A Good Book To Help Cope With Depression And Mental Issues

[joko]

my friend has various mental health problems - nothing diagnosed as yet (except depression) but he feels he may have bi-polar or aspergers or something like that.
he has meltdowns and goes on destructive paths, is very moody and has a whole host of symptoms.

he is now on antidepressants and has finally agreed he needs to see a psychiastrist/psychologist and a counsellor

but i wondered if anyone could recommend a good book for him to read between sessions?
he's not a big reader, low attention span etc, so not something with just pages of boring text, but something easy to dip in and out of and take useful bits of advice from.

i dont mean a book about the ins and outs of depression or mental illness, or medical stuff, but rather something that may just help him cope, and feel better and give him some words of comfort, advice, tips etc.

thanks

[joko]

he also has some basic symptoms of sort of OCD with cleaning - not germs, but order, and neatness, gets very anxious if things arent put away etc ... but not to the level of lining things up etc, just needs stuff out of sight or in the 'right' place, and will hoover every day even when there is nothing to hoover

[EcclesCake]

This is well regarded by many...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Had-Black-Dog-Matthew-Johnstone/dp/1845295897

[Buenchico]

Your local pharmacy is likely to stock some suitable books.

In the meantime, perhaps directing him here might help:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/depression/Pages/living-with.aspx

[boxtops]

It might be best to wait until his counselling starts, to ask his medical staff what they think would be suitable, to meet his individual requirements. Having suffered with depression myself, at this stage of just starting consultations, I wouldn't have been able to cope with a self-help book.

[Sqad]

I agree 100% with the post of boxy, as with the advent of the internet, medicine and particularly mental disorders have sailed into waters of self diagnosis.

[Dellydoodah]

The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho

[sunny-dave]

The gold standard - - has helped me and so many others on AB

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

Self Help for Your Nerves: Learn to relax and enjoy life again by overcoming stress and fear

Dr. Claire Weekes

[sunny-dave]

There was a good thread here

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Health-and-Fitness/Question1304190.html

which had some excellent advice from other AB members.

[plowter]

Try the free guides available on the MIND website.
They explain different mental health conditions and include suggestions on what your friend can do to help himself until he gets a clearer diagnosis.

http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/

[sunny-dave]

Good link Plowter - Mind are very good - as are Rethink

http://www.rethink.org/

[kevanswerbank]

Mood Mapping my Dr Liz Miller...a must for people with Bipolar Disorder.