Keep asking yourself “Why am I so unhappy?” Then you may have fallen victim of one of the main causes of depression and anxiety. In this article we’ll reveal why you’re feeling depressed and what to do about it.
Let me describe to you a time of personal unhappiness in my life, then tell me if it sounds familiar.
There was a time when I would feel like I have nothing and I would want everything. I was hungry. Hungry for women, for money, for success, for fame (I’m an actor so fame is, in this field, almost like a very large promotion—it’s desired). I craved. I would look at the life I had, determine it as not being good enough and then desire more.
At times, I would get more. There were times when, as an actor, I scored roles I really wanted. There were times when I got lucky in love. There were times when I was popular. I had fortune. Sure, I wasn’t a millionaire and I wasn’t a mega movie star, but I had more than enough to be thankful for. The problem? Instead of being thankful all I could thing was “What next?”
Does this sound familiar to you?
In most society’s around the world today, we are made to want more and more and more. I suppose it is the result of capitalism. Companies want to sell more and more products. How do they sell them? By making you want them. You want the iPhone 700 because the iPhone 699 has been out for a good two months now. . .. Advertising, social statutes and the idea of “keeping up with the Jones’” makes us feel like we need more and more and more. And guess where it stops? That’s right, nowhere.
You get the iPhone 700, the laptop with the four billion gigs RAM and the Porsche that only last month seemed like a fantasy, you enjoy them for what. . . a week? Then suddenly they’re not good enough and you want the next thing.
It’s not just products. Some people are the same way about relationships. Some people want new relationships all the time, others just want their relationship to get better and better and better, thinking it’s never good enough.
Nothing ever seems good enough.
Sounds like a recipe for depression to me.
The idea of having more and more and more is never going to lead you or I to happiness. We will never be content while looking for faults in things, while looking for ways things could be better.
Lack of contentment is one of the main causes of depression and anxiety
“Why I am so unhappy?” you ask.Because you are caught in the cycle or more and more, better and better. And that cycle is not conducive to happiness nor contentment.
Thankfully, there is a way out of this knot. The way out of this knot of unhappiness is easy to understand, yet a challenge in application. The way out of the knot is this:
Realise is it all bullshit.
Yes. It is bullshit. The idea of needing more and more and more is the most absurd, stupid, depressing and fruitless way you could possibly live your life. You will never genuinely be happy while looking for faults, while asking how things could be better, while wondering what comes next, while desiring the next best thing.
So how do you become happy? The answer is to accept life as it is, to focus on the present moment, to live in the here and now.
As I previously stated, that’s an easy idea to comprehend, but it is perhaps not so easy to apply. That’s why I’m suggesting this list of recommended reading on how to let go and live in the present moment. Some of the articles below are 100% free—you can read them here on this site. The remainder are books to purchase. All of these, however, meet the same aim: they instruct in how to live in the present moment, how to stop the cycle of wanting more and more In other words, they instruct how to be happy, now.
Here are the articles and books I recommend.
Stop Asking “Why Am I so Unhappy” by reading these. . .
Authentic Happiness — Positive psychology of happiness. Get this if you’re into science and psychology and want some great exercises on being happy
The Power of Now – living in the present moment and finding inner peace by being present (extremely helpful in getting over the MORE MORE MORE, BETTER BETTER BETTER attitude)
You’re about to read some extremely interesting facts about depression. Some of these facts about depression might actually shock you (you’ll see what I mean when you read the statistic for the percentage of Americans taking antidepressants. . . !) Without further ado, here are the most interesting facts about depression.
Facts About Depression
Extremely Interesting Facts About Depression 1 – 10
– 15 million people in the USA suffer from depression according to the statistics of the American Psychiatrical Association
– In the USA, depression is the second most common reason to get a sick-list
– living in overpopulated areas and taking in too much information (which could, for instance, include being on the inter net too much) are common causes of depression
– According to the World Health Organization, by 2020, depression will be most common form of illness
– Over 150 million people every year becomes disabled due to depression.
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Fact 6 – Researchers of the New-York University established that depression destroys nerve cells in the front part of the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for optimism.
– The American Psychiatrical Association comprised this list of the most depression-prone professions:
Baby-sitters, nannies, nurses and the unemployed (12.7%),
People working in public catering: waiters, cooks and barmen (10.3%),
Doctors, nurse and social workers (9.6%).
The odds of developing depression decrease when we do not associate with smokers.
– A spontaneous recovering after a lingering depression is very rare and takes about 10% among all cases, though the return of depression in such situations comes in the next 2-4 years.
– According to the researches carried out in the USA, people with frequent depressions have a two times higher chance to die from other diseases than other people.
