Hey Bookish comrades!

It’s Mental Health Awareness month! If you are familiar with my IG, you probs know I have my fair share of MH struggles. I have had a hard time my entire life. I've tried all the pills, all the therapies, all the groups, the treatments, the detoxes, the hospitals, the cultural things, etc. But Every day is still a struggle for me. Medical trauma and stigma is SO real. I've experienced so many horrors in hospital. But I've been lucky to have people who care and have held me in my darkest hours. Now, some days the pain is paralyzing, others I can be ok! I’m just trying to do the teeniest tiniest things to push through. Showering, walks at night, tending to my plants, crafting, reading, sitting outside with a tea.

Below is a list of books I recommend that deal with different mental health conditions. And If anyone has suggestions for books on other mental health issues I’d love to hear!

Mental Illness/ Developmental Condition Rep:

A Mind Spread Out On The Ground  - Alicia Elliott | Memoir / Depression, Anxiety (*Indigenous author)

Things In Nature Merely Grow- Yiyun Li | Autobiography / Suicidal Depression

Almond - Won-pyung Sohn | Litfic / Alexithymia

Get Me Out of Here - Rachel Reiland | Memoir, BPD

Interesting Facts About Space - Emily Austin | Litfic / Anxiety

Trainspotting - Irvine Welsh | Litfic / Addiction

Rough Magic - Miranda Newman | Memoir / BPD

The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy - Steph Jones | Self-Help / Autism (recognizing 

Girl interrupted - Susanna Kaysen | Memoir / BPD

Making Love With the Land - Joshua Whitehead | Memoir, Essays / Eating disorder (*Indigenous author)

Giovanni’s Room - James Baldwin | Litfic / Depression

The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath | Litfic / Depression

Furiously Happy - Jenny Lawson | Memoir, Humour / Depression, trichtillomania, anxiety,

You Better Be Lightening  - Andrea Gibson | Poetry / Depression

Betty - Tiffany Mcdaniel | Litfic / Various MH issues such as addiction, trauma/PTSD, psychosis, suicidal depression, etc (*Indigenous author)

What My Bones Know - Stephanie Foo | Memoir / C-PTSD

A Two-Spirit Journey - Ma-Nee Chacaby | Memoir/ Addiction, PTSD (*Indigenous author)

An Anthology of Monsters: How Story Saves Us from Our Anxiety - Cherie Dimaline | Autobiography, Essay / Anxiety (*Indigenous author)

Krik? Krak!  - Edwidge Danticat  | Litfic / Various MH issues such as Depression, PTSD, Psychosis, etc (*Indigenous author)

The Crying Book - Heather Christle | Memoir / Depression

Fire Song - Adam Garrett Jones | YA / Depression , etc (*Indigenous author)

While You Were Out - Meg Kissinger | Memoir / Various MH issues such as Bipolar, Depression, Anxiety, Addiction, etc

My Year of Rest and Relaxation - Ottessa Moshfegh | Litfic / Depression

All the Bright Places - Jennifer Niven | YA / Bipolar disorder

Everything Here Is Beautiful - Mira T. Lee | Litfic / schizoaffective disorder, psychosis

Shred Sisters - Betsy Lerner | Litfic / Bipolar, addiction

Freshwater - Akwaeke Emezi | Litfic / DID (if framed by a western lens) (*Indigenous author)

Pitiful - Brandi Bird | Poetry / Eating Disorder, Depression, Psychosis, OCD (*Indigenous author)

Notes of an Indigenous Futurist - Cliff Taylor | Memoir / Depression, Addiction (*Indigenous author)

Boy Swallows Universe - Trent Dalton | Litfic / Addiction

Building a Life Worth Living - Marsha Linehan | Memoir / BPD

I haven’t been posting much about what I’ve been reading so here are some thoughts on books I’ve read recently!

Monstrilio- SO worth the hype. I loved how real this story felt despite being tilted with a grim fantasy strangeness. I find that takes a really talented and creative writer. It is beautiful but totally gutting (pun….intended). I can’t wait to see more from this author.

Best quote “god is a scumbag“ lmaoo

How to Lose Everything- this hurt my heart so much. The title says it all- someone who really loses everything. And this is felt hard while reading. The author is a queer Indigenous woman who went through hell but still grew a life blooming with flowers and joy. A very empowering memoir.

Heart the Lover- I had super high hopes for this one and I think it met them?? It was extremely well written. I didn’t love the plot but the writing was so engaging, I really felt like I too was experiencing everything the characters were going through. The references to other renowned works was a cool element in this one. Also, the card game I am dying to play because it sounds so good lol who wants to play Sir Hincomb Funnibuster???

Lost Lambs- Major ICK. How does this have so many rave reviews? It’s racist and ableist as fuck.

There is a way to portray shitty characters and this just isn’t it. I don’t even feel comfortable typing out the quotes. 🥴 gross