This page is designed as a starting point for the person interested in self-improvement. It does not substitute for treatment with a trained professional, but in all cases will strongly augment any other organized treatment efforts. Knowledge is power, but there is also a vast amount of misinformation on the internet about mental health diagnoses and treatment options. Please consider the options listed below as being from reliable and validated sources. We hope they are useful to you! Also if you know of an excellent resource that others may benefit from, please email us at info@pghpsych.com and we will continue to add to the list. Thank you!
Books
Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman
Seligman is one of the Positive Psychology movement’s leaders and writes a great book for people trying to maximize their positive energy and wellness. It is one part evidence-based (with many examples of studies and experiments to back up his recommendations), and one part practical (with tests you can take and advice on simple things to try). A great and meaningful read.
Learned Optimism and The Optimistic Child by Martin Seligman.
More by Martin Seligman, these books target an extremely important mediator of mental well being and overall health: optimism. He shows convincingly how optimism levels are not fixed but can indeed be boosted, and gives specific prescriptions of how to do so in yourself or with your children.
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David Burns.
Not so new anymore, but a classic by any right. This is self-help introduction to one of the most effective psychological treatments ever developed: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). Depressed and anxious people (and most everybody) are prone to self-defeating thought patterns that drive our moods down. CBT helps reverse that cycle, and in this book you’ll learn and have many examples of how to begin the process. Reading this is a great augmentation to CBT work done with a therapist.
Websites/Online resources
National Alliance on Mental Illness: A great ‘first step’ resource for reading about medications, different mental health disorders, and general info about recovery from mental illness. Also, a great resource if you are interested in advocacy, support from others, and local activities related to wellness/recovery.
Help Guide: An excellent guide and resource for people wanting to learn more about mental health. It is well-organized by diagnosis, symptoms, and goals, and provides well-balanced advice on the many layers of recovery and wellness.
Authentic Happiness: Questionnaires to grade your psychological parameters, and practical advice about how to improve them. How to identify and use your ‘signature strengths.’
Tufts Mood Disorder Program: This website is a bit technical, but has quite comprehensive and detailed information about bipolar disorder. It covers diagnostic concepts, treatment strategies, and other recommendations.
PsychEducation: This website is also an excellent resource for those wanting to learn more about bipolar spectrum disorders.
YouTube: There are virtually thousands of free guided meditations, relaxation exercises, and mindfulness videos at your disposal on the internet. Do some searching using the above keywords and see what strikes you!