[Little Jay]

It's never something I've bought before, but I thought it might be helpful to me to buy some sort of self help book. I either want one that covers both depression and anxiety or I'll buy one for each. When I came to searching online, there are so many different ones I have no idea which to get! I'd like one that has techniques I can use to calm myself, maybe one with activities for me to go through like I used to in therapy as a young teen as that often helped me. Have any of you bought or read one before? And which would you recommend? I was thinking maybe this one or this one?
J x

[Rohag]

Hmmm... I have not profited much (not "nothing") from self-help materials, but that is my experience.

Kahneman's book would be fascinating but possibly less practical than Burns'. (I'd like to read Kahneman's book, helpful or not.)

Suggestion: You should be able to find multiple Web reviews of each book you consider. Avoid relying on any one review, but an accumulation of different people's impressions may lead you in good directions.

[tony fudo]

Personally, I think that 'Games People Play' by Eric Berne is essential reading. It just explains so much about how people work, and how they interact. Having said that, I think it could have been much better written. The basic idea becomes over complicated, when its brilliance is in its simplicity, but that is just my opinion. I would recommend anybody and everybody to read this.

[Little Jay]

Thank you for your replies! I may find them a complete waste of time, but when i'm desperate for something to help i'm willing to try anything I suppose!

[AstridLovelight]

I've read one of the books you linked to, Thinking Fast and Slow, and it was very interesting, I don't know if I would say I found it helpful, though. But interesting information all the same.

The other one you linked to looks pretty good, as well. The fact that Albert Ellis endorses it speaks well of its possibilities.

I haven't actually read it, but I've encountered a lot of positive input online about this.

Personally, I found some value in this. It's from the 70's, so it's a little dated, though. I wish I still had my copy, I could probably use it right now

I would highly, highly recommend this one, though. It's not a self-help book per se, and not geared toward depression or anxiety exactly, but it's certainly helped me with both.

I've read many self-help titles, if I think of any more, I'll let you know. I hope you find things that are helpful to you!

[Chitanda89]

I have read part of Thinking Fast and Slow for school literature circles, and it has some very interesting points and lessons about thinking (e.g. overconfidence, heuristic bias).

Maybe it's because I had to read it for school, but I have a lot of difficulty getting through the book . I felt like it repeated a lot of information, and it could have been much shorter.

Those are just my thoughts though! It's hard for me to get through nonfiction in general XD.

[Anxious Minds]

A Mans Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. That and the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People changed my life.

[wolfgaze]

I normally do not recommend books I haven't personally read, but I purchased these two anxiety self-help books for a family member and he reported they were helpful, so I will mention them here:

-Hope And Help For Your Nerves (Claire Weekes)
-When Panic Attacks (David Burns)

These books have a ton of positive reviews on Amazon and that's what initially drew me to them. Then I read the synopsis of the texts and some of the reviews and decided they might indeed be really useful for someone who is suffering from anxiety...

--------------------------------

The below referenced texts I actually did read and recommend them:

The Power Of Now (Eckhart Tolle)
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yoursefl (Michael Singer)

(both of these texts discuss the nature of Consciousness and explain the workings of the physical mind, both are intended to guide you to realizing that you are the Consciousness (or Awareness) that exists independent of the physical (egoic) mind)

Mind Is The Master (James Allen)

(This is a collection of the author's works, they are inspirational words of wisdom intended to motivate you to refine yourself and improve your state of being.)

All of these texts can be found on Amazon.com if anyone cares to look into them...

Happy reading folks.... It's a great way to expand your Awareness and alter your perception - which ultimately serves to positively change how you feel within. : )

[Little Jay]

Thank you so much for your replies, I think I'll go with when panic attacks as a couple of you have sugggested and that was one of the ones I originally saw. As for the depression book i'm still looking into those as there's just so many!

[gayleggg]

I liked "The New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle. It helped me with my anxiety and search for meaning. I don't think it is really a "self help" book but it helped get through my mother's death and it's an easy read.

Also, "Don't Panic" by Reid Wilson was good.
And "The Feeling Good Handbook" by David Burns