Recommended Reading

The Mindful Way Through Anxiety. Susan M. Orsillo, Ph.D., and Lizabeth Roemer Ph.D.
You can't just 'get over' anxiety. In fact, the very things we often do to try to feel better-avoiding feared situations, pushing worry out of mind-only make the problem worse. These authors present a very readable and practical format, utilizing mindfulness skills, to help you break free of anxiety by fundamentally changing how you relate to it. With clarity and compassion, this book describes clinically tested mindfulness practices tailored for anxiety in its many forms.

The Mindful Way Through Depression, Mark Williams Ph.D, John Teasdale. Ph.D, Zindel Segal, Ph.D., Jon Kabat-Zihn, Ph.D.
In this book the authors describe what their research has taught them about depression and unhappiness and have taken that knowledge and joined with Jon Kabat-Zinn in explaining a Mindfulness-Based Cognitive treatment to depression.They explain why our usual attempts to "think" our way out of a bad mood or just "snap out of it" leads us deeper into the downward spiral. Through insightful lessons drawn from both Eastern medicine traditions and cognitive therapy, they demonstrate how to sidestep the usual and habitual mental habits that lead to despair, including rumination and self-blame, so you can face life's challenges with greater resilience. *If you are experiencing major depression, it's advised you seek professional help and not engage in this book on your own.

The Gifts of Imperfection , Brene Brown, Ph.D.
Researcher and social worker, Brene Brown is a leading researcher in the areas of on shame, authenticity and connection in our country. In her first book, she explores how to cultivate compassion and connection, addressing a common self-belief of "I'm not enough" and shares guideposts in engaging with the world from a place of worthiness. Her Ted talks have been incredibly popular and her subsequent books, "Daring Greatly" and "Rising Strong" are also excellent. Her audio book "Men, Women and Worthiness: The Experience of Shame and the Power of Being Enough" incorporates her research on how shame is fueled by different messages along gender lines and incorporates important information about Men and their experience of shame, which is not included in this first book.

True Refuge, Tara Brach, Ph.D.
Tara Brach also explores the experience of shame in her writings, trainings, and work as a therapist, and in her second book, True Refuge, she explores how powerful mindfulness practices can be in providing a refuge in difficult times, and a different way to respond vs more familiar patterns which include responding out of fear and confusion. She incorporates latest findings in neuroscience with Buddhist practices, but a non-Buddhist who is open to mindfulness-based meditation would find this also accessible. She shares her personal story and journey through difficult times and includes many different meditations.

Managing Pain Before It Manages You, Margaret A. Caudill, M.D. Ph.D.
This book is based on a clinically tested program that is utilized in medical centers and Mind/Body centers around the country as effective self-management for pain. The author's program has also been proven to significantly lessen anxiety and depression that accompanies chronic pain. This book offers many techniques and tools for helping to manage pain that you can practice on your own or with the help of your counselor. This book begins with a practical discussion to help one understand pain and includes many useful worksheets and exercises.

Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life, Emily Nagoski, Ph.D.
Written by a leading sex educator, Nagoski has degrees in Psychology, Counseling, and Health Behavior. Her book is an accessible, quick read for anyone with questions about their own sexuality or about their partner's. She normalizes what many might feel is 'abnormal', explains in a light-hearted way some difficult and intimate material, such as emotional factors which impact libido and essentially provides answers for the goal of sexual satisfaction for everyone.

The Wellness Series of CDs by Carolyn McManus, P.T., M.S., M.A.
www.carolynmcmanus.com
Several CDs are offered in this wonderful series by Carolyn McManus, a national speaker and highly respected Seattle-area clinician, author and researcher in mind-body medicine. McManus draws from over 20 years of experience in health care to create this popular relaxation, meditation and imagery series which includes the following titles: “Relax into Restful Sleep”, Mindfulness Meditation and Body Scan” and “Progressive Relaxation & Autogenic Training.”

PATIENT RIGHTS

“Know Your Rights: A Handbook for Patients With Chronic Illness” at www.advocacyforpatients.org
Provides advice and information on various topics including: how to get and keep health insurance; how to get health insurance coverage for particular treatments, drugs, and/or therapies; how to assert your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act; how to assert your rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act; how to ensure that schools accommodate students with chronic illnesses.

SELF-CARE & COPING

A Delicate Balance: Living Successfully With Chronic Illness, Susan Milstrey Wells
This is a compassionate book that explores the challenges of chronic illness and provides helpful suggestions. Written by a professional writer who has Sjogren’s syndrome, fibromalgia, and interstitial cystitis.

The Spoon Theory , an essay by Christine Miserandino
This poignant essay, written by a young woman living with Lupus, can describe the experience of living with any chronic condition or illness and the difficult day-to-day choices one makes. The Spoon Theory explains the experience of chronic illness in a way that others living without illness can understand; it's something to share with family and friends. Available to read online at But You Don't Look Sick.

The Chronic Illness Workbook: Strategies and Solutions for Taking Back Your Life, Patricia Fennell, M.S.W.
This is a practical and wonderful workbook that is helpful to use whether you are experiencing the crisis of initial diagnosis or are a long-time survivor of chronic illness.

You Don’t Look Sick! : Living Well With Invisible Chronic Illness, Joy H. Selak, Steven S. Overman, MD. MPH.
Written by a Seattle-area rheumatologist and his patient, Ms. Selak, this book chronicles her experience of interstitial cystitis and undifferentiated connective tissue disease, from diagnosis through learning new ways of living with chronic illness.

Just Fine: Unmasking Concealed Chronic Illness and Pain, Carol Sveilich, M.A.
Written by a mental health counselor who has fibromalgia and Crohn’s Disease, this is a reference guide to managing illness. Half of the book is devoted to stories of those living with various types of conditions including: ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Coping with Crohn’s Disease: Manage Your Physical Symptoms and Overcome the Emotional Challenges, Amy B. Trachter, Psy.D., Ph.D.
A practical and thorough guide that attends to both the body and the mind. The author has a doctorate in psychology and has Crohn’s Disease.

MINDFULNESS-BASED READING

Hot to Be Sick: A Buddhist Inspired Guide For the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers Toni Bernhard.
A memoir by woman who fell profoundly ill in 2001, after a long career as a law professor and a busy life, she chronicles how she managed emotionally once becoming often bedridden for months as a time. She started a meditation practice after becoming ill and you can learn more about her on her website: www.tonibernhard.com.

Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories That Heal, Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D.
The author is a M.D. who is a pioneer in the mind/body/health field. She works with those with terminal cancer. She has Crohn’s Disease and in her writing she shares the wisdom she has gained from her patients and from her own experience of surviving serious illness. These are true stories of courage and inspiration.

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice For Difficult Times, Pema Chodron
Written by an American Buddhist nun, this offers compassionate guidance in how to find courage during difficult times. Her wisdom is drawn from Buddhist principles and is very accessible for anyone interested in this approach.

There are many books on Mindfulness available now. Some excellent authors include: Tara Brach, Jon Kabat-Zihn, Jack Kornfield, Daniel Seigel (his books are written more for a therapist), and Ron Siegel.

Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., is a favorite author on the subject of Willpower; she integrates mindfulness into the 'training' of willpower in her research, and an excellent book by her is "The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why it Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of it (2012).

*a note about hyperlinks on my site: I link to non-profits so that clicking on a link will bring up the non-profit in a separate window, but I do not link directly to books or non-profit sites.