"It might sound odd, but I can honestly say knitting has saved my life."

When mental illness strikes, we need tools at our side to help make things better, that give meaning, relief and dare we say...happiness. From wild swimming and mindful running, to community singing and everyday yoga, the inspiring stories in this book reveal the power of activities and hobbies to distract, exorcise and calm, helping us to heal and recover from depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses.

From the team behind the bestselling The Recovery Letters, this honest, uplifting and motivational book will help you to discover the activity or hobby that will transform your life and make every day that much brighter.

Inspiring and powerful stories from people with depression about the activities and hobbies that help them through recovery

About the Author

Olivia Sagan is the Head of Division Psychology, Sociology and Education at Queen Margaret University, Scotland. She co-edited the bestselling book The Recovery Letters and has previously published Narratives of Art Practice and Mental Wellbeing and Narratives of Loneliness.

James Withey is the founder of the internationally renowned The Recovery Letters project. He is the author of the best selling book How To Tell Depression to Piss Off: 40 Ways to Get Your Life Back and co-editor of the The Recovery Letters. James lives with depression; he writes and speaks about mental health.

Reviews
What a beautiful thing this little book is, packed with honest accounts of what people do to make themselves feel better. * from the Foreword by Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of The Last Act of Love and A Manual for Heartache *
A love letter to hobbies, this book is full of powerful stories of joy-sparking activities that cut through the fug, lift us up and make each day a little brighter. It's a manifesto for learning and laughing that gives us permission to exercise a brilliant form of self-care. * Pooky Knightsmith, internationally renowned child and adolescent mental health expert *
This is a great big hug of a book. It's like chatting to an old friend who's wise, funny and says exactly what you need to hear. * Dave Chawner, award-winning comic, presenter and mental health campaigner and author of Weight Expectations *



Book Information
ISBN 9781787752986
Author James Withey
Format Paperback
Page Count 192
Imprint Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publisher Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Weight(grams) 180g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 128mm * 20mm