May is Mental Health Month and this week I will be featuring some of the new titles at the library that are on the topic of mental health and self-help.

8 Keys to Healing, Managing, & Preventing Burnout by Morgan Johnson: Those who find themselves at their wit’s end because of exploitative systems are not to be blamed for “not taking care of themselves.” This book offers strategies for relief from burnout. Therapist Morgan Johnson presents keys to healing that move beyond the typical self-care and stress-management techniques. The book is designed to support anyone experiencing burnout and invites reader to experiment with techniques to see what works for them.

A Brilliant Adaptation: How Dissociative Identity Disorder & the Power of the Therapeutic Bond Saved Me by Sally Maslansky: In this gripping memoir the author talk describes how remembering her childhood trauma led her to develop dissociative identity disorder (DID) and how with the help of her therapist Daniel J. Siegel, she does recover. This book reveals how treatment helps people live full, vibrant, and joyful lives.

Healing as a Couple When You Both Have Trauma: Skills to Regulate Emotions, Identify Triggers, and Thrive Together in Your Relationship by Aimee Daramus: If you and your partner are both living with the effects of trauma, you may be carrying wounds that affect every part of your relationship. Fears of abandonment, trouble setting boundaries or respecting boundaries, or discomfort with love and intimacy can become shared struggles. In this practical guide, the author and psychologist offers tools to help manage emotions, build trust, and create safe and connected relationships. Most importantly you will learn to better understand each other’s perspectives to reconnect and heal as a team.

Managing Your Depression: Strategies to Help You Feel Better by Susan J. Noonan (3rd ed.): This updated edition explores the most recent topics, including evolving medicine, while addressing the impact of age, cultural factors, and co-occurring conditions on mental health. This is an essential guide on depression including the symptoms, treatments, therapies, self-care strategies to maintain emotional health and stability, along with practical exercises to manage stress, develop healthier thought patterns, and improve mindfulness. There are also guides on navigating the mental health system and being an active participant in care.

By Amy Salminen

Adult Services Department Head