Books, websites & iPhone Apps recommended for Stress, anxiety & depression (Updated)

During my treatment at the Priory for stress, anxiety and depression, there were a number of books, websites & iPhone apps recommended to me during treatment.

If you're the patient, remember that your concentration will be low, so don't force yourself to try & read all of these at once. First focus on pulling yourself out of the negative thinking & relax you & your brain. The apps (see below) may be the first thing you get along with the first book (maybe the audio version would be even better)

If you buy nothing else, buy this.
Depressive illness-curse of the strong[Paperback]
By: Tim Cantopher

A great book for understanding what depression is & what causes it.

A book also recommended family & friends should read to understand depression. At least read Chapter 1 & 5.

1. Depressive illness-curse of the strong[Paperback]
   By: Tim Cantopher
2. Reinventing Your Life: The Breakthrough Program To End Negative Behaviour And Feel Great Again - Jeffrey E. Young, Klosk
Don't be fooled by the cover OR the title. This is a key book for understanding which Schemas you have & how to avoid falling into the traps of repeating history or childhood e.g. like always falling for partners that are emotionally unavailable. This book was required to do Schema therapy. The book is self explanatory.
3. Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway: How to Turn Your Fear and Indecision into Confidence and Action by Susan Jeffers (4 Jan 2007) - Book recommended in Stress management. But also useful to understand where you're avoiding fear & how to change.
4. The Happiness Trap (Based on ACT: A revolutionary mindfulness-based programme for overcoming stress, anxiety and depression) -By: Russ Harris. This book also has some good exercises to help you identify where you're trapping yourself.
5. Man's Search For Meaning: The classic tribute to hope from the Holocaust[Paperback] - By: Viktor E Frankl-
6. I'm Ok, You're Ok[Paperback] - By: Thomas Harris
7. Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life[Paperback] - By: Thich Nhat Hanh
8. Shoot the Damn Dog: A Memoir of Depression by Sally Brampton (2 Feb 2009) 
9. The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness (includes Guided Meditation Practices CD) by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal and Jon Kabat-Zinn (21 Jun 2007)  - CBT behaviour recommendation
10. Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world by Prof Mark Williams and Dr Danny Penman (5 May 2011)
11. The Worry Cure: Stop worrying and start living by Robert L. Leahy (7 Dec 2006)
12. A Woman in Your Own Right: Assertiveness and You
    Anne Dickson, Kate Charlesworth
13. The Dance of Intimacy: A Woman's Guide to Courageous Acts of Change in Key Relationships by Harriet Goldhor Lerner (18 Sep 2003)
14. The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Pattern of Intimate Relationships by Harriet G Lerner (2004)  - Book recommended in Stress management.
15. The 15 Minute Rule: How to stop procrastinating and take charge of your life by Caroline Buchanan - a book recommended in Stress management

Books recommended to me on a reading list for:
Assertiveness & Expressing anger
Some of these books are a little old, but the lady who recommended these books is excellent, so I'm sure they have some important tips.
(some are recommended above, as they were recommended by others too)

1. I'm Ok, You're Ok - By: Thomas Harris
2.  The Dance of Anger:  by Harriet G Lerner
3. Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway: How to Turn Your Fear and Indecision into Confidence and Action by Susan Jeffers
4. mes People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships by Eric Berne (7 Jan 2010)
5. Family Secrets: The Path to Self-Acceptance and Reunion by John E. Bradshaw
6. The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) (Anxiety & Phobia Workbook) by Edmund J. Bourne (2 Mar 2011)
7. Toxic Parents by Susan Forward (Kindle Edition -31 May 2010)
8. Home Coming: Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child by John Bradshaw (1999)
9. A Woman in Your Own Right: Assertiveness and You by Anne Dickson and Kate Charlesworth (1 Sep 1982)
10. Women Who Love Too Much by Robin Norwood (7 May 2009)
11. Healing the Shame That Binds You (Recovery Classics) by John Bradshaw (2006)
12. Obsessive Love: When It Hurts Too Much to Let Go by Susan Forward (2 Jan 2002)
13. Men Who Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them: When Love Hurts and You Don't Know Why by Susan Forward (27 Feb 2002)
14. The Drama of Being a Child : The Search for the True Self by Alice Miller (27 Apr 1995)
15. Families And How To Survive Them (Cedar Books) by Dr Robin Skynner and John Cleese (14 Jan 1993)
16. Of Course You're Angry by Gayle Rosellini (1985)

Iphone Apps - For various CBT techniques & relaxation that were  recommended to us

Though diary Pro - for CBT skill app., log your thoughts & email them to yourself. a good way to log them on the move.

Activity diary - during depression, one technique in CBT is to log your activity & rate the enjoyment, achievement & restfulness

Sleep Cycle - brilliant for monitoring your sleep patterns through depression, to see when you start to improve. Also great for waking you up when you're in light sleep rather than deep sleep!







Deep relaxation - Hypnosis - Guided visualisation, that helps you put those busy thoughts to one side & helps you get to sleep.
This is the same guided visualisation exercise that we do in the Priory. It's a lovely beach visualisation.
It takes a bit of practice, but once you've got it, you'll use it often before going to sleep. It's $3.99 to download, but well worth it as it will help you stop all those thoughts going through your brain & help you get to sleep.



At ease - mindfulness app. for anxiety & worry. Voice guided breathing meditation

Haptic - depression

Headspace - mindfulness iphone app.
A brilliant app that gives you easy daily 10 minute mindfulness exercises. Just sit back & listen.
I found this the best one to get into it as they were short sessions.

I think it was free to download the beginner sessions & you can pay & upgrade if it's your thing






Mnf - Mindfulness This was recommended to me by my 1-2-1 therapist.
It's a mix of 5, 10, 15, 20 & 30 minutes meditation exercises, a 10 min relaxation (note the voice is american, so if may not work for everyone)
It's $1.99 to download, but worth it





Relaxation & recommended Mindfulness meditation

• Guided mindfulness meditation by - jon kabat-zinn

Websites recommended

1. Centre for clinical intervention - website
2. Depression module is recommended.  Not sure if this is the page, but looks like the right website: http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=37
3. Perfectionism - Overcoming Perfectionism: Information Package to help you understand what is helpful and unhelpful about being a perfectionist. http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=52
4. Improving Self-Esteeme - Overcoming Low Self-Esteem: Information package to provide you with some information about low self-esteem - how it develops, how it is maintained, and how to address this problem. http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=47

 Assert Yourself! - Improve your Assertiveness. Being assertive is an important communication skill which can reduce your levels of depression and anxiety and improve your self esteem. http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=51