We all know we’re supposed to eat healthy, get fresh air and exercise, and floss daily to keep our bodies strong and capable of handling life’s daily challenges. What we might not think about is our mental health and how our minds need care and nourishment as much as our physical selves. The stress of work, parenting, finances, anxiety about our future, past traumas… all of these can pile up in our minds and challenge our ability to live life to the fullest. So during the month of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, explore books, resources, and events at Central Rappahannock Regional Library that will gently encourage you to explore your inner self and learn strategies to give your brain a break. Visit librarypoint.org/mental-health, opens a new window for dates and locations of mental health events, including Ask a Life Coach,, opens a new window Tell Your Mental Health Story, opens a new window, and Civic Lab: Mental Health Awareness, opens a new window.
Here are some book recommendations to get you started on your mental health journey:
Real Talk: Lessons from Therapy on Healing and Self-Love, opens a new window by Tasha Bailey
"Real Talk" bridges the gap between therapy and everyday life, offering practical yet creative tools for self-healing and navigating modern challenges. Integrative psychotherapist Tasha Bailey provides accessible techniques and insights, drawing on her experience and intersectional perspective. This handbook empowers readers to understand their past, addressing topics such as trauma, relationships, family dynamics, and self-esteem and to cultivate self-love and understanding through contemporary mental health concepts and relatable examples.
I Did a New Thing: 30 Days to Living Free, opens a new window by Tabitha Brown
Social media star and author Tabitha Brown ("Feeding the Soul") undertook a 30-day "I Did a New Thing!" challenge, trying something new daily, from small changes to difficult conversations, finding strength through faith. This inspiring book chronicles her experiences and others', motivating readers to find their own "new thing" with daily challenge suggestions. Even simple changes, such as trying a new food or wearing a new outfit, inspire hope and growth. This gentle guide encourages meaningful life changes by nudging you out of your comfort zone one day at a time, offering hope and positivity.
Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want, opens a new window by Courtney Carver
Minimalism expert Carver offers 30 practices in three sections -- Rest, Less, and Rise -- to combat overwhelm and cultivate self-compassion. This "don't do it all" guide provides simple challenges for a radical yet gentle shift toward real self-care, reducing stress and strengthening relationships by embracing a commitment to rest and honoring the true self. Slow but steady wins the race with Carver’s strategy of encouraging change through consistent, intentional habit-building vs. forcing dramatic change.
Shift: Managing Your Emotions--So They Don’t Manage You, opens a new window by Ethan Kross
Neuroscientist Kross posits that emotions are vital guides, not hindrances, to rational thought. He explains how emotions evolved to prioritize crucial moments (e.g., anxiety as a threat response) and become problematic when excessive or uncontrolled. Kross offers research-backed strategies for better emotional management, such as sensory stimulation, cognitive reframing, and environmental changes. Debunking common myths (like anxiety being inherently bad or avoidance always prolonging suffering), he emphasizes the fundamental value of emotions, making this guide essential for those seeking greater control over their inner lives.
Open When: A Companion for Life’s Twists and Turns, opens a new window by Dr. Julie Smith
Building on her first best-selling mental health primer, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, opens a new window, Smith teaches readers to navigate life's difficulties in real time by harnessing emotions and staying present to consciously choose their responses. This book shares research-backed concepts and skills for moving through challenging situations gracefully. Such situations include when it’s hard to be with yourself (dealing with impostor syndrome), when you’re healing from past trauma (rumination is not the answer), and several more human tendencies that prevent us from moving forward in life.
If you or someone you know needs help now, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat 988lifeline.org.
Tracy McPeck is the Director of Adult Services at Central Rappahannock Regional Library. This column first appeared in the Free Lance-Star newspaper.
