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24 Books to Support Your Emotional Wellness Journey

Emotional wellness is not something we need; it’s something we all deserve. Once we begin this journey, it is one we embark on for a lifetime, ever-growing, evolving, and reconnecting to who we truly are.

Below we’ve compiled a list of a few companions for your journey and resources for your emotional wellness toolkit.

Trauma

We all have adversity, but some of us have experienced more than our fair share. These books will help you make sense of more than just what happened to you but what continues to happen to you.

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma – Bessel van der Kolk, MD
A Kid’s Book About Trauma
What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing – Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry
No Bad Parts: Healing Traum and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family System Model – Richard Schwartz Ph.D.

Codependency

For years the term “codependent” has been a catch-all and a code for clingy or unhealthy relationships. Today, we’ve expanded our understanding of codependency. For example, Tian Dayton writes that codependency is “a trauma-related loss of self,” which happens in our early development when our primary caregivers aren’t emotionally available to give us the love and nurturing we need. If you have identified that you have codependency patterns, these books provide language and tools to help you as you navigate the journey.

Boundaries When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life – Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself– Nedra Glover Tawwab
The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations for Codependents – Melody Beattie
Facing Codependence: What It Is, Where It Comes from, How It Sabotages Our Lives – Pia Mellody

Anxiety

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anxiety and depression spiked by 25% over the last couple of years. So many of us are navigating anxiety and fear at a higher and more intense rate. These books provide practical tools for grounding and help you make sense of the why behind the patterns we see all around us.

Create Your Own Calm: A Journal for Quieting Anxiety – Meera Lee Patel
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle – Emily Nagoski PhD., and Amelia Nagoski DMA
Peace is a Practice: An Invitation to Breathe Deep and Find a New Rhythm for Life – Morgan Harper Nichols
It’s Not You, It’s Everything: What Our Pain Reveals about the Anxious Pursuit of the Good Life – Eric Minton

Emotional Health

Many of us grew up in homes where emotional language was lacking or non-existent. These books are excellent guides for any of us on the emotional health journey, learning how to identify and thoughtfully manage our emotions.

Why Has No One Told Me This Before? – Dr. Julie Smith
Atlas of the Heart – Brené Brown
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed – Lori Gottlieb
Permission to Feel: The Power of Emotional Intelligence to Achieve Well-Being and Success – Marc Brackett

Creativity & Inner Child

Children are born with innate curiosity and a sense of creativity. But along the way, we may lose that inner spark. These books will help you connect with the most authentic and pure parts of yourself and reclaim your pursuit of creativity.

Affirmations for Your Inner Child – Rokelle Lerner
A Kid’s Book About Emotions – Nakita Simpson
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear – Elizabeth Gilbert
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity – Julia Cameron

Purpose & Self-Connection

To deeply connect with the people around us, we must first be deeply connected to ourselves. These books from a few of our favorite authors will help you cultivate a deeper relationship with yourself and invite you to explore passion and purpose.