“I’m fine.” 
Like conditioned parrots, we say “I’m fine,” even when we are not. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: It is easier to say, ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say, ‘My heart is broken’.”
Despite the fact that more than half of the U.S. population will be diagnosed with some type of mental illness or disorder at some point in their lives, it can be difficult to talk about. The conditions, and the associated pain, touch individuals, families, and friends. We all know someone whose life has been affected in some way, even if we don’t realize it.
An earlier blog post on bibliotherapy explored the therapeutic ways that books help us understand that we are not alone. Books empower us with information and insight on a multitude of subjects, including the vast arena of mental illness, which is neither a single disorder nor a static condition.
To wrap up May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, I have compiled a short-list of recommended books that explore often misunderstood and stigmatized mental health disorders. Some of those listed here are old, some new, some non-fiction, and others literature. My hope is that they each hold a source of help, hope, or solace, for someone who needs it.
- Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
An autobiographical account of therapist Lori Gottlieb about her personal journey and revelations in seeking therapy and becoming a patient. - Diary of a Mad Housewife
In this 1960’s classic novel, a housewife secretly fears she is going insane and starts to diary her thoughts and actions. - A Beautiful Mind
An account of legendary mathematician John Nash, his mental illness, and his ultimate award of a Nobel Prize. - I Know This Much is True
A novel that explores the complexities of being both a twin and caretaker for a sibling with a serious mental illness. This powerful story was featured in a previous Curious Cats Read blog post on siblings. - Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness
A first-hand account of a father’s experience within the mental health and criminal justice systems while seeking help for his son. - Still Alice
A best-selling novel of an accomplished woman with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. - Dementia Reimagined: Building a Life of Joy and Dignity from Beginning to End
A non-fictional look at the cultural and medical history of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and care. - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
This modern classic, later a Broadway play, is both poignant and funny, about a boy with autism who sets out to solve the murder of a neighbor’s dog and discovers unexpected truths about himself and the world. - Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls
A psychological and societal exploration of issues that are widely faced by adolescent girls, including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. - The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
An in-depth, dynamic examination of depression captured in personal, cultural, and scientific terms. - Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Post-Partum Depression
A candid memoir by actress Brooke Shields about her experience and recovery from PPD. - Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health
Asking questions and offering pathways for how society can move from illness to healing, written by the former head of the National Institute of Mental Health.
Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.
~ Robin Williams
P.S. Feel free to add your own reading suggestions in the comments on Curious Cats Read’s Facebook page. Also please share this blog with others if you think they will enjoy it.
