Mental Health Self-Help Resources

• General Self-Help Resources
  • American Psychological Association Help Center - self-help resources for people looking for information that may be directly applicable to their lives

  • Guide to Mental and Emotional Health - resource guide for mental health concerns and healthy lifestyles
  • Half of Us - mental health awareness, information and resources
  • Managing a Mental Health Condition in College
  • Mental Health America - mental health awareness, advocacy, information and resources
  • The Jed Foundation - online mental health resource center
  • Ulifeline - resource for various mental health issues, especially depression and suicide
• Anger Management
  • American Psychological Association-Anger - Strategies for controlling anger.

  Book Recommendations

  • How to Control Your Anger Before It Controls You. Ellis, A. and Tafrate, R. (1998). Citadel Trade.
• Anxiety and Stress
  • Anxiety and Depression Association of America - resource center for anxiety and depression
  • Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) - Learn about various anxiety disorders, the signs and symptoms of anxiety, treatment options, and information on special populations.

  Book Recommendations

  • Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe: Working Through Social Anxiety. Dayhoff, S. (2000).
  • Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think. Greenberger, D and Padensky, C. (1995). New York: Guilford Press.
  • The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook. Bourne, E. (2000). New Harbinger Publishers.
  • The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook. Davis, M. Eshelman, E. and McKay, M. (2000). New Harginger Publishers.
  • Stop Obsession: How to Overcome Your Obsessions/Compulsions. Wilson, R. and Foa, E. (2001).
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) - A non-profit organization serving individuals with ADHD

  Book Recommendations

  • Driven to Distraction: Recognizing & Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood. Hallowell, E. & Ratey, J. (1995).
  • ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life. Kolberg, J. & Nadeau, K. (2002). Brunner Routledge.
  • ADD and the College Student: A Guide for High School and College Students with Attention Deficit Disorder. Quinn, P.O. (2001). Magination Press.
• Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and Suicide
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - information on suicide and support for survivors of suicide
  • Anxiety and Depression Association of America - resource center for anxiety and depression
  • Centegra Crisis Services -1-800-892-8900 - speak with a crisis counselor 24/7 in McHenry County
  • Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) - Learn how to recognize and treat mood disorders

  Book Recommendations

  • How to Control You Anger Before It Controls You. Ellis, A & Tafrate, R. (1998). Citadel Trade.
• Eating Disorders and Body Image
  • Loving Your Body, Inside and Out - body image and eating disorder information and tips for loving your body
  • National Eating Disorders Association - eating disorder information and resources

  Book Recommendations

  • Fed Up: The Breakthrough Ten Step, No Diet Fitness Plan. Oliver-Pyattm, W. (2002). McGraw Hill.
  • Surviving an Eating Disorder: Strategies for Family & Friends. Siegal, M. & Brisman, J. (1997). Perennial.
  • The Body Image Workbook: An Eight-Step Program for Learning to Like Your Looks. Cash, T. (1997).
  • When Women Stop Hating Their Bodies: Freeing Yourself from Food and Weight Obsession. Hirschmann, J & Munter, C. (1995). New York: Fawcett Columbine.
• Internet Addiction
  • Center for Online and Internet Addiction - The Center for Online Addiction serves as the first recovery center to provide education, training, and resources for understanding and treating Internet addiction.

  Book Recommendations

  • Caught in the Net: How to Recognize the Signs of Internet Addiction - and a Winning Strategy for Recovery. Young, K. (1998). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Tangled in the Web: Understanding Cybersex from Fantasy to Addiction. Young, K. (2001) 1st Book Library.
• Perfectionism

  Book Recommendations

  • When Perfect Isn't Good Enough: Strategies for Coping with Perfectionism. Antony, M. & Swinson, R. (1998). New Harbinger Publishing.
  • Never Good Enough: Freeing Yourself from the Chains of Perfectionism. Basco, M. (1999). The Free Press.
• Relationships
  • Love is Respect - 866-331-9474 or 866-331-8453 (TTY) - national dating abuse hotline - an online resource for healthy relationships
  • Turning Point of McHenry County - provides free individual and group counseling, as well as other important resources, to those affected by domestic violence in McHenry County

  Book Recommendations

  • Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships. Lerner, H. (1997). Quill.
  • Dance of Intimacy: A Woman's Guide to Courageous Acts of Change in Key Relationships. Lerner, H. (1990). Perennial.
  • The Relationship Cure: A Five Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships. Gottman, J. (2001). Three Rivers Press.
  • The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert. Gottman, J. & Silver, N. (1999). Three Rivers Press.
• Self-Esteem
  • Building Self-Esteem- University of Texas - Learn about self-esteem , how it develops, the consequences of having low self-esteem, and how to begin to build it within yourself.

  Book Recommendations

  • The Self-Esteem Workbook. Schiraldi, G. (2001). New Harbinger Publications.
  • Ten Days to Self-Esteem. Burns, D. (1993). Harper Collins Publishing.
  • Women and Self-Esteem. Sanford. L. & Donovan, M. (1984). Viking Press.
  • Self-Esteem: A Proven Program of Cognitive Techniques for Assessing, Improving, and Maintaining Your Self-Esteem. MacKay, M. & Fleming, P. (2000). New Harbinger Publishers.
• Self-Injury
  • Self Abuse Finally Ends (S.A.F.E.) Alternatives - Learn about treatment approaches and symptoms
  • Self-Injury Outreach and Support - information and resources about self-injury

  Book Recommendations

  • Bodily Harm: The Breakthrough Healing Program for Self-Injurers. Conterio, K. & Lader, W. (1999). Hyperion.
• Sexual Abuse/Assault
  • Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) - Resources for victims and their family and friends
  • Medline Plus - Provides information about various sexual abuse/assault issues.

  Book Recommendations

  • The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse. Bass, E. & Davis, L. (1994). Perennial.
  • Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from Incest and Other Child Abuse. Lew, M. (1990). Perennial.
  • Recovering From Rape. Ledray, L. (1994). Henry Holt & Company.
• Sexual Compulsion

  Book Recommendations

  • Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction. Carnes, P. (2001). Hazeldon Information: Education.
  • Don't Call It Love: Recovery from Sexual Addiction. Carnes, P. (1991). Bantam Books.
  • Facing the Shadow: Starting Sexual and Relationship Recovery. Carnes, P. (2001). Gentle Path Press.
• Shyness

  Book Recommendations

  • The Hidden Face of Shyness: Understanding and Overcoming Social Anxiety. Franklin Schneier and Lawrence Welkowitz (1996), * ISBN 0380783991
• Substance Abuse
  • Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) - Support for individuals who grew up in alcoholic or dysfunctional homes
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) - Information for those with a drinking problem and those in contact with people who have, or are suspected of having a drinking problem