World Mental Health Day: Books to Help Improve Your Mental Health
By Danielle Lieneman
October 10 is World Mental Health Day, an international observance that has the “overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.”
In honor of that we thought that it would be appropriate to feature some of Atlantic’s books that highlight the importance of mental health and give our readers some insight into their own mental health and psychology in general.
Childhood Trauma by Dr. Douglas Carpenter
These, as well as the role of parenting, attachment and abuse issues, gender constructs and socialization, and the resulting addiction, sexual issues, and self-loathing, are explored in Childhood Trauma and the Non-Alpha Male Dr. Carpenter’s book offers healthy resolutions through self-acceptance and psychological health. With stories of experiences from actual Non-Alpha Male clients bringing the theoretical into reality, Childhood Trauma and the Non-Alpha Male helps offer healing through hope, clarity, healing, and change.
Available on Amazon in both paperback and e-book formats.
Authentic Self-Love by Dr. Sepidah Irvani
Clinical Psychologist, Sepideh Irvani, Psy.D., answers these questions and more in Authentic Self-Love: A Path to Healing the Self and Relationships.
Interdisciplinary in nature, Irvani draws on a range of psychological, philosophical, and theological theories and analyzes them alongside secular literary texts to show the reader what it means to authentically love one’s self. Distinction is made between the self-loathing of Narcissism and authentic self-love: one is destructive and the other healing, respectively. She offers tips to the reader about how to improve relationships with one’s self and others, and provides context for healing.
For those struggling to accept themselves and find love in their lives, Irvani offers a fresh, new take on the same old cliché. After reading Authentic Self-Love: A Path to Healing the Self and Relationships, you’ll be able to critically analyze your life and relationships and transform it to an authentic love for yourself and for others.
Available on Amazon in both paperback and e-book formats.
In a simple, step-by-step format, this book helps beginners increase focus and decrease stress through the art of meditation, a proven relaxation method that can lower blood pressure without chemical supplements. You will learn:
What meditation is (and is not), why you get stressed out, and how meditation can truly help calm your nerves
Two main types of meditation, Analytical and Placement, and how both can help you in different ways
Practical, easy-to-use instructions on the meditation process, with dozens of specific techniques and practices
Where to focus your attention and what to contemplate to fully clear your mind of outside stress
How and why coupling meditation with yoga can create a greater calming effect
How to steady and control your breathing to bring oxygen to your mind
How to position your body, the best clothes to wear, how to stretch, and what to do when you run into problems and cannot seem to clear your head
This book also contains images of correct meditative postures and yoga stretches, so you can get it right the first time. With only 10 minutes a day, you can let go of your stress for 24 hours. If you are looking for a natural way to ease your stress, “Ten Minutes to Deep Meditation” will help you focus your mind and balance your life.
Available on Amazon as both a paperback and e-book.
Further Reading
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/mental_health/world-mental-health-day/en/
Mental Health American: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/
Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Mental Health Resources: http://www.mhresources.org/