Compiling this list of the best self improvement books of all time was no easy task. Anyone who is seriously into self improvement will likely have read hundreds of self improvement books through the years. Some were terrible, some were okay, many were good but the following, in my opinion, are the absolute best self improvement books ever.
Best Self Improvement Books: Awaken The Giant Within
Anthony Robbins, the nation’s leader in the science of peak performance, shows you his most effective strategies and techniques for mastering your emotions, your body, your relationships, your finances, and your life. The acknowledged expert in the psychology of change, Anthony Robbins provides a step-by-step program teaching the fundamental lessons of self-mastery that will enable you to discover your true purpose, take control of your life and harness the forces that shape your destiny.
Every life is a book of secrets, ready to be opened. The secret of perfect love is found there, along with the secrets of healing, compassion, faith, and the most elusive one of all: who we really are. We are still mysteries to ourselves, despite the proximity of these answers, and what we most long to know remains lodged deep inside.
We all want to know how to find a soul mate, what career would be most fulfilling, how to live a life with meaning, and how to teach our children well. We are looking for a personal breakthrough, a turning point, a revelation that brings with it new meaning. The Book of Secrets–a crystalline distillation of insights and wisdom accumulated over the lifetime of one of the great spiritual thinkers of our time–provides an exquisite new tool for achieving just that.
Because answers to the questions at the center of life are counterintuitive, they are often hidden from view, sequestered from our everyday gaze. In his ongoing quest to elevate our experience, bestselling author Deepak Chopra has isolated fifteen secrets that drive the narrative of this inspiring book–and of our lives. From “The World Is in You” and “What You Seek, You Already Are” to “Evil Is Not Your Enemy” and “You Are Truly Free When You Are Not a Person,” The Book of Secrets is rich with insights, a priceless treasure that can transport us beyond change to transformation, and from there to a sacred place where we can savor the nectar of enlightenment.
Best Self Improvement Books: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity–principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.
Filled with research-based techniques for expanding creativity and increasing productivity
This provocative book reveals why sitting in front of a light box can increase your creativity more than listening to a Bach concerto as example. The author Shelley H. Carson, a Harvard psychologist, explains that creativity isn’t something only scientists, investors, artists, writers, and musicians enjoy; in fact, all of us use our creative brains every day at home and at work. Each of us has the ability to increase our mental functioning and creativity by learning to move flexibly among several brain states.
Explains seven brain states or “brainsets” and their functions as related to creativity, productivity, and innovation. These include Connect, Reason, Envision, Absorb, Transform, Evaluate, and Stream brainsets.
Best Self Improvement Books: How to Make Friends and Influence People
• One of the best known motivational books in history: Since it was released in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People has sold more than 15 million copies. Carnegie’s first book is timeless and appeals equally to business audiences, self-help audiences, and general readers alike..
• Proven advice for success in life: Carnegie believed that most successes come from an ability to communicate effectively rather than from brilliant insights. His book teaches these skills by showing readers how to value others and make them feel appreciated rather than manipulated. .
• As relevant as ever before: In the age of Steven Covey and Tony Robbins, Dale Carnegie’s principles endure. The original edition was published in response to the Great Depression, and this fresh hardcover edition will appeal now more than ever to readers wanting tried and true advice on how to deal with a depressed economy. Readers can learn how to get the job they want, improve the job they have, and make the best of any situation.
Best Self Improvement Books: The Alchemist
“My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer,” the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky.” Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams.”
The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.
The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and, above all, following our dreams.
Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. The Alchemist is such a book. With over a million and a half copies sold around the world, The Alchemist has already established itself as a modern classic, universally admired. Paulo Coelho’s charming fable, now available in English for the first time, will enchant and inspire an even wider audience of readers for generations to come.
Best Self improvement Books: The Power of Now
It’s no wonder that The Power of Now has sold over 2 million copies worldwide and has been translated into over 30 foreign languages. Much more than simple principles and platitudes, the book takes readers on an inspiring spiritual journey to find their true and deepest self and reach the ultimate in personal growth and spirituality: the discovery of truth and light.
In the first chapter, Tolle introduces readers to enlightenment and its natural enemy, the mind. He awakens readers to their role as a creator of pain and shows them how to have a pain-free identity by living fully in the present. The journey is thrilling, and along the way, the author shows how to connect to the indestructible essence of our Being, “the eternal, ever-present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life that are subject to birth and death.”
Featuring a new preface by the author, this paperback shows that only after regaining awareness of Being, liberated from Mind and intensely in the Now, is there Enlightenment.
Nearly every time you see him, he’s laughing, or at least smiling. And he makes everyone else around him feel like smiling. He’s the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, a Nobel Prize winner, and a hugely sought-after speaker and statesman. Why is he so popular? Even after spending only a few minutes in his presence you can’t help feeling happier.
If you ask him if he’s happy, even though he’s suffered the loss of his country, the Dalai Lama will give you an unconditional yes. What’s more, he’ll tell you that happiness is the purpose of life, and that “the very motion of our life is toward happiness.” How to get there has always been the question. He’s tried to answer it before, but he’s never had the help of a psychiatrist to get the message across in a context we can easily understand.
The Art of Happiness is the book that started the genre of happiness books, and it remains the cornerstone of the field of positive psychology.
Through conversations, stories, and meditations, the Dalai Lama shows us how to defeat day-to-day anxiety, insecurity, anger, and discouragement. Together with Dr. Howard Cutler, he explores many facets of everyday life, including relationships, loss, and the pursuit of wealth, to illustrate how to ride through life’s obstacles on a deep and abiding source of inner peace. Based on 2,500 years of Buddhist meditations mixed with a healthy dose of common sense, The Art of Happiness is a book that crosses the boundaries of traditions to help readers with difficulties common to all human beings. After being in print for ten years, this book has touched countless lives and uplifted spirits around the world.
We reveal how to bear anxiety naturally with simple, effective and healthy steps to beating anxiety.
How To Beat Anxiety Naturally
In today’s modern age we are completely obsessed with quick fixes, even though quick fixes often are not the healthiest option. We want to feel better, but being dependent on pills is far from good. It is much better to deal with things naturally. The only question is how to beat anxiety naturally.
We’ll reveal how to beat anxiety naturally below, but first let me clarify: there are times for medication, and medication for anxiety can work for many people. Medication should not be the first port of call, however. It is much better to try to cure anxiety naturally before taking pills.
With that in mind I’d like to share five great ways how to beat anxiety naturally.
How To Beat Anxiety Naturally 1 : Support
A support group can be an immensely helpful think when dealing with anxiety. You can join a specific anxiety support group, or you can rely on your friends and family. Both are very good and healthy options. Emotional support will improve your confidence and naturally empower you to overcome anxiety.
How To Beat Anxiety Naturally 2 : Nutrition
Your diet is very important to anxiety. The problem is that when we’re stressed we tend to eat quick meals which are not healthy and which lead to more stress. It becomes a cycle that needs to be broken. Eat three meals a day, all healthy, sticking to healthy amounts of fat and sugar, and try to eat lots of veg. Limit caffeine too.
How To Beat Anxiety Naturally 3 : Walk
Walking is a fantastic way of getting some exercise and relaxing. Even better than regular walking, however, is zen walking. To do a zen walking meditation, find a path somewhere quiet away from road. Then begin walking slowly, focusing absolutely on the movement. Pay attention to each part of your step. this will focus your mind, promote mind body connection and remove negative thoughts.
How To Beat Anxiety Naturally 4 : Breathe
Breathing. You probably do it quite a lot already. You might not do it in the best way though. Try to breathe slowly, deeply into your lungs allow you whole body to fill with air. When you have ten minutes, do a breathing meditation by focusing your mind entirely on the process of breathing. This is another great relaxation exercise which will help tremendously.
How To Beat Anxiety Naturally 5 : Get Help
If the above steps do not work I recommend asking for help from a professional. The ability to ask for help when we need it is a great character strength and will the professinal advice you glean is certain to help.
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The Top Ten Self Help and Self Improvement Gurus
Deepak Chopra:
Time magazine called Deepak Chopra the “poet-prophet of alternative medicine.” Chopra has released over 50 self help books and is most famous for his work on enhancing the mind / body connection. He advocates such techniques as healing through meditation and body scanning.
Best Deepak Chopra Quote: “In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.”
How to do it: Meditate so you can be mindful even in the toughest of times.
Eckhart Tolle
Born in Germany and educate in Cambridge, Eckhart Tolle is probably the only self help guru to be able to inspire people as shallow as Paris Hilton (who read The Power of Now in jail). Eckhart Tolle advocates the teaching of Zen Bufddhism, including Zen walking meditation, mindfulness and oneness.
Best Eckhart Tolle Quote: “The past has no power over the present moment.”
How to do it: Live in the here and now. By being present and aware we empower ourselves to become the creative beings we are made to be.
Jack Canfield
One of the most influential figures in bringing self help to the mainstream, Jack Canfield is famous for his “Chicken Soup For The Soul” line of books which sold by the truck load. His self help tips include the standard fair of positive thinking. What makes Jack Canfield a great self help writer is that he is very down to Earth compared to his contemporaries.
Best Jack Canfield Quote: “Most everything that you want is just outside your comfort zone.”
How to do it: Do one thing you think your cannot do. This will make you believe you can do practically anything.
Dale Carnegie
Dale Carnegie was an American lecturer, writer and self improvement / self help guru famous for his book How To Win Friends And Influence People. Among his most important teachings are the ida (and now proven fact) that you can change the behaviour of other people by changing the way you act towards them.
Best Dale Carnegie Quote: Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.
How To Do It: Be thankful for what you have in life. This breeds a mentality of having rather than wanting.
Jon Kabat Zinn
Jon Kabat Zinn essentially took the teachings of Thich Naht Hahn and brought them to the West. His central teaching revolve around mindfulness and mindfulness based stress reduction. He advocates getting in touch with the senses and being alive to the world.
Best Jon Kabat Zinn Quote: “Wherever you go, there you are”
How To Do It: Again, mindfulness is the key here. “Wherever you go, there you are” essentially means to be present and in the moment. To accomplish that, practice mindfulness based meditations.
Wayne Dyer
International bestselling author of more than thirty books and one of the most famous faces in self improvement thanks to his very busy TV schedule, Wayne Dyer advocates philosophies associated to the New Thought Movement (which states that god is within us all and that our thoughts and mind hold unbridled power).
Best Wayne Dyer Quote: If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
How To Do It: Don’t just accept your own thoughts and beliefs as gospel. Challenge the way you look at the world. Look at things in new ways. This will change your perception of reality.
Stephen Covey
Most famous for his groundbreaking self improvement / personal development book “7 Habits” Steven Covey also sells products designed to make you more efficient and more successful – e.g planners and schedules. Covey studies as a Harvard MBA student and approaches self help with a business mentality. His advice is practical, straight-up no nonsense facts.
Best Stephen Covey Quote: There are three constants in life… change, choice and principles.
How to do it: Getting into the frame of mind where you understand that your own sincerity and resolution of mind are what ultimately matter.
Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill learned his teachings from Andrew Carnegie, the American steel magnate. Carnegie taught Napoleon Hill that success was a formula, a process anyone could follow. This led to his first book “The Law of Success.” This was followed by “Think and Grow Rich.” The book advocated 17 success principles, of which the first is “Definition of Purpose.”
Best Napoleon Hill Quote : A goal is a dream with a deadline.
How To Do It: Stop wishing on the future. Write down your life goal. State it precisely. Now attached a date to it. Pin it on the wall. You now have an official statement of what you will achieve and when. Now go do it.
Tony Robbins
Tony Robbins first gained attention in infomercials where he promoted Jim Rohn’s seminars. He then started his own seminars. His seminars are known for personality and are designed to stir excitement. They focus on immediate action. His two main teachings are : 1) keep energy and excitement high and 2) change negative thoughts for positive ones.
Best Tony Robbins Quote: If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.
How to do it: Do something new, whatever it is. New action leads us to new places.
Richard Carlson
Richard Carlson hit the bestasellers list with Dont Sweat the Small Stuff. Though Carlson was panned by critics at the time, in hindsight many have come to see his works as masterpieces. He advocated simple and practical advice, stating that we don’t need lofty ideas or clever plans, just a good slice of perspective.
Best Richard Carlson Quote: “Don’t sweat the small stuff…and it’s all small stuff.”
How to do it: Put things in perspective. Your issues probably aren’t that earth shatteringly important, to be frank. One day you’ll back and wonder what you ever worried for, so you might as well just stop worrying today.
ON this page: learn about hypnosis for anxiety and hypnotherapy for anxiety.
Hypnosis for Anxiety and Hypnotherapy for Anxiety
Anxiety attacks can be stopped through hypnotherapy and hypnosis, whether you visit a professional or whether you prefer to use self-hypnosis. We’re not talking about the magic clock-swinging hypnosis here, but rather very practical ways to control your subconscious mind in order to control anxiety attacks.
The reality of the hypnotherapy is that it does not work for some people. So, why waste hundreds of dollars visiting a hypnotherapist when you can try it out for yourself?
How to use hypnosis for anxiety and hypnotherapy for anxiety
*** try this exercise now to get to grips with it, then again later when you have more time. ***
Sit or lie down in a comfortable position with good posture and a straight back. Close your eyes and focus on your breath for five minutes (meditating) then, after those five minutes, begin to meditate on your body and focus on the sensation of your body relaxing. Continue until you feel relaxed.
Imagine: Think of the most relaxing scene you can think of. Maybe it’s on a beach or beside a waterfall, floating above the clouds. . . it doesn’t matter where so long as it is very relaxing.
Enter your imagination: Imagine that you are stepping into your imaginary scene. Gradually enter further into the scene. Use your sense to imagine. Look at details of the scene. Imagine any scents. Imagine the feeling of the relaxing air on your body and so on.
Count your way in: Count from one to ten, imagining that with each count you step more into the scene. You are heading towards the most relaxing part of the scene, a special place full of calm and relaxation. As you count, tell yourself that you are feeling more and more relaxed.
Trigger: In order for you to be able to recall the sensation of peace and relaxation you need to create a trigger. To do this, say a line to yourself that expresses ow you are feeling. For instance, “I am at total peace. I am safe, happy and comfortable.” Use your own words but find a short line that describes how you feel. Say that line to yourself then, as soon as you finish the line, pinch yourself on either hand on the flabby piece of skin just up from the thumb. Then repeat the line to yourself. now exit the scene.
The key to successful hypnosis for anxiety and hypnotherapy for anxiety is to be able to recreate those same sensations any time you need them. You have now created a trigger that will cause the feelings you experienced in your imaginary scene. When you need to relax, pinch the same piece of skin and say your line to yourself. This will relax you.
I hope you’ve found this hypnosis for anxiety and hypnotherapy for anxiety helpful. Click the link below and we will reveal more powerful ways of dealing with anxiety.
What are the very best self help books? It’s a hard question to answer, given that there are so many good self help books covering a variety of different topics. Here, though, is my personal pick of the very best self help books.
Top 10 Best Help Books
There are so many self help for depression books on the market these days that finding the right one amongst the bunch is like pulling a needle from a haystack. Thankfully, Arolemodel.com has narrowed the market down to the following top self help for depression books. All of these books are excellent. We recommend you read the product description and choose the one that sounds most applicable for yourself, but rest assured, all are very helpful books!
Clicking Images leads to the Amazon page for product details.
Best Self Help Books:
Depression: The Way Out of your Prison
Depression: The Way Out of Your Prison gives us a way of understanding our depression which matches our experience and which enables us to take charge of our life and change it. Dorothy Rowe shows us that depression is not an illness or a mental disorder but a defence against pain and fear, which we can use whenever we suffer a disaster and discover that our life is not what we thought it was.
Depression is an unwanted consequence of how we see ourselves and the world. By understanding how we have interpreted events in our life we can choose to change our interpretations and thus create for ourselves a happier, more fulfilling life.
Depression: The Way Out of Your Prison is for depressed people, their family and friends, and for all professionals and non-professionals who work with depressed people.
Best Self help Books
Living Well With Depression And Bipolar Disorder
Seven years ago, John McManamy was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Through his successful Web site and newsletter, he has turned his struggles into a lifelong dedication to helping others battling depression and bipolar disorder reclaim their lives. In Living Well with Depression and Bipolar Disorder, he brilliantly blends the knowledge of leading expert authorities with the experiences of his fellow patients, as well as his own, and offers extensive information on:
Diagnosing the problem
Associated illnesses and symptoms
Treatments, lifestyle, and coping
The effects of depression and bipolar disorder on relationships and sex
With a compassionate and eloquent voice, McManamy describes his belief that depression is a wide spectrum that reaches from occasional bouts of depression to full-fledged bipolar disorder. The first book to help patients recognize this diversity of the disorder, Living Well with Depression and Bipolar Disorder will help sufferers begin to reclaim their lives.
Best Self Help Books
Climbing Out of Depression: A Practical Guide for Sufferers
Countless people suffer from depression, and getting out of it is difficult. This book offers practical, humane, and spiritual help, providing a wealth of practical advice and ideas for overcoming it. Sue Atkinson writes not as an expert, but as someone who knows the feelings from close personal experience. She offers a varied menu of hints, quotations, and illustrations, and aims to reach the reader at any mood or need of the moment.
Best Self Help Books
Undoing Depression
Like heart disease, says psychotherapist Richard O’Connor, depression is fueled by complex and interrelated factors: genetic, biochemical, environmental. In this refreshingly sensible book, O’Connor focuses on an additional factor often overlooked: our own habits. Unwittingly we get good at depression. We learn how to hide it, how to work around it. We may even achieve great things, but with constant struggle rather than satisfaction. Relying on these methods to make it through each day, we deprive ourselves of true recovery, of deep joy and healthy emotion.
UNDOING DEPRESSION teaches us how to replace depressive patterns with a new and more effective set of skills. We already know how to “do” depression-and we can learn how to undo it. With a truly holistic approach that synthesizes the best of the many schools of thought about this painful disease, O’Connor offers new hope-and new life-for sufferers of depression.
Best Self Help Books
The Mindful Way Through Depression
If you’ve ever struggled with depression, take heart. Mindfulness, a simple yet powerful way of paying attention to your most difficult emotions and life experiences, can help you break the cycle of chronic unhappiness once and for all.
In The Mindful Way through Depression, four uniquely qualified experts explain why our usual attempts to “think” our way out of a bad mood or just “snap out of it” lead us deeper into the downward spiral. Through insightful lessons drawn from both Eastern meditative traditions and cognitive therapy, they demonstrate how to sidestep the mental habits that lead to despair, including rumination and self-blame, so you can face life’s challenges with greater resilience. Jon Kabat-Zinn gently and encouragingly narrates the accompanying CD of guided meditations, making this a complete package for anyone seeking to regain a sense of hope and well-being.
Best Self Help Books
Overcoming Depression and Low Mood
Fully updated and based on extensive feedback, Overcoming Depression and Low Mood is a series of short self-help workbooks for use by people experiencing low mood and depression. Developed in liaison with a wide range of experts, the course provides access to the proven Cognitive Behaviour Therapy ‘CBT’ approach. Providing accessible information and teaching key life skills the workbooks provide a practical and effective way of improving how you feel.
Compassionate and supportive, the Overcoming Depression and Low Mood course addresses all the common challenges faced during times of low mood. It is empowering and encouraging, helping readers to make positive changes to their lives in a planned and achievable way.
Readers learn how to: -discover why they feel as they do -develop better problem solving skills -rebalance relationships by becoming more assertive -become more active and rediscover the fun in their life -build helpful responses to life stresses -discover how to sleep better -learn how to change negative and undermining thinking -stop reacting in ways that backfire -make choices that boost a healthy lifestyle -plan for the future in order to stay well
One workbook is aimed at friends and relatives and describes how best to offer support.
The workbooks also provide an invaluable resouce for counsellors, general practitioners, nursing staff, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and self-help groups and organizations and are widely recommended by practitioners.
Best Self Help Books
Mind Over Mood
Developed by two master clinicians with extensive experience in cognitive therapy treatment and training, this popular workbook shows readers how to improve their lives using cognitive therapy. The book is designed to be used alone or in conjunction with professional treatment. Step-by-step worksheets teach specific skills that have helped hundreds of thousands people conquer depression, panic attacks, anxiety, anger, guilt, shame, low self-esteem, eating disorders, substance abuse and relationship problems. Readers learn to use mood questionnaires to identify, rate, and track changes in feelings; change the thoughts that contribute to problems; follow step-by-step strategies to improve moods; and take action to improve daily living and relationships. The book’s large-size format facilitates reading and writing ease.
Best Self Help Books
Feeling Good
The good news is that anxiety, guilt, pessimism, procrastination, low self-esteem, and other “black holes” of depression can be cured without drugs. In Feeling Good, eminent psychiatrist, David D. Burns, M.D., outlines the remarkable, scientifically proven techniques that will immediately lift your spirits and help you develop a positive outlook on life. Now, in this updated edition, Dr. Burns adds an All-New Consumer′s Guide To Anti-depressant Drugs as well as a new introduction to help answer your questions about the many options available for treating depression.
- Recognise what causes your mood swings
- Nip negative feelings in the bud
- Deal with guilt
- Handle hostility and criticism
- Overcome addiction to love and approval
- Build self-esteem
- Feel good everyday
There are many ways how to handle depression naturally. Through research and personal experience, the following are the absolute top ten ways how to handle depression naturally
If you begin to feel depressed take a break from work, relax, do exercise. . . do whatever it takes to become positive
2 : Exercise
Exercise is likely the only undoubted aid to depression. While medication and other possible therapies are often disputed, doing some gentle exercise like walking, yoga or swimming is universally agreed to be positive.
3:Diet
The right diet is high in calcium and B vitamins. Avoid sugar and refined carbs. Always eat high quality healthy food.
4: Herbal Supplements
Herbs have medicinal properties and are good for healing. St John’s Wart is good Also consider passion flower, lavender, lemon balm and calerian. Consult a doctor for specialist advice.
5: Sleep
It’s important to sleep for the right amount of time — neither too much nor too little.
6: Get out in nature
For relaxation and exercise go somewhere full of beautiful nature. The clear air, bright colours and sense of escape will help you to relax.
7: Get creative
Art therapy is a brilliant and natural way of dealing with depression Create something freely; it will help you to let go of depressive thoughts.
8: Compassion
Sometimes when we are depressed it can be very hard to think of anything other than ourselves. Think about other people.You’ll be surprised how beneficial an act of kindness can be.
9: Rely on good friends
Your best friends will be there for you and will listen to you speak no matter what you have to say. Go to them. They will help.
10: Talk through your feelings intellectually
It’s been scientifically proven that we can gain control of our emotions just by talking about them intellectually. Talk through how you’re feeling. It will help Remember to consult a medical professional Call a friend. It could be that we are afraid of becoming a burden to those that love us, but we must remember we are relational beings — specially designed to live in community with others. Resist the temptation to isolate yourself and call a friend!
These top ten ways how to handle depression naturally are all great for relaxation, general health and for improving mood. Try to use all of these naturally ways how to handle depression.
Self improvement tips can be the key to SUCCESS! ! !. .errr. .. sometimes. Sometimes they can completely ruin your life too.
Here are five dodgy self improvement tips that have been recommended by self help”gurus” but that don’t work. In fact, not only do they not work, they completely ruin your life!
Dodgy self improvement tips 1: Venting your anger will not get rid of your anger, instead it will cause you to create even more anger and thus becomes a never ending cycle of rage. This is one of the worst self improvement tips ever.
Dodgy self improvement tips 2: Forcing yourself to be positive at all times will only create delusional ways of thinking and will prevent you from overcoming negative aspects of yourself and your life.
Dodgy self improvement tips 3: Visualising can be extremely effective and is used by professional athletes the world over. However, visualising is only effective if you visualise the entire process of whatever activity you are doing. Simply visualising success will never achieve anything and will only make things worse.
Dodgy self improvement tips 4: Affirmations are an awfully inadequate way of making yourself feel good and will only lead to delusions. It is much more effective to speak to friends and families who will give you honest affirmations from their genuine and honest point of view.
Dodgy self improvement tips 5: Pushing yourself till it hurts will only ever tire you out. The saying “What doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger” is utter nonsense. Pushing yourself too hard will damage your self esteem, your mind and your body. Do not do it.
So, there we are, five self improvement tips that have the power to completely ruin your life. Do not use these self improvement tips ever!
There are many great tools in self help for depression and anxiety. For thousands of years, people have suffered from these two afflictions the world over and have written about their experiences. There writings have evolved from person to person over the passage of time to a point where we now have a vast catalogued of resource in self help for depression and anxiety.
Tools in self help for depression and anxiety come from all different cultures and societies and range from meditation to acupuncture to more traditional running / swimming type exercises.
Here are ten of the best tools in self help for depression and anxiety.
Self Help for Depression and Anxiety Tools
Meditation: I know I harp on a lot about meditation on this site. Sorry, regular readers. But let’s face it, meditation is one of the most powerful tools in the world. With meditation you can quiet your mind and find inner peace. And it’s simple to do: just close your eyes and focus on your breathing for twenty minutes, allowing thought to subside. Simple and effective.
Tai Chi: Tai Chi is very similar to meditation in the sense that both are breathing-based techniques. In Tai Chi you move your body smoothly and in a relaxed fashion while focussing on your breath. This stills your mind much like mediation but also gets your body moving, meaning you release those “Happy Chemicals.”
Walk: A good walk can cure a lot of things and especially if you’re walking out in the sunshine. Let the sun warm your skin, soak up those essential vitamins from the sun’s rays and, at the same time, get a bit of exercise and relaxation through walking.
Talk to friends: Your good friends will know(whether you’ve directly told them or not) that you’re not feeling great. Just go talk to them. They will offer support and comfort and you’ll be able to discuss the reasons for your depression.
Cuddles: No, I’m not joking, cuddles are one of the best tools in self help for depression. Cuddling someone makes you release happy chemicals. Physical contact with other people is positive and psychologically stimulating. Go hug someone. Could be your girlfriend, your mum, a friend or a puppy. Snuggling is GOOD.
Body Language: Believe it or not, but the way in which you hold your body has a massive effect on the way you feel. If you walk around with your head down, your hands in your pockets, your chin low, your arms folded and you avoid eye contact with others, you will feel like trash. Try it. Feels depressive. Now take your hands out your pockets, hold your chin up, look forwards rather than down and look people in the face. This feels a heck of a lot better.
These tools of self help for depression will make you feel a lot better. Try them right now. Go ahead. Leave this page open as it is and just try doing one or two of the exercises we’ve discussed above. Feels good, doesn’t it? Bookmark this page so you can look over these tools any time you like.
CONSULT A DOCTOR BEFORE TRYING EXERCISES ON LIFEANDSELF.COM
Below we will be sharing a 100% free and comprehensive guide to self help for depression. This guide will tell you absolutely everything you need to know about curing depression through self help.
First of all thought, it is VITAL that we cover some basic tips about how to successfully use self help for depression.
How to use self help for depression WITHOUT FAILURE
Depression is an extremely sensitive subject. In order to successfully overcome depression it is imperative to take a sensible and mature approach. Here are some very important facts to know about self help for depression.
Self help gurus are not pros: There are tons of self help websites on the internet. Most of them are run by individuals who are not professionals in their field. The majority are run by very passionate people who have overcome depression themselves but who are not qualified to offer advice. Read what websites have to say about depression, but always consult a doctor before trying any new treatments for depression or exercises for depression.
Self Help Often Fails: Self help works for some people and fails for others. The reality of the situation is that we are all unique. What works for one person might not work for another. In fact, what cures depression in one person might make depression work in another. Always bear in mind, just because one approach to depression worked for one person doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for someone else.
Go Easy: I could repeat this a million times and I do hope it’s taken seriously. You should ALWAYS go easy on yourself. No matter who tells you to “Push yourself,” dont. There have been cases of people dying on self help courses. Yes, dying (and they weren’t even ill). The reason is because the self hep course told them to push themselves to the limit. Word to the wise: if you push yourself to the limit you are going to BREAK. Go easy. No matter what kind of self help for depression you’re doing, you should always be comfortable. Please do not push too hard. It will only cause harm. Depression takes time to beat.
Your gut instinct: Following on from the above point, you should always follow your gut instinct. If you feel uncertain about a specific piece of advice in self help for depression, don’t do it. Simple.
Okay, with these tips done we’re ready to use the self help for depression guide. . .
GET THE FREE GUIDE TO SELF HELP FOR DEPRESSION HERE :
These depressionself help tips are a great way to help yourself through depression. Of course, we first need to state that if you are suffering from depression you should consult a doctor or healthcare professional.
That being said, here are the very best depression self help tips.
The Best Depression Self Help Tips
Depression Self Help Tips 1: Go Gently
It is always important when suffering from depression to go easy on yourself. Depression causes a lack of energy, fatigue, lack of motivation and more, so it can be hard to do too much. It’s important that you try and be your best friend. Do what you can, but don’t push yourself to do any more than that.
Depression Self Help Tips 2: Support
It doesn’t matter where you get support from, get it wherever you can. If you have a loving family, that’s great. If you have friends that’s great too. If you need to find a depression support group, that’s also fine. Find people who will help with depression, people who will just be that gentle supporting hand that you need from time to time. Accept their support. It helps both you yourself and them (offering support to others when needed builds a person’s self esteem and offers numerous health benefits, which you can read about in our guide to the importance of kindness).
Depression Self Help Tips 3: Find sources of positivity
We all get positivity from different places. For men, personally, I find positivity in meditation, music, friends, family, writing, movies, poetry, dance and gymnastics. These are sources of positivity for me. Create a list of sources of positivity in your life. Take five minutes to do this now before reading on. Then, the next time you’re feeling depressed ou can turn to your sources of positivity for a helping hand.
Depression Self Help Tips 4: Meditate
Meditation is immensely helpful to mental health. While there have been some (very rare) reports of meditation making symptoms of depression worse, for the vast majority of people it is very very helpful. You can learn everything you need to know about meditation and depression on TheDailyMeditation.com (our sister-site).
Depression Self Help Tips 5: Sleep
Having suffered from minor depression myself I know that it can be extremely hard to sleep when depression. Your mid just refuses to switch off. While there are certain depression medications that can help, they often don’t (my own medication led me to have extremely disturbed sleep). You can meditating ten minutes before bed, or do things throughout the day to make yourself tired so you will sleep at night. Trying to stick to one sleep schedule helps too.
Self Help for Depression Tips 6: Diet
You are what you eat. That’s true for your body and your mind. Your mind needs the right vitamins and minerals just as your body does. I personally don’t bother with the highly technical specific of which exact vitamins you need in what amount etc. We all know what basic healthy eating is. Limit caffeine. Limit sugar. Eat vegetables. Avoid KFC etc.
Self Help for Depression Tips 7: Exercise
There is a natural link between exercise and depression. When we don’t exercise we don’t allow our bodies to release certain chemicals. Exercise releases happy chemicals that naturally make you feel happier. Again, don’t push yourself. Exercise in small amounts. Do what you can do comfortably. Maybe just go for a walk, do a little Tai Chi or something relaxing like that. You shouldn’t ever overdo it.
Self Help for Depression 8: Sunshine on a Rainy Day
I’m going to admit that I’m probably the last person in the world who should say this, but you need sunshine. Being a nerdy British guy, living in a country where it’s only sunny two days a year and on those days I’m far too preoccupied with writing to go out, I’ve no right to tell you to. But sunshine is good. Lack of sunshine throws your body’s internal rhythm out of whack. It can also lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder. Get sunshine each day or end up looking like a nerdy British vampire like I do . . . you have been warned XD
Self Help for Depression 9: Challenge the Negative
When you’re depressed you’re going to think negative. That’s pretty much guaranteed. But you don’t have to settle for negative thinking. You can challenge your negative thoughts with more positive ones. For instance, as I sit here a negative thought — “I’m getting fat because I haven’t exercised lately” I can challