Film, TV and Book Recommendations
Books, TV shows, Films
There are a whole range of wonderful books out there, detailing personal experiences of a range of life struggles and mental health issues. I've selected a small selection of books below, that I have personally found inspiring, insightful, informative and honest. These books encourage reflection and further learning about ourselves and how we feel in our world. They are all available via independent booksellers, directly from the publisher, Amazon, Waterstones, Ebay and even your local library.
Similarly, the films listed below can be insightful and help us to safely manage our emotions and experiences. However, some do contain heavy themes and scenes so do check out more information via the BBFC website or Rotten Tomatoes for further information before deciding if it is the right time to watch them.
BOOKS:
ANXIETY
Anxiety is really Strange - Steve Haines - Anxiety - Graphic Novel
Anxiety: Panicking about Panic: A Powerful, Self-Help Guide for Those Suffering from an Anxiety or Panic Disorder - Joshua Fletcher - Anxiety
GRIEF
Grief Works - Julia Samuel
This Too Shall Pass - Julia Samuel
Dear Life - Rachel Clarke
When Words are not Enough - Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds
The SAD Book - Michael Rosen
TRAUMA
Waking the Tiger - Peter Levine
What Happened to You - Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey
8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery - Babette Rothschild
What my Bones Know - Stephanie Foo - Biography
Trauma is really Strange - Steve Haines - Graphic Novel
Recovery is My Best Revenge - Carolyn Spring
GENDER/SEXUALITY
How to Understand your Gender - Alex Iantaffi and Meg-John Barker - Gender
Gender Euphoria - edited by Laura Kate Dale - Gender
Life as a Unicorn - Amrou Al-Kadhi - Sexuality, culture
NEURODIVERSITY
Un-typical - Pete Wharmby - Autism
Dirty Laundry - Richard Pink and Roxanne Emery - ADHD
Scattered Minds - Gabor Mate - ADHD
FILM THERAPY
Super-Women: Superhero Therapy for Women Battling Depression, Anxiety and Trauma
Jaws Therapy - Michael K.Pecosh
OTHERS
The Choice - Edith Eger
The Gift - Edith Eger
The Midnight Library - Matt Haig
The Comfort Book - Matt Haig
Staring at the Sun - Irvin Yalom
Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl
Sunbathing in the Rain - Gwyneth Lewis
Grounded - Ruth Allen
FILMS AND TV SERIES
A.I. Artificical intelligence: Meaning, purpose, what it means to be human, loss, abandonment, self-actualisation (to be human), search for love – unconditional love, humanity, existential dread, time.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: Meaning and purpose, identity, belonging, self-worth, time, search for meaning, living life to the full, the here and now, experiencing life, not just coasting through life.
Train Dreams - Grief, Loss, Change, meaning, purpose, time, connection
The Life of Chuck - Death, grief, life, meaning and purpose, here and now
I Swear - Self-acceptance, social challenges, Tourette's, hope, resilience, trauma
Inside Out - Recognising, embracing and accepting emotions, identity, self-worth
Elemental - Relationships, intergenerational trauma, culture, self-acceptance, embracing change
A Monster Calls - Grief, trauma, acceptance
Wild Robot - Community, belonging, purpose, grief, loss, identity
Everything Everywhere All at Once - Family, intergenerational trauma, confronting self and grief, identity, existentialism
Rental Family - Family, culture, identity, grief, isolation, meaning and purpose, responsibility and freedom
H is for Hawk - Grief, nature as a healing tool, loss
Project Hail Mary - Self-worth, identity, connection, friendship, existential dread, grief, change, meaning and purpose
Jaws - Confronting trauma, social and personal responsibility and expectation, grief, change, control
Turning Red - Change, self-acceptance, family expectations, identity, intergenerational trauma
Stand by Me – grief, friendship, connection, judgement, acceptance
Steel Magnolias – family dynamics, grief, loss, age, illness, relationships, connection/friendship
Little Miss Sunshine - Hope, resilience, self-acceptance, family dynamics and expectation
Please Stand By - Acceptance, neurodiversity, resilience, hope, autonomy, self-worth, difference
Young Hearts - sexuality, self-acceptance, internal shame, identity, love, connection
Finch - Here and Now, confronting own mortality, human experience, death, isolation, loyalty, lived experience of life, trust - in self and others
Obsession - Attachment/Co-dependency, domestic abuse, control, boundaries, self-worth, grief, autonomy, mental heath, isolation
Severance (TV Series) - Identity, neurodivergence, faith, trauma, gender, relationships with self and others, work, meaning and purpose
Silo (TV series) - Trauma, Grief, freedom versus safety, fear of the unknown, control/power, self-belief, meaning and purpose, authentic self
