Books about problems often associated with Chronic Pain

Manage Your Mind: the Mental Fitness Guide, Gillian Butler & Tony Hope, 1995. Oxford Paperbacks.
ISBN: 0192623834
A book that appeals to many patients as it recognises that everyone needs to keep their mind as well as their body fit. It is very approachable and covers general skills and strategies such as goal setting, making changes, and problem solving, as well as more specific issues such as stress, anxiety and depression.

Overcoming Low Self Esteem: a self-help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques, Melanie Fennell, 2001. Constable & Robinson, paperback.
ISBN: 1854877259
This is highly recommended by ex-patients who have used it. It offers practical help with low self esteem and low confidence, and with depression and anxiety, by exploring how it develops, why it continues, and how to break the negative cycles and become more confidence and self-accepting.

Overcoming Social Anxiety: a self-help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques, Gillian Butler, 2001. New York University Press, paperback.
ISBN: 0814798748
A clearly structured book for the person with social anxiety to understand it better and to treat it him or herself, with very specific help on topics like work settings and social events.

Coping with depression, Ivy Blackburn, 1987. Chambers, paperback.
ISBN: 0550205179
A short and readable self-help book from an experienced clinician.

Overcoming depression, Paul Gilbert, 2000. Constable & Robinson, paperback.
ISBN: 1841191256
A very thorough book containing chapters to help readers understand depression, as well as practical strategies to help cope with it, and on the problems often associated with depression issues such as shame, guilt and anger. The author is a psychologist who writes from first hand experience of depression.

Assert yourself: simple steps to getting what you want, Gail Lindenberg, 2001. HarperCollins, paperback.
ISBN: 0007123450
Despite the rather pushy title, a brief and useful and realistic guide to better communication of your needs.

Coping with Life’s Traumas, Gladeana McMahon, 2000. Gill and Macmillan, paperback.
ISBN: 0717128954
Good chapters discussing trauma and the normal range of symptoms that can occur, in addition to chapters looking at a range of specific events associated with trauma. Many useful contact addresses at the end.

Overcoming Childhood Trauma: a self help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques, Helen Kennerley (2000). Constable & Robinson, paperback.
ISBN: 1841190810
This covers childhood trauma of all kinds, how it can affect you as an adult, and practical techniques to help to stop those harmful effects, both on your own feelings and behaviour and in relationships with others.

Breaking Free: help for survivors of child sexual abuse, Carolyn Ainsclough & Kay Toon, 1993, 2000. Da Capo Press, hardback.
ISBN: 1555612253
This book draws a lot on the experiences of survivors of abuse; it’s easy to read and covers how to deal with many of the common problems associated with abuse, such as guilt, anxiety and nightmares, disclosing abuse, self-image, sex, and relationships.

Families and how to survive them, Robin Skynner, John Cleese. Vermilion, paperback.
ISBN: 0749314109
An account of problems in families and how they are resolved, using transcripts of therapy and John Cleese's own experience in therapy.

The Relate Guide To Better Relationships: Practical ways to make your love last, Sarah Litvinoff, 1998. Vermilion Publishers.
ISBN: 009181604-1
A readable practical guide on relationship issues with helpful case histories and practical tasks for improving communication. However, there is nothing specific on problems related to illness and disability.

The Relate Guide To Sex: In Loving Relationships, Sarah Litvinoff, 1999. Vermilion Publishers.
ISBN: 0-09-175294-9
A readable, practical guide to sexual issues, helping you to look more closely at your own beliefs about sex, common myths about sex an more realistic views. There is specific advice on problems associated with illness and disability, and with pain in intercourse.