I think I speak for most Skidmore students when I say the past two weeks of midterms, papers, and exams have been a complete whirlwind of stress. Personally, I’ve found that reading is the easiest way to keep myself from spiraling and clear my headspace. A good book can pull us into an entirely different world: one that feels calm, immersive, and far removed from the chaos of deadlines and exhaustion. With that in mind, here are a few mental health–related reads that have brought me a sense of peace, perspective, and joy. Hopefully, they can help you wade out of the mental swamp of midterms too.
1. The Body Keeps Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in The Healing of Trauma by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk
I am sure many of you have heard of this book before, but it is for good reason. Dr. van der Kolk brings a unique perspective, a compassionate voice, and decades of clinical experience to back it all up. The book explores the profound effects that trauma, grief, and violence can have on one’s mental, physical, and neurological well-being. It also offers authentic, empirically-backed treatments for all symtoms and stressors related to trauma, with an overwhelming amount of optimism that I feel many books of this type miss. That said, this book does cover sensitive and sometimes graphic topics and case studies. If that feels overwhelming for you, it is more than okay to step back and prioritize your own well-being instead of trying to push through it. Still, this book is one of the best I’ve read in the mental-health genre, and if you’re looking for something meaningful and research-driven, I highly recommend it.
2. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan DidionÂ
For those of you who’ve read or heard of this book before, you might be thinking it doesn’t technically fall under the mental health genre, and you’d be right. Still, Didion’s deeply personal account of grief, mourning, and depression in the wake of the death of her late huasband offers one of the most authentic portrayals of loss I’ve ever read. While not intended as a psychological exploration, her reflections capture the emotional and cognitive aftermath of grief with remarkable honesty and thoughtfulness. She is also a beautiful writer, and some of her philosophical analyses allow this book to be digestible to everyone, especially those not as interested in the scientific aspects of mental health and wellbeing. It’s some of the most intelligent and honest writing I’ve ever encountered, and I would highly recommend trying it out. (Also, if you’ve already read this, I’d recommend looking at Blue Nights by Joan Didion. It has a very similar concept, and is also fantastic in my opinion)
3. Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alterton
Sorry guys, I know this also isn’t technically mental-health based. Again, I have my reasons. Alderton reflects on how love, both in friendships and romantic relationships, have shaped her mindset and mental well-being throughout the course of her 20’s. She also opens up about her experiences with depression, substance use, and eating disorders in a way that’s both witty and deeply considerate. For anyone in their early twenties, this book offers a strikingly relatable look at how our relationships can profoundly impact our sense of self and mental health. Out of all the books I’ve recommended, I’d say this one is 100% the most universally enjoyable. Alderton is funny, refreshingly honest, and very British. Which makes this book perfect if you need a distraction from your own stress.