Here are six free self-help resources.
To select them, I made sure they were aimed at a general audience and not necessarily therapists, and, obviously, that their content was of high quality.
Self-help books and resources can be a very important step toward emotional well-being. If we truly internalize its content and carefully apply it to our lives, sometimes that's all we need. It's like a small, gentle push forward. But of course, that's not always the case.
It is up to each person to do an exercise in reflection and honesty to decide whether, beyond reading about a specific topic, it is time to look for professional help.
As the psychologist points out Miguel Ángel Rizaldos:
What psychotherapeutic intervention produces is individual and varies from person to person. An analogy would be: a self-help book is a one-size-fits-all t-shirt, and psychotherapy is a salesperson who, in addition to telling you your size, offers you several styles.
That said, here I present to you six self-help resources which I hope will be useful to you.
1. Stress and the art of making our lives miserable.
Created by Madrid Health, this is a information notebook and entertaining book that explains the characteristics of stress and some keys to making us less upset. I find it very enjoyable and recommendable.
2. Understanding anxiety.
A self-help guide for those who are overwhelmed by anxiety. This guide was created by the Andalusian Health Service and has a whole section on how to better control anxiety.
3. TED Talks to combat stress.
Here you can find a list of 9 TED talks that will help you combat stress. From the list, I highlight 1 and 4. But try taking some time for yourself and watching them all. They're thought-provoking, and you'll almost certainly learn something new, too.
4. Therapeutic writing exercise.
Writing can be therapeutic because, in an intimate way, it gives us the opportunity to express our emotions. It also gives us the chance to create stories, and thus, give meaning to ideas or experiences we've had. You can read more about it here. At the end of the article, there is a therapeutic writing exercise you can do.
5. Coping with depression.
A help guide for patients and families on how to deal with depression. Created by the Juan José López-Ibor Foundation and the Arpegio FoundationThe guide offers a wealth of information, including recommended reading. If you're looking for more resources on depression, you can also check out my post on 8 Recommendations to combat depression.
6. Learn to say NO without feeling guilty.
An article with 10 tips for learn to say noIf you find it difficult to say no to favors you don't want to do or things you're not interested in, this is a highly recommended read.
I sincerely hope you find these resources useful and don't forget to share this information with anyone you think might benefit..
If you have already tried the path of self-help but do not notice changes, consider seeking professional helpInvesting in our mental health is one of the best investments we can make.
Looking for more self-help resources?
I also wrote another list of useful resources and articles in English. You can find it by clicking on English in the language menu.
