Below is a list of resources we recommend for patient and family education, support, and self-care. For treatment resources, please see our Treatment, Recovery, and Harm Reduction Services page for crisis lines, treatment resources, and help to find a therapist or other mental health resources.
- Alcohol and other substance use
- Depression and anxiety
- Insomnia
- Wellness, mindfulness, stress management and resilience
Alcohol and other substance use
Self-Care and mutual help
For individuals concerned about their alcohol or substance use
- Alcoholics Anonymous, a mutual help group for alcohol
- AlcoholScreening for those who want help deciding if they should cut down on their drinking
- The Alcohol Experiment is a self-managed program that supports people in taking a break from alcohol and reassessing the role of alcohol in their lives.
- Alcohol Treatment Navigator, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: advice for patients, friends and loved ones for treatment options and how to find treatment
- Facts for Patients using Cannabis (Marijuana) to Treat Symptoms (PDF)
- Narcotics Anonymous, the 12 step approach of AA for drugs
- Recovery Community Organizations offer peer support, social networking, mutual help meetings, healthy living groups and other non-clinical services to support your recovery:
- Rethinking Drinking, Alcohol & your health: A great resource for people with at-risk drinking or those considering whether they have a drinking problem
- Smart Recovery: A self-management addiction recovery program for those who prefer an alternative to AA/NA that is less spiritual and more about self-empowerment.
For family and friends of individuals experiencing substance misuse
- Al-anon
- Bereavement resources:
- Naranon
- SAMHSA
- SMART Recovery Family & Friends, life beyond addiction
Education and general information
- Alcohol and Health Patient flyer and brief educational video (PDF)
- National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – Information and resources for patients and families, as well as healthcare clinicians and researchers.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Information and resources related to efforts to promote mental health, prevent substance misuse and provide treatments to foster recovery and ensure equitable access and better outcomes.
- Substance use problems: (Healthwise® Health Encyclopedia article)
Treatment programs
Apps
- Connections (CHESS): continuing relapse prevention support (free)
- HereNow Connect: (Apple app) free-use access code: 794616
- NoMo: (Apple app) sobriety clocks and other tools (free)
- Step Away: research based and proven effective. (monthly subscription fee)
Books
- The Addiction Recovery Workbook: Powerful Skills for Preventing Relapse Every Day, Paula Freedman, PsyD
- The Alcohol Experiment: A 30-day, Alcohol-Free Challenge to Interrupt Your Habits and Help You Take Control, Annie Grace
- The 30-Day Sobriety Solution: How to Cut Back or Quit Drinking in the Privacy of Your Own Home, Jack Canfield and Dave Andrews
Depression and anxiety
Websites and references
Depression
- Depression (Healthwise Health Encyclopedia article)
- Depression (National Institute of Mental Health)
- Help with Depression (American Psychiatric Association)
- Moodjuice: Guides to help you think about emotional problems and work towards solving them
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Anxiety
- Anxiety (Healthwise Health Encyclopedia article)
- Anxiety: Short article on dealing with stress and anxiety)
- Anxiety.org: Information, treatment options and tools
- Anxiety Disorders (National Institute of Mental Health)
Web-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- MoodGYM: Learn cognitive behavioral therapy skills for preventing and coping with depression
- Beating the blues: Online CBT course, fee required
Apps
- Breathe2Relax: app for anxiety, stress, PTSD
- MoodKit: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for depression, anxiety, anger management
- Woebot: Free therapy chatbot based on CBT for anxiety and depression
- Sanvello: Anxiety and depression app
- MindDoc: Help for depression, anxiety, insomnia and eating disorders; subscription
- Noom Mood: Sign up online to use Noom app, fees
Books
- The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Anxiety, William Knauss, EdD
- The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression, William Knauss, EdD
- The Depression Workbook, Copeland (CBT)
- Feeling Good book and Handbook, David Burns (CBT)
- The Happiness Trap (ACT), Russ Harris
- The Mindful Way through Depression, Teasdale, Segal and Kabat-Zin
Insomnia
Websites and references
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) not interactive, mostly PDFs with email support
- Free cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, CBTi
- Sleepio, interactive CBT
Apps for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Books
- No More Sleepless nights, Hauri and Linde
- Say Good Night to Insomnia, Gregg Jacobs, PhD
Wellness, mindfulness, stress management and resilience
Websites and references
- Dartmouth Path Program: online, interactive self-assessment and self-care tools to address depression, stress, interpersonal conflict and other problems
- MBSR: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: online and in-person courses based on Dr. Jon-Kabat Zinn’s work at the University of Massachusetts
- Palouse Mindfulness: online course based on Dr. Jon-Kabat Zinn’s UMass Program on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
- Stress Management (Healthwise® Health Encyclopedia article)
Apps
- Calm: free trial, then subscription required.
- Headspace: mindfulness meditation; free 10 session intro then subscription required.
- Insight timer: guided meditations, basic app is free.
- Mindfulness Coach: free for the full site.
- Reveri: self-hypnosis for stress, focus, sleep, pain, smoking cessation. Free trial then subscription required.
Books
- Wherever You Go, There You Are, Jon Kabat-Zinn