Right out the gate, we just wanna say that nearly all mothers make it out of PPD. The main steps to recovery that get you there are self-help or therapy (or both).
These books really dig into the issues of PPD and describe associated thoughts and emotions so well, it’s almost as if they can mind-read the reader of their book!
So if you’re feeling alone, desperate for advice, or if you’re persecuted by guilt, these books do a lot for mothers with PPD. They normalize your feelings, calm you down and get you down the path of self-recovery. No excuses now..!
Table of Contents
#1 This Isn’t What I Expected by Karen R. Kleiman
 | Recommended by Joe Flanagan from Daddilife. Find out more about the book This Isn’t What I Expected by Karen R. Kleiman by reading the description below or clicking on the button. |
Whether you’re a mother or father this book – ‘this isn’t what I expected’ is a must-have. It’s reasonably priced (or free as an audiobook) and provides great information and insight into why the mother might feel the way she does. It also gives expert approved tips and techniques on how to cope with your feelings, which is something a lot of other books of a similar nature lack.
#2 Beyond the Blues by Bennett PhD, Shoshana S.
 | Recommended by Jennifer Taylor from Mom Tricks. Find out more about the book Beyond the Blues by Bennett PhD, Shoshana S. by reading the description below or clicking on the button. |
This wonderful book is written in a way that’s simple and easy to read, which is ideal for when you’re struggling with postpartum depression where it can be difficult to focus on anything. It’s full of great tips that really helped me when I was suffering and I’d highly recommend it to anyone else out there who’s suffering with the same thing.
#3 Down Came the Rain by Brooke Shields
 | Recommended by Heidi McBain from HeidiMcBain. Find out more about the book Down Came the Rain by Brooke Shields by reading the description below or clicking on the button. |
A great personal description of postpartum depression, starting with her personal life stressors and miscarriage, pregnancy and finally postpartum experience. I like that she also talks about her therapist and medical professionals that were involved in her treatment.
#4 Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleiman
 | Recommended by Andrea Tran from Breastfeeding Confidential. Find out more about the book Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleiman by reading the description below or clicking on the button. |
This book cuts through the noise and gets right to the point. Post-partum depression can create very scary thoughts. It is presented in a way that is easy for a sleep-deprived new mom to read. Both sleep deprivation and depression can make the wall of text that most books are too intimidating and overwhelming to get through. This format helps her understand what is going on and get the help she needs.
#5 The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson
 | Recommended by Elliot Robinson from Gun Smith Fitness. Find out more about the book The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson by reading the description below or clicking on the button. |
“I’m recommending this book because one of my closest friends experienced the effects of the condition. Good thing she owned one. Postpartum depression is one of the most often misunderstood symptoms after birth. Rather than place early judgment as to why many moms get sad and moody and such for a period of time after having a baby, why not get this book and read it. It basically tackles going through the motions of being a mother whether for the first time or otherwise.
The mind and body have a strong connection with each other. Of course, any mom who’s going through postpartum depression doesn’t have to brave the waters alone.
The book truly helps a great deal in understanding and fighting this condition among mothers.”
#6 My Mommy’s Not Happy Anymore by Britt LeBoeuf
 | Recommended by Adina Mahalli from EnlightenedReality. Find out more about the book My Mommy’s Not Happy Anymore by Britt LeBoeuf by reading the description below or clicking on the button. |
Although there is a lot of information out there for mothers going through postpartum depression, this book offers a unique perspective to this common issue by helping children to understand their mother’s condition. Luke is happy to have his new sibling but wondering why his mommy is not happy anymore. This is a great way to help children understand the issue that new mothers might be going through.
#7 Keep Pain in the Past by Chris Cortman
 | Recommended by Brenda Knight from Mango Publishing. Find out more about the book Keep Pain in the Past by Chris Cortman by reading the description below or clicking on the button. |
Contrary to what many people believe, we can recover from emotional trauma relatively quickly and completely on our own. Whether it’s extreme trauma such as sexual abuse or the horrors of war or less dramatic, but psychologically speaking just as serious wounds involving shame and guilt, we don’t need to spend years in intensive therapy to recover. While most people know what they can do on their own to treat physical ills – like using ice on a muscle sprain – they don’t realize that they can apply certain psychological principles to treat anxiety, depression and many other conditions from the comfort of their own homes. Keep Pain in the Past will teach you the critical 21st-century skill of treating psychological wounds on your own.
Discover how Sheri, a 37-year-old attorney, recovered from panic attacks that seemed to come out of nowhere. Follow the journey of Mark, a 29-year-old Army veteran who experienced the horror of war in Afghanistan, as he healed from the downward spiral that had caused him to lose his job and become increasingly uncommunicative with his family. Explore how Melinda, a 42-year-old professor who struggled to sustain a romantic relationship, confronted her torturous childhood and has now found love that is still going strong after three years.
Keep Pain in the Past achieves what conventional therapy does not. This book will help you confront the emotional baggage of your past, reach closure by completing the event, and finally discover a life unhaunted by past trauma.
#8 Awakening From Anxiety by Rev. Connie L. Habash
 | Recommended by Brenda Knight from Mango Publishing. Find out more about the book Awakening From Anxiety by Rev. Connie L. Habash by reading the description below or clicking on the button. |
Spiritual people often find that their own expectations of living a life dedicated to a higher power makes them more susceptible to high-functioning anxiety. Sometimes, traditional relaxation techniques either do not work, don’t last, or, in some cases, actually increase their anxiety. Psychotherapist, yoga teacher, and interfaith minister Rev. Connie L. Habash shows us a way to transform our perceptions using mindful awareness, so we may live divinely inspired lives. In over 25 years as a counselor helping spiritual people overcome anxiety, Rev. Connie has taught that it takes more than chanting mantras, stretching, or relaxation techniques to calm anxiety. It requires a transformation in perception, moment-to-moment body awareness, and a conscious response to thoughts and emotions.
Awakening from Anxiety provides valuable psycho-spiritual tools to deepen spiritual awakening and calm fears. It will help you understand the 6 mistakes spiritual people make that increase anxiety; discover the 7 keys to a more calm, confident, courageous life; and learn how to break through the old patterns of stress, worry, and fear into a new perception of your true self.
#9 Stop Anxiety from Stopping You by Helen Odessky
 | Recommended by Brenda Knight from Mango Publishing. Find out more about the book Stop Anxiety from Stopping You by Helen Odessky by reading the description below or clicking on the button. |
Our pace of life has increased exponentially in the last few decades. When signs of anxiety and panic appear, they ravage our lives, our dreams and our spirit. But it is now possible to stop anxiety from stopping us in our tracks. In Stop Anxiety from Stopping You, Dr. Helen Odessky helps us understand the process of anxiety–and how to arm ourselves with strategies that work. Dr. Odessky draws on her fifteen years of clinical experience to guide us through the process of not only learning how to overcome anxiety but also how to enrich our lives. This book will show you how to stop anxiety and how to stop panic attacks in an easy-to-implement six-step framework. You will learn about the signs of anxiety and how to overcome them, methods to stop panic attacks, and ways to treat anxiety. Dr. Odessky’s compelling and optimistic guide will help you move from a position of difficulty to one of hope.
