Books, films and articles

The Reason I Jump

Naoki Higashida · 2013

A first-person account of what it is like to be autistic, written by a 13-year-old Japanese boy. One of the most important books a parent can read.

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NeuroTribes

Steve Silberman · 2015

The history of autism and a powerful argument for accepting and celebrating neurodiversity rather than trying to cure it.

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Thinking in Pictures

Temple Grandin · 1995

Temple Grandin explains how her autistic mind works in images rather than words. One of the most illuminating memoirs ever written.

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Look Me in the Eye

John Elder Robison · 2007

A memoir by a man who grew up with undiagnosed Aspergers. Funny, honest and deeply illuminating for families.

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Uniquely Human

Barry Prizant · 2015

A reframing of autism that focuses on understanding behaviour rather than eliminating it. Essential for educators and clinicians.

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Born on a Blue Day

Daniel Tammet · 2006

A memoir by a savant with synesthesia and Aspergers who can perform extraordinary mathematical feats. A window into a remarkable mind.

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In a Different Key

Donvan & Zucker · 2016

A comprehensive history of autism from its first identification to the modern neurodiversity movement.

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The Explosive Child

Ross W. Greene · 1998

A practical parenting guide for children with behavioural challenges including autism. Widely recommended by clinicians.

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book

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Mark Haddon

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Mark Haddon · 2003

Bestselling novel narrated by a boy widely read as autistic. Best for general/fiction readers.

Beloved but criticized by some autistic readers; the author has said he did no specific autism research — presented as a novel, not a definitive portrayal.

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Temple Grandin

Mick Jackson · 2010

An HBO film about Temple Grandin's life with autism. Claire Danes gives a remarkable performance. Essential viewing for families and educators.

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Rain Man

Barry Levinson · 1988

A landmark film depicting an autistic savant. Useful for starting conversations about autism, though understanding has evolved significantly since.

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Life, Animated

Roger Ross Williams · 2016

A documentary about a young man with autism who learned to communicate through Disney films. Moving and beautifully made.

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The Accountant

Gavin O'Connor · 2016

Ben Affleck plays a forensic accountant with autism. A mainstream action film that depicts autism without making it a tragedy.

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Mozart and the Whale

Petter Naess · 2005

A romantic drama about two people with Aspergers falling in love. Tender, accurate and rarely discussed.

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documentary

Love on the Spectrum

Netflix

Love on the Spectrum

Netflix · 2019

Documentary series following autistic adults navigating dating. Generally praised for centering autistic voices.

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film

Atypical

Netflix

Atypical

Netflix · 2017

Comedy-drama about an autistic teen seeking independence.

Popular but criticized, especially season 1, for a non-autistic lead and limited autistic input; later seasons added autistic actors and consultants.

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documentary

Makayla's Voice: A Letter to the World

Netflix

Makayla's Voice: A Letter to the World

Netflix · 2024

Short documentary about a nonverbal autistic teen using a letter board. Won Best Documentary Short, 2024 Tribeca Festival.

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documentary

Autism: The Musical

iWonder

Autism: The Musical

iWonder · 2007

Emmy-nominated documentary following five autistic children staging a musical.

No longer on Netflix (link there 404s); available via iWonder, a documentary streaming service that requires a free sign-up.

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What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

American Psychiatric Association · 2024

A comprehensive overview of autism spectrum disorder covering diagnosis criteria, presentation and clinical guidance.

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article

Autistic burnout: the cost of coping and masking

Autism in Adulthood

Autistic burnout: the cost of coping and masking

Autism in Adulthood Journal · 2020

Research into autistic burnout: what it is, what causes it and why masking is so exhausting and harmful long-term.

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article

How autism is diagnosed in girls and women

The Guardian

How autism is diagnosed in girls and women

The Guardian · 2023

Why girls and women with autism are diagnosed so much later than boys, and what that delay costs them.

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article

Autism and the Double Empathy Problem

Disability & Society

Autism and the Double Empathy Problem

Damian Milton · 2012

A landmark paper arguing that communication difficulties in autism are mutual, not a deficit in the autistic person alone.

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article

Sensory processing in autism

Frontiers in Neuroscience

Sensory processing in autism

Frontiers in Neuroscience · 2016

A scientific overview of how sensory processing differs in autism and the practical implications for daily life and support.

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article

Early signs of autism spectrum disorder

CDC

Early signs of autism spectrum disorder

CDC · 2024

Developmental milestone guidance for parents and clinicians on early signs of autism in infants and toddlers.

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article

Employment and autism spectrum disorder

ILO

Employment and autism spectrum disorder

ILO · 2023

An international report on the employment barriers facing autistic adults and what workplaces can do to change this.

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Amazing Things Happen!

Alex Amelines · 2016

A ~5 minute animation introducing autism to children, widely used in schools.

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Autism Spectrum, Animation

Alila Medical Media · 2016

A short animated overview of ASD traits.

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Driven to Distraction

Hallowell & Ratey · 2011

The classic, comprehensive ADHD reference covering diagnosis, treatment and strengths, written by two psychiatrists who both have it. Best for newly diagnosed adults and their families.

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ADHD Nation

Alan Schwarz · 2016

An investigative account of how ADHD became one of the most diagnosed conditions in the world.

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Scattered Minds

Gabor Mate · 1999

A compassionate exploration of ADHD origins, arguing that early attachment shapes the condition as much as genetics.

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Taking Charge of Adult ADHD

Russell Barkley · 2010

The most evidence-based practical guide to managing ADHD in adulthood by the leading ADHD researcher in the world.

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You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!

Kelly & Ramundo · 1993

One of the first books written by adults with ADHD for adults with ADHD. Still one of the most validating reads available.

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Smart but Stuck

Thomas E. Brown · 2014

Profiles of intelligent adults whose ADHD went unrecognised for years. Illuminating for people who wonder why they cannot reach their potential.

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The ADHD Advantage

Dale Archer · 2015

A strengths-based look at ADHD that identifies the traits that make people with ADHD well-suited to certain challenges.

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Order from Chaos

Jaclyn Paul · 2017

A practical life management guide for adults with ADHD covering organisation, routines and building systems that work.

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The Disruptors

Michelle Gallen · 2022

A documentary reframing ADHD as a feature rather than a flaw, told through remarkable lives.

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Percy Jackson & the Olympians

Chris Columbus · 2010

A fantasy film whose protagonist has ADHD and dyslexia, presented as advantages, not deficits. Useful for children and teenagers.

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Erin Brockovich

Steven Soderbergh · 2000

Julia Roberts plays a woman whose relentless focus and energy, traits associated with ADHD, drives a landmark environmental case.

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article

ADHD in adults: characteristics and treatment

The Lancet

ADHD in adults: characteristics and treatment

Lancet Psychiatry · 2021

A comprehensive clinical review of how ADHD presents in adults and the evidence base for treatment.

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article

Girls with ADHD: underdiagnosed and undertreated

ADDitude Magazine

Girls with ADHD: underdiagnosed and undertreated

ADDitude Magazine · 2024

Why ADHD in girls presents differently and why they are so often missed until adulthood, when the cost of that delay becomes clear.

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article

ADHD and time blindness

ADDitude Magazine

ADHD and time blindness

Dr. Russell Barkley · 2023

Russell Barkley explains why people with ADHD experience time so differently and what this means for daily functioning.

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article

Late diagnosis of ADHD in women

The Guardian

Late diagnosis of ADHD in women

The Guardian · 2023

Women who were diagnosed with ADHD in their 30s, 40s and 50s, and what finally getting answers changed for them.

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article

Rejection sensitive dysphoria in ADHD

ADDitude Magazine

Rejection sensitive dysphoria in ADHD

ADDitude Magazine · 2024

The intense emotional pain triggered by perceived rejection in people with ADHD: one of the most under-discussed aspects of the condition.

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Failing at Normal: An ADHD Success Story

Jessica McCabe (TEDx) · 2017

A ~17 minute personal talk on living with ADHD.

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The Center Cannot Hold

Elyn Saks · 2007

A memoir by a law professor who lives with schizophrenia. One of the most honest and hopeful accounts ever written about the condition.

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I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help!

Xavier Amador · 2000

An essential guide for families of people with schizophrenia who refuse treatment. The LEAP method has helped thousands of families.

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The Quiet Room

Lori Schiller · 1994

A memoir by a woman who developed schizophrenia at 17 and spent years in and out of psychiatric wards before finding stability.

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Surviving Schizophrenia

E. Fuller Torrey · 1983

The reference book for families of people with schizophrenia. Comprehensive, practical and updated through multiple editions.

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Hidden Valley Road

Robert Kolker · 2020

The story of a family with twelve children, six of whom were diagnosed with schizophrenia. A gripping and compassionate account.

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A Beautiful Mind

Sylvia Nasar · 1998

The biography of mathematician John Nash, whose schizophrenia and eventual recovery became one of the most remarkable stories in modern medicine.

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A Beautiful Mind

Ron Howard · 2001

Russell Crowe as John Nash. A film that humanises schizophrenia for general audiences while depicting psychosis with care.

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Shine

Scott Hicks · 1996

Geoffrey Rush plays pianist David Helfgott who experienced a severe mental breakdown. A moving film about recovery and music.

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The Soloist

Joe Wright · 2009

Jamie Foxx plays a Juilliard-trained musician living with schizophrenia on the streets of LA. A thoughtful film about friendship and limits of help.

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Take Shelter

Jeff Nichols · 2011

Michael Shannon plays a man experiencing visions he cannot distinguish from reality. One of the most accurate depictions of psychosis in cinema.

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article

Schizophrenia: overview and key facts

World Health Organisation

Schizophrenia: overview and key facts

WHO · 2024

The World Health Organisation's overview of schizophrenia: prevalence, symptoms, treatment and the global treatment gap.

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article

Understanding schizophrenia

NAMI

Understanding schizophrenia

NAMI · 2024

A comprehensive plain-language guide covering symptoms, treatment and how family members can best support someone with schizophrenia.

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article

Schizophrenia and violence: the real data

Psychiatric Services

Schizophrenia and violence: the real data

Psychiatric Services · 2014

A research-based article addressing the persistent myth that people with schizophrenia are violent, and what the evidence shows.

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article

Family psychoeducation in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia Research

Family psychoeducation in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia Research · 2015

Evidence that teaching families how to support a relative with schizophrenia significantly reduces relapse and improves outcomes.

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What Is Schizophrenia?

Anees Bahji (TED-Ed) · 2021

A short animated explainer (~5.5 min).

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The Noonday Demon

Andrew Solomon · 2001

A Pulitzer Prize-winning exploration of depression in all its dimensions. Widely considered the most complete book on the subject.

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Darkness Visible

William Styron · 1990

A short, devastating literary memoir about severe depression. Essential for anyone who wants to understand what depression really feels like.

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Reasons to Stay Alive

Matt Haig · 2015

A short, honest memoir about recovering from severe depression and anxiety. Widely read and genuinely helpful for families.

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Feeling Good

David Burns · 1980

The CBT self-help classic. Backed by more clinical evidence than almost any other self-help book. Still the standard recommendation.

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Lost Connections

Johann Hari · 2018

A journalist investigates the social and environmental causes of depression and anxiety, challenging the purely chemical explanation.

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The Bell Jar

Sylvia Plath · 1963

Plath's autobiographical novel about depression and breakdown. Still one of the most honest depictions of depression ever written.

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The Depression Cure

Stephen Ilardi · 2009

A lifestyle-based approach to depression covering exercise, social connection, sleep and light, with strong clinical evidence.

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When the Body Says No

Gabor Mate · 2003

An exploration of the mind-body connection and how chronic stress contributes to physical and mental illness.

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Silver Linings Playbook

David O. Russell · 2012

Bipolar disorder and depression depicted through two people managing mental health. Praised for its accurate, non-stigmatising portrayal.

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Ordinary People

Robert Redford · 1980

A family struggling with grief and depression after a tragedy. Won four Academy Awards. A masterpiece of emotional honesty.

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The Hours

Stephen Daldry · 2002

Three women across three eras connected by depression and Virginia Woolf. A profound exploration of what depression costs.

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It's Kind of a Funny Story

Ryan Fleck · 2010

A teenager voluntarily checks himself into a psychiatric ward. A warm, honest film about depression and getting help.

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article

Depression: overview and key facts

World Health Organisation

Depression: overview and key facts

WHO · 2024

The World Health Organisation's plain-language overview of depression: global scale, causes, symptoms and treatment.

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article

Depression in men: recognizing atypical symptoms

APA Monitor

Depression in men: recognizing atypical symptoms

APA Monitor · 2023

Why depression in men presents differently, more often as anger and irritability, and why this leads to missed diagnosis.

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article

Talking openly about depression at work

Harvard Business Review

Talking openly about depression at work

Harvard Business Review · 2023

Practical guidance on how to disclose depression at work and how managers should respond.

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I Had a Black Dog, His Name Was Depression

World Health Organization / Matthew Johnstone · 2012

Animated depiction of living with depression, widely used by mental-health organizations.

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What Is Depression?

Helen M. Farrell (TED-Ed) · 2015

A short animated clinical explainer.

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An Unquiet Mind

Kay Redfield Jamison · 1995

A memoir by a psychiatrist who lives with bipolar disorder. Beautifully written and essential reading for families and clinicians.

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Touched with Fire

Kay Redfield Jamison · 1993

Jamison examines the link between bipolar disorder and artistic temperament, drawing on the lives of poets, composers and painters.

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The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide

David Miklowitz · 2010

The most practical and evidence-based guide for people with bipolar disorder and their families.

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Electroboy

Andy Behrman · 2002

A raw, unflinching memoir about mania at its most extreme. One of the most honest accounts of bipolar disorder ever published.

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Madness: A Bipolar Life

Marya Hornbacher · 2008

A memoir about living with rapid-cycling bipolar I disorder. Difficult and honest in equal measure.

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Welcome to the Jungle

Hilary Smith · 2010

A young-adult guide to bipolar disorder written with honesty and humour. Particularly useful for teenagers newly diagnosed.

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Silver Linings Playbook

David O. Russell · 2012

A film depicting bipolar disorder through two people managing mental health. Praised for its non-stigmatising portrayal.

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Mr. Jones

Mike Figgis · 1993

Richard Gere plays a man with bipolar disorder cycling between manic highs and devastating lows. One of the earlier serious film treatments.

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Canvas

Joseph Greco · 2006

A family navigating life with a mother with bipolar disorder. Sensitive and practically useful for families.

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article

Bipolar disorder: diagnosis and overview

NIMH

Bipolar disorder: diagnosis and overview

NIMH · 2024

The National Institute of Mental Health's comprehensive fact sheet on bipolar disorder: types, symptoms, treatment and research.

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article

Distinguishing bipolar I from bipolar II

Psychiatric Times

Distinguishing bipolar I from bipolar II

Psychiatric Times · 2023

A clinical guide to the important distinctions between bipolar I and bipolar II; misdiagnosis between the two is extremely common.

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article

Living with bipolar: self-management strategies

DBSA

Living with bipolar: self-management strategies

DBSA · 2024

Practical self-management strategies covering mood tracking, sleep, medication and crisis planning.

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article

Bipolar disorder and creativity: myth or fact?

Psychological Medicine

Bipolar disorder and creativity: myth or fact?

Psychological Medicine · 2012

A research review examining the documented link between bipolar disorder and creative achievement.

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What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Helen M. Farrell (TED-Ed) · 2017

A short animated explainer.

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Brain Lock

Jeffrey M. Schwartz · 1996

The classic guide to OCD self-treatment based on cognitive neuroscience. Four steps that have helped thousands of people.

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Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts

Sally Winston · 2017

A clear, compassionate guide to understanding why intrusive thoughts happen and how to stop fighting them.

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Freedom from OCD

Jonathan Grayson · 2014

A comprehensive ERP guide written by one of the leading OCD therapists in the world. Covers all subtypes.

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The Imp of the Mind

Lee Baer · 2001

A guide to understanding intrusive, unwanted thoughts, especially violent and sexual obsessions that are rarely discussed openly.

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Rewind, Replay, Repeat

Jeff Bell · 2007

A memoir by a radio broadcaster about his life with severe OCD. Honest and gripping.

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Pure O

Rose Bretecher · 2015

A memoir about living with purely obsessional OCD: the form with no visible compulsions that goes unrecognised for years.

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The OCD Workbook

Hyman & Pedrick · 2010

A step-by-step self-help workbook based on ERP therapy. Practical and evidence-based.

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Talking Back to OCD

John March · 2007

A practical guide for teenagers with OCD and their parents. Written accessibly and grounded in ERP.

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As Good as It Gets

James L. Brooks · 1997

Jack Nicholson plays a man with severe OCD. Useful for starting conversations about OCD behaviours and the impact on relationships.

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The Aviator

Martin Scorsese · 2004

Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Howard Hughes and his severe OCD with extraordinary accuracy. A powerful depiction of the condition.

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Matchstick Men

Ridley Scott · 2003

Nicolas Cage plays a con artist with severe OCD and anxiety. A surprisingly accurate depiction of how OCD affects daily functioning.

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film

Turtles All the Way Down

Hannah Marks

Turtles All the Way Down

Hannah Marks · 2024

Teen with contamination OCD, adapted from John Green's novel. The International OCD Foundation praised it for accurate, non-superficial representation.

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article

OCD is not about being clean

IOCDF

OCD is not about being clean

International OCD Foundation · 2024

A clear explanation of how OCD actually works, dispelling myths and explaining intrusive thought cycles.

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article

Pure O: the misunderstood face of OCD

BBC Future

Pure O: the misunderstood face of OCD

BBC Future · 2022

An accessible explanation of purely obsessional OCD: the form most commonly misdiagnosed as anxiety or depression.

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article

Reassurance-seeking in OCD and how it backfires

OCD-UK

Reassurance-seeking in OCD and how it backfires

OCD-UK · 2024

Why giving reassurance to someone with OCD makes their condition worse over time, and what to do instead.

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article

ERP therapy for OCD: what the evidence says

IOCDF

ERP therapy for OCD: what the evidence says

IOCDF · 2023

A review of the evidence for exposure and response prevention, the gold-standard treatment for OCD.

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Debunking the Myths of OCD

Natascha M. Santos (TED-Ed) · 2021

A short animation correcting common OCD misconceptions.

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Dare

Barry McDonagh · 2015

A counter-intuitive approach to anxiety that has helped thousands of people. Move toward the anxiety rather than away from it.

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Hope and Help for Your Nerves

Claire Weekes · 1969

Written in 1969 and still one of the most effective guides to anxiety ever published. An acceptance-based approach ahead of its time.

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The Anxiety and Worry Workbook

Clark & Beck · 2011

A CBT workbook for anxiety grounded in the strongest evidence base in the field. Practical and immediately applicable.

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Rewire Your Anxious Brain

Pittman & Karle · 2015

Explains the neuroscience of anxiety in plain language and uses that understanding to develop practical coping strategies.

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At Last a Life

Paul David · 2006

A memoir and recovery guide by someone who suffered from severe anxiety for ten years. Written with insight that only lived experience gives.

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My Age of Anxiety

Scott Stossel · 2014

A journalist with severe anxiety disorder explores the science, history and philosophy of anxiety while recounting his own struggle.

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Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness

Gillian Butler · 1999

A CBT-based self-help guide specifically for social anxiety. Clear, practical and evidence-based.

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First, We Make the Beast Beautiful

Sarah Wilson · 2017

A memoir about anxiety that reframes it as something to live with and learn from rather than eliminate.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky · 2012

Logan Lerman plays a teenager with social anxiety, PTSD and depression. An honest and compassionate portrayal.

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Analyze This

Harold Ramis · 1999

Robert De Niro plays a mob boss with panic attacks seeing a psychiatrist. A comedy that treats anxiety with surprising accuracy.

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Tully

Jason Reitman · 2018

Charlize Theron in a film that deals honestly with exhaustion, anxiety and postpartum depression. Deeply resonant for caregivers.

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film

Turtles All the Way Down

Hannah Marks

Turtles All the Way Down

Hannah Marks · 2024

Centers anxiety alongside OCD, adapted from John Green's novel. Well-reviewed.

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article

Understanding anxiety disorders

ADAA

Understanding anxiety disorders

ADAA · 2024

Generalised anxiety, panic disorder and social anxiety: what they are, how they differ and what helps.

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article

The neuroscience of anxiety

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

The neuroscience of anxiety

Trends in Cognitive Sciences · 2023

What happens in the brain during anxiety and how that understanding is changing treatment approaches.

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article

Panic attacks explained

Harvard Health

Panic attacks explained

Harvard Health Publishing · 2024

A plain-language explanation of what happens in the body during a panic attack and why the physical symptoms are so frightening.

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article

Anxiety in children: early identification

Child Mind Institute

Anxiety in children: early identification

Child Mind Institute · 2024

How anxiety presents in children at different ages and what parents and teachers can do to help.

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How to Calm Your Anxiety, From a Neuroscientist

Wendy Suzuki (TED) · 2021

A short talk on evidence-based anxiety management.

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Expecting Adam

Martha Beck · 1999

A memoir about discovering during pregnancy that a child will be born with Down syndrome. Honest, funny and life-changing for many parents.

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Count Us In

Kingsley & Levitz · 1994

Two young men with Down syndrome speak in their own words about their lives, friendships and what they want the world to understand.

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Road Map to Holland

Jennifer Graf Groneberg · 2008

A memoir about raising a son with Down syndrome written with grace and honesty. Particularly useful for newly diagnosed families.

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The Down Syndrome Transition Handbook

Jo Ann Simons · 2010

A practical guide for families helping a young person with Down syndrome transition from school to adult life.

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Gifts: Mothers Reflect on Down Syndrome

Kathryn Lynard Soper · 2007

Sixty-three mothers share their experiences of raising a child with Down syndrome. Honest, varied and deeply moving.

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The Memory Keeper's Daughter

Kim Edwards · 2005

A novel about a doctor who secretly gives away his newborn daughter with Down syndrome. A story about shame, secrecy and denial.

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Common Threads

Cynthia S. Kidder · 1997

Celebrating life with Down syndrome through stories of individuals and families across different ages and backgrounds.

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The Peanut Butter Falcon

Nilson & Schwartz · 2019

Zack Gottsagen plays a young man with Down syndrome who escapes a nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a wrestler. Joyful and life-affirming.

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Monica and David

Alexandra Codina · 2009

A documentary following two adults with Down syndrome who fall in love and get married. Tender, real and beautifully observed.

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Where Hope Grows

Chris Dowling · 2014

David DeSanctis, an actor with Down syndrome, plays a grocery store worker whose friendship transforms a struggling man.

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article

Down syndrome: what families need to know

NDSS

Down syndrome: what families need to know

NDSS · 2024

A comprehensive guide covering early intervention, education, health monitoring and planning for adult life.

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article

Early intervention in Down syndrome

AJMG

Early intervention in Down syndrome

American Journal of Medical Genetics · 2023

What the research shows about the impact of early intervention on development outcomes for children with Down syndrome.

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article

Employment and adults with Down syndrome

NDSS

Employment and adults with Down syndrome

NDSS · 2022

Research and guidance on supported employment for adults with Down syndrome and the employers who have made it work.

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What Is Down Syndrome?

Down Syndrome Resource Foundation · 2019

A plain-language explainer from an advocacy and research organization dedicated to Down syndrome.

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The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome

Tony Attwood · 2006

The definitive guide to Aspergers written by the world's leading expert. Comprehensive, compassionate and essential for families.

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Pretending to Be Normal

Liane Holliday Willey · 1999

A memoir by a woman who spent decades masking her Aspergers. One of the first and most important accounts by a woman with the condition.

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Mark Haddon · 2003

A novel narrated by a boy with Aspergers investigating a murder mystery. A remarkable exercise in perspective-taking.

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Aspergirls

Rudy Simone · 2010

Focuses specifically on women and girls with Aspergers: their experience, their late diagnosis and what they need from the people around them.

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The Journal of Best Practices

David Finch · 2012

A funny, honest memoir about a man diagnosed with Aspergers in his late twenties and his efforts to become a better husband.

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Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome

Luke Jackson · 2002

Written by a 13-year-old with Aspergers for other teenagers. Direct, funny and more insightful than most adult-written books.

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Look Me in the Eye

John Elder Robison · 2007

A memoir by a man who grew up with undiagnosed Aspergers. Illuminating for families trying to understand what life feels like from the inside.

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Adam

Max Mayer · 2009

Hugh Dancy plays a young man with Aspergers navigating a romantic relationship after his father dies. Sensitive and surprisingly accurate.

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Mary and Max

Adam Elliot · 2009

A claymation film about an unlikely pen friendship between a lonely girl and a middle-aged man in New York with Aspergers. Extraordinary and moving.

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My Name Is Khan

Karan Johar · 2010

Shah Rukh Khan plays a Muslim man with Aspergers in post-9/11 America. A Bollywood drama that takes the condition seriously.

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documentary

Asperger's Are Us

Netflix

Asperger's Are Us

Netflix · 2016

Documentary following a comedy troupe of four friends on the spectrum, led by the subjects themselves.

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article

Asperger's in women: why diagnosis comes so late

The Atlantic

Asperger's in women: why diagnosis comes so late

The Atlantic · 2023

Why women and girls with Aspergers are diagnosed much later than men, and what the experience of masking does to mental health.

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article

Gender and Asperger's: the female phenotype

Journal of Child Psychology

Gender and Asperger's: the female phenotype

Journal of Child Psychology · 2022

Research on how Aspergers presents differently in women and girls and why this leads to systematic underdiagnosis.

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article

Employment outcomes for adults with Asperger's

Autism in Adulthood

Employment outcomes for adults with Asperger's

Autism in Adulthood · 2021

Research on the employment challenges faced by adults with Aspergers and what workplace accommodations make the most difference.

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An Animated Introduction to Asperger Syndrome

JKPVideos · 2013

An animated primer on Asperger syndrome.

Older content from a lower-confidence source — spot-check before featuring prominently.

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Overcoming Dyslexia

Sally Shaywitz · 2003

The authoritative guide to dyslexia written by a leading neuroscientist. Evidence-based, comprehensive and readable for parents and educators.

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The Dyslexic Advantage

Brock & Fernette Eide · 2011

A reframing of dyslexia that identifies the real cognitive strengths that come with dyslexic thinking.

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The Gift of Dyslexia

Ronald Davis · 1994

A strengths-based approach to dyslexia that has helped many people reframe their experience of reading difficulties.

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Proust and the Squid

Maryanne Wolf · 2007

A neuroscientist explores how the human brain learns to read and what happens when it struggles. Essential reading for educators.

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Reading in the Brain

Stanislas Dehaene · 2009

A cognitive neuroscientist explains how the brain processes written language and what goes differently in dyslexia.

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Smart Kids with Learning Difficulties

Weinfeld et al. · 2006

A guide for parents and educators of twice-exceptional children: gifted children who also have learning difficulties.

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Taare Zameen Par

Aamir Khan · 2007

An acclaimed Bollywood film about a boy with dyslexia transformed by a compassionate art teacher. One of the best films ever made about learning differences.

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Journey into Dyslexia

Alan Abramowitz · 2011

An HBO documentary featuring adults and children with dyslexia, including many who have achieved remarkable things.

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The Miracle Worker

Arthur Penn · 1962

The story of Anne Sullivan teaching Helen Keller to communicate. A powerful depiction of what patient, determined teaching can achieve.

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article

Dyslexia: definition, prevalence, and subtypes

Yale Center for Dyslexia

Dyslexia: definition, prevalence, and subtypes

Yale Center for Dyslexia · 2024

An authoritative overview of what dyslexia is, how common it is and the different ways it presents across individuals.

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article

Structured literacy: the evidence-based approach

International Dyslexia Association

Structured literacy: the evidence-based approach

IDA · 2024

What structured literacy is, why it works and why it should be the standard approach to reading instruction for all children.

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article

Dyslexia and self-esteem: the emotional toll

Annals of Dyslexia

Dyslexia and self-esteem: the emotional toll

Annals of Dyslexia · 2019

Research on the impact of dyslexia on self-esteem and mental health, and what supportive environments can do to mitigate it.

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article

Dyslexia and entrepreneurship: strengths research

Cass Business School

Dyslexia and entrepreneurship: strengths research

Cass Business School · 2023

Research showing dyslexic entrepreneurs are overrepresented in business, and why the cognitive profile of dyslexia may confer real advantages.

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What Is Dyslexia?

Kelli Sandman-Hurley (TED-Ed) · 2017

A short animated explainer.

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book

Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction

David Sheff

Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction

David Sheff · 2008

Memoir of a parent watching his son's addiction and recovery. Best for parents and families.

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film

Beautiful Boy

Felix Van Groeningen

Beautiful Boy

Felix Van Groeningen · 2018

Starring Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet, an adaptation of the Sheffs' memoirs. Praised for portraying addiction as illness and centering the family's perspective.

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Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong

Johann Hari (TED) · 2015

A ~15 minute talk reframing addiction around disconnection and connection.

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book

Still Alice

Lisa Genova

Still Alice

Lisa Genova · 2007

Novel about a Harvard professor with early-onset Alzheimer's, written by a neuroscientist. Adapted into the Oscar-winning film.

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What Is Alzheimer's Disease?

Ivan Seah Yu Jun (TED-Ed) · 2017

A short animated explainer of the disease's biology.

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