’re at Their Limit
If you’re struggling and feeling like nothing can bring you peace, this book was written for you. Here, you won’t be told to “think positive” or “just be happy.” Instead, you’ll be guided to take small, aimless steps toward change — not toward joy, but away from pain. Every small shift counts.

For You or a Loved One in Need
Whether you’re looking for relief from your own pain or hoping to support someone you care about, Lose Depression Through Aimless Change offers a thoughtful, practical, and deeply personal guide to healing. Depression isn’t something you “snap out of,” but with the right steps and compassionate guidance, you can slowly, steadily, find your way forward.

by Andrew Solomon

The Noonday Demon examines depression in personal, cultural, and scientific terms. Drawing on his own struggles with the illness and interviews with fellow sufferers, doctors and scientists, policy makers and politicians, drug designers, and philosophers, Andrew Solomon reveals the subtle complexities and sheer agony of the disease as well as the reasons for hope.

He confronts the challenge of defining the illness and describes the vast range of available medications and treatments, and the impact the malady has on various demographic populations—around the world and throughout history. He also explores the thorny patch of moral and ethical questions posed by biological explanations for mental illness.

With uncommon humanity, candor, wit and erudition, award-winning author Solomon takes readers on a journey of incomparable range and resonance into the most pervasive of family secrets. His contribution to our understanding not only of mental illness but also of the human condition is truly stunning.

by Karena Dawn

In her stirring, vulnerable new memoir, Karena Dawn reveals what it was like to grow up with a mother suffering from severe mental health issues, and how, during her teenage years, she desperately tried to escape her own inner demons. Addicted to pain-numbing drugs and crippled by severe depression, Karena learned how to use grief as a teacher, releasing herself from guilt and shame and finding the inner strength to go from abandonment to forgiveness, from hopelessness to healing. 

Karena’s bold and brave memoir shows us how staying silent about mental illness only reinforces the stigma. At the heart of her story is the eternal struggle we all share—how to move past the pain and suffering of our personal battles to experience life’s joys. Through the healing power of nature, meditation, and fitness, Karena was able to forge a path to self-discovery and find peace. 

Ultimately, The Big Silence reveals how a journey of self-love can lead to a renewed sense of identity and a life filled with hope and optimism.

by James Longman

A compelling memoir by ABC News correspondent James Longman in which he discusses mental illness and trauma in families, what the latest genetic science is telling us, and how to not only persevere but thrive.

James Longman was a preteen in boarding school when his dad, who was diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia, died by suicide. As he got older, James’s own bouts of depression spurred him to examine how his father’s mental health might have affected his own. He engaged with experts to uncover the science behind what is inherited, how much environmental factors can impact genetic traits, and how one can overcome a familial history of mental illness and trauma.

In The Inherited Mind, James Longman invites readers to reflect on their own stories as he shares his quest to better understand himself and his family. Through speaking to mental health experts, to those who have had similar familial experiences, and about his own life stories, James shows us, with heart and humor, how much our bodies can empower and inform us about our own personal mental health histories.

by Sara Springer

Are you ready to embrace your imperfections and find self-acceptance? In Sara Springer’s memoir, Was I Not Supposed To Say That?, you will find Sara’s personal story of battling mental health and the lessons she’s learned as well as thought-provoking insights and reflections on motherhood, womanhood, and the human experience.

What’s Included:

• Practical tools, exercises, and resources for managing mental health and self-care.
• Inspirational quotes and mantras to uplift and motivate you.
• Heartfelt, witty, and relatable anecdotes that will make you feel less alone.

 Don’t wait any longer – buy now and embark on your journey towards self-discovery and growth with Was I Not Supposed To Say That?

A Few Key Takeaways:

• Gain a deeper understanding of mental health and how it affects our daily lives.
• Learn valuable lessons from Sara’s personal journey that will inspire and empower you to overcome your own struggles.
• Discover the power of vulnerability and how it can lead to healing and growth.
• Overcome the stigma surrounding mental health and feel seen and understood.
• Learn practical tips and tools for managing your mental health and well-being.

by Jeannine L. Rashidi
Foreword by Jayarajan Kodikannath

Have you ever been emotionally challenged or triggered by something or someone, and it takes hold of you in a way that seems unmanageable?
Are there patterns that seem to be repeating in your life that you wish would change?

Wounded people wound others when they have not tended to their wounds.

Best Selling Author Jeannine Rashidi, Doctor of Ayurveda, guides you through her healing journey from 25 years of PTSD, trauma, and adverse life experiences in this easy-to-read true story. It will make you laugh, cry, reflect, and ultimately become you again. You will find your inner healer with fundamental best practices while learning a proven step-by-step process that has guided thousands of people out of the tight grips of their trauma.

A Few Key Takeaways:

• Explore the parts of you that are disconnected and relive the trauma time loop
• Discover what is needed to heal
• Heal the disconnect between your heart and mind
• Integrate the part of you that was disconnected and become whole again
• Relate to yourself and others as the integrated version of yourself