Simply Misunderstood XO

Category: Mental Health, Self-Growth

When I was at my lowest—grappling with anxiety, heartbreak, and the kind of inner turmoil that no one else can quite see—I found myself reaching for books.

Not just any books.
Books that felt like a lifeline. Books that spoke to me in those quiet hours when my mind wouldn’t slow down.
Books that reminded me I wasn’t alone.

And more than just comfort—they offered a new way of thinking. A shift in perspective that helped me start to untangle the patterns that were keeping me stuck.

If you’re reading this, maybe you’re looking for that kind of comfort, too. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, healing from past experiences, or simply trying to understand yourself better—sometimes the right words, at the right time, can make all the difference.

That’s why I’m sharing this list of books for mental health and anxiety—ones that actually helped me. These aren’t medical advice or a replacement for therapy (which I also highly recommend), but they offered insight, comfort, and perspective when I needed it most.

Here are five books that helped me on my own mental health journey:

1. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Julie Smith
   I couldn’t put it down; I was learning so much at such a vulnerable time.
2. When You’re Ready, This is How You Heal by Brianna Wiest
   This one hit the nail on the head. Exactly what I needed to hear, once I was ready.
3. Happy Days: The Guided Path from Trauma to Profound Freedom by Gabby Bernstein
   This one was so impactful, it made me cry…more than once.
4. Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen
   Forget everything you thought you knew, this will make you re-evaluate it all!
5. 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do by Amy Morin
   I was so happy to learn I was doing some of these things already!

Everyone’s mental health journey is different. But if you’re looking for tools that can help—outside of therapy or medication (or alongside them)—sometimes a book can be a gentle starting point.

If any of these books resonate with you, I hope they bring you the same comfort and clarity they brought me.

And if you have a favorite book for anxiety or mental health that changed your life? Drop it in the comments—I’m always looking for new reads to add to my list.

NOTE: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. I only share products I truly use and love. Thanks for supporting my work & the blog🤍 Happy reading!