Suggested Reading Materials
We live and believe in the strength of community. This is the belief that we are each nourished within a context of affirming, empowering and caring with others. Recovery is a difficult and courageous path. These are some of the books that we have found to have enhanced us in some way. Each title below will link directly to Amazon.com for you to make a purchase. If you would like to pass your book along to us for our guest library when you are finished with it we would love to have it!
Please send all donations to:
Gould FarmP.O. Box 157Monterey, MA 01245ATTN: Jane LinsleyStop walking on eggshells; taking your life back when someone you care about has borderline personality disorder Mason, Paul T. and Randi Kreger. . New Harbinger, 1997.
Lost in the mirror; an inside look at borderline personality disorder. Moskowitz, Richard. 2d ed. Taylor, 2001. 206 p.
Free to Fly: A Story of Manic Depression by Caroline Fei-Yeng Kwok (2006). Inclusion Press.This book brings a unique view of what it is like to live with manic depression, and survive the treatment system, in the context of the Chinese culture. The author’s experience portrays the stigma that individuals with mental illness experience from friends, employers, and family and provides important insight into how mental illness is viewed within the Chinese culture.
After her Brain Broke Helping My Daughter Recover Her Sanity Susan Inmann (2010) is published by Bridgeross Communications. ISBN 978-0-9810037-8-8
Coping with Schizophrenia: A Guide for Families Kim Tornval Mueser, Ph.D. and Susan Gingrich, M.S.W., ©1994 New Harbinger Publications
Provides excellent strategies for families to help cope with acute or chronic episodes of schizophrenia of a loved one. It also provides concise, up to date information and research on causes and treatments of schizophrenia.
Surviving Schizophrenia, A Manual for Families, Consumers and Providers, 3rd Edition,
E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., ©1995 Harper Perennial, A Division of HarperCollins Publishers
This indispensable reference guide has helped thousands of consumers, families and medical professionals. It clearly defines much misunderstood concepts such as the nature and causes of the illness, common symptoms, treatments, and insights on living with the illness.
Contemporary Treatment of Psychosis : Healing Relationships in the 'Decade of the Brain' Jon G. Allen, Dean T. Collins
The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey through Madness Elyn R. Saks (2007). Hyperion. This memoir was written by a remarkable woman who was able to achieve so much and at such high levels despite having episodes of psychosis. The book includes detailed accounts of treatment in both the United States and the United Kingdom along with the consequences of medication while striving continuously to maintain a professional life.
The Family Face of Schizophrenia: Patricia Backlar, Nancy C. Andreasen
True Stories of Mental Illness with Practical Advice from America's Leading Experts
Transforming Madness, New Lives for People Living with Mental Illness Jay Neugeboren (1999). William Morrow and Company
Imagining Robert, My Brother, Madness, and Survival: A Memoir Jay Neugeboren (2003) Rutgers University Press. The story of Jay’s family's struggle against mental illness. In this book he presents an overview of mental health care in this country and how it has failed in many ways.
An Unquiet Mind: a Memoir of Moods and Madness, Kay Redfield Jamison (1995). Alfred A. Knopf., Inc. This book describes Kay Redfield Jamison's personal struggle since adolescence with manic depression, and how it shaped her life. Jamison, a psychologist and professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, discusses the importance of medication used in conjunction with psychotherapy and how this combination of treatment controls her illness and has enabled her to succeed.
Night Falls Fast Understanding Suicide, Kay Redfield Jamison, ©1999 Alfred A. Knopf
"Suicide is a particularly awful way to die: the mental suffering leading up to it is usually prolonged, intense, and unpalliated," writes Kay Redfield Jamison. "There is no morphine equivalent to ease the acute pain, and death not uncommonly is violent and grisly." Jamison has studied manic-depressive illness and suicide both professionally--and personally. She first planned her own suicide at 17; she attempted to carry it out at 28. Now professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, she explores the complex psychology of suicide, especially in people younger than 40: why it occurs, why it is one of our most significant health problems, and how it can be prevented.
We Heard the Angels of Madness: A Family Guide to Coping with Manic-Depression: Diane Berger, Lisa Berger, Diane Bergerm and Alexander Vuckovic When 18-year-old Mark returned home from college, his family thought he was on drugs. In fact, he was suffering from manic depression. This is the intimate, inspiring story of how Mark's family coped with his illness and the valuable information they gathered about manic depression: up-to-date, useful facts on drugs, doctors, therapy, insurance and other resources.
Dare to Confront! :How to Intervene when Someone You Care About Has an Alcohol or Drug Problem
Bob Wright, Deborah George Wright (Contributor)
Over 30 million Americans are addicted to alcohol or other drugs. One out of every three families is a victim. This book can make a difference. It shows anyone how to use the step-by-step methods of professional interventionists to motivate drug-dependent people to accept the help they need.
Readings in Dual Diagnosis
Robert E. Drake (Editor), ©1997 International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation
This book brings together information from many of the preeminent researchers and clinicians in the challenging field of mental illness and substance abuse.
Families of the Mentally Ill
by Agnes B. Hatfield Ph.D. and Harriet P. Lefley, Ph.D., (Editors), ©1999 Guilford Press
An introduction, overview, and description of mental illness addressing the experience of mental illness in the context of the family life cycle and developmental stages of the illness.
Surviving Mental Illness, Stress, Coping, and Adaptation
by Agnes B. Hatfield, Ph.D. and Harriet P. Lefley, Ph.D., ©1999 Guilford Press
Discusses the experience of mental illness from a variety of perspectives including: one's experience of psychosis, sense of self, family relationship, and the recovery process.
Hidden Victims, An Eight-Stage Healing Process for Families and Friends of the Mentally Ill, 2nd Edition,
Julie Tallard Johnson, MSW, ACSW, ©1994 P E M A Publications, Inc.
Based on her work as a psychotherapist, the author has developed this cathartic eight stage program to guide family members as they come to terms with feelings of loss, fear, anger and guilt, and set positive goals for the future.
Full Catastrophe Living, Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness,
by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., ©1990 Dell Publishing
Featured on Bill Moyer's PBS special Healing and the Mind, this practical guide to mindfulness, meditation and healing from the author of the best-selling Wherever You Go, There You Are is a classic in the field of alternative medicine.
How to Cope With Mental Illness in Your Family, A Self-Care Guide for Siblings, Offspring, and Parents,
Diane T. Marsh, Ph.D. and Rex M. Dickens, ©1998 Putnam Publishing Group
This book explores the nature of illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, and manic depression, while providing the tools to overcome the devastating effects of growing up or living in a family where they exist. Readers are led through the essential stages of recovery, from revisiting childhood to revising their family legacy, and, ultimately, to reclaiming their life.
I’m not sick I Don’t Need Help by Xavier Amador, Ann_Lica Johanson(contributor)
When Things Fall Apart, Advice for Difficult Times
Pema Chodron, ©1997 Shambhala PublicationsThere is a fundamental happiness available to every individual--yet we usually miss it while spending our lives trying to escape suffering that is ultimately quite inescapable. Pema Chodron, an American Buddhist teacher, shows that the secret to freeing oneself from pain is not to run from it, but to step right up to the uncharted territory of difficulty with friendliness and curiosity.
WEB Site Links
Empowered Parents - http://www.empoweredparents.com/index.asp This site empowers parents to recognize eating disorder warning signs and take a proactive role with child and professionals to promote healing.
MIWatch http://www.miwatch.org A news site of interest to everybody affected by a mental illness or an ongoing psychiatric disorder.
Caring on line http://www.caringonline.com/ A website dedicated to resources to help you, or someone you love, who suffers from negative body image or any of the following eating disorders-Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating and Compulsive Overeating.
Go Ask Alice- http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/ Columbia University web site of Q&A for students about anything pertaining to being an emergent adult including drugs and alcohol, sexuality, emotional health, relationships etc. great reference.
Depression and Bipolar support Alliance
http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=home
Mental Illness Education Project
What a difference a friend makes. Anti stigma http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov/
Faces and Voices of Recoveryhttp://www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/resources/ Resources for consumers and friends and family.
FEAST http://www.feast-ed.org/ is an organization of and for parents and caregivers to help loved ones recover from eating disorders by providing information and mutual support, promoting evidence-based treatment, and advocating for research and education to reduce the suffering associated with eating disorders.
HEALTHY PLACE www.healthyplace.com HealthyPlace.com is the largest consumer mental health site, providing comprehensive, trusted information on psychological disorders and psychiatric medications from both a consumer and expert point of view.
Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery http://copelandcenter.com/ Resource for information about WRAP and the Recovery movement.