Below you will find a generous group of resources, ones that offer effective self-help strategies, exercises and encouragement, faith and hope
These are offered as an adjunct to your therapy, and may be quite useful on their own as well.
Web Resources:
MentalHelp .net
An comprehensive website dedicated to providing education about mental health and useful resources. Topic centers on this site provide a wide range of information resources: news, articles, reviewed links, interactive tests, book reviews, videos and an array of self-help resources, Mental Help Net is the recipient of many awards and citations, including being selected as the ‘Forbes Favorite’ mental health website.
Depression Central
An educational site that provides useful information on all types of depressive disorders and effective treatments for individuals suffering from Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Cyclothymia, Dysthymia and post-partum depression.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
A reliable website offering clear description and explanation of the many types of anxiety and depression. These factual descriptions are useful to relate the experience you are having to a particular kind of description and diagnosis. And find answers to many of your questions.
The Addiction Recovery Guide
A valuable resource for individuals struggling with drug addiction and alcoholism. Included are self assessments, intervention services, treatment and self-help programs, detoxification, medication, and resources for retreats, sober housing and youth services.
81 Mostly Free Resources for Mental Health
Inspirational websites for positive life change . . .
Authentic Happiness
Live Bold and Bloom
The Good News Network
Positively Positive
Life Optimizer
Calm.com
Online groups for support:
Whatever you are struggling with right now, there are others out there who are also, and healing in community with each other.
I Am…
Struggling with Anxiety: Create your own profile at Anxiety Social Net (anxietysocialnet.com) to connect with people dealing with everything from social anxiety to agoraphobia. Prefer to meet in person? Find a state-by-state list of support groups at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America’s website (adaa.org).
Struggling with Depression or Bipolar Disorder: Locate an in-person or online group at the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance site (dbsalliance.org).
Struggling with Postpartum Depression: The Postpartum Progress site (postpartumprogress.com) lists support groups in nearly every state and maintains an online forum.
Struggling with Schizophrenia: The Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America facilitates groups nationwide; find one on its site (sardaa.org). You can also dial into its phone groups (855-640-8271) at 7 P.M. ET Sunday, Thursday and Friday with the pass code 88286491#.
Struggling with Obsessive-Compulsive Thoughts and Behaviors: More than 200 groups are listed with the International OCD Foundation (iocdf.org), which aids those affected by the disorder and their families.
Recovering as the Adult Child of an Alcoholic: The Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization maintains numerous support groups and hosts call-in and online sessions (meetings.adultchildren.org).
Grieving Someone Who Died by Suicide: Join one of the many groups for survivors listed on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website (afsp.org).
A Survivor of Rape, Sexual Assault or Incest: After Silence (aftersilence.org) is a message board and chat room for victims of sexual violence. Additionally, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (ascasupport.org) organizes support groups around the U.S. and abroad, and offers resources for those who want to start their own.
Recovery from Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating or Food Addiction: Eating Disorder Hope catalogs online support groups (eatingdisorderhope.com/recovery/support-groups/online); it also offers help and advice for those close to someone struggling to overcome an eating disorder.
Recovery from alcohol and substance addiction: (Renew (recovery from Addictions) Every Day) offers an amazing array of practical and inspirational help, support, and community
Recovery from Sex Addiction: Sex Addicts Anonymous (saa-recovery.org), similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, offers a widespread network of in-person, online, and phone meetings.
Struggling with Self-Harming: DailyStrength hosts a web forum where people dealing with self-injury can find encouragement, understanding, and a new way to cope (dailystrength.org/group/self-injury).
Struggling as a Veteran with injury and/or PTSD: The VA Combat Call Center—877-WAR-VETS (877-927-8387)—is staffed 24/7 by fellow combat veterans or spouses of disabled veterans who can offer immediate help; the Vet Center program site (vetcenter.va.gov) can direct visitors to both group and private counseling. Also Wounded Warrior Project
Books and Workbooks:
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook
The Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Workbook
Delivered from Distraction (living well with ADD)
Younger Next Year (healthy aging)
The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression and
Mind Over Mood
The Chronic Pain Control Workbook
The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook: Proven, Step-by-Step Techniques for Overcoming your Fear
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Workbook: Practical Exercises
Reclaiming our Lives (survivors of incest)
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Second Half of Life
When All You’ve Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough: Search for a Life that Matters
It’s a Meaningful Life: It Just Takes Practice
We Can Work it Out and Couple Skills: Making your Relationship Work
How to be an Adult in Relationships (amusing title, excellent and practical book!)
Broken Open: How Difficult Times Help Us Grow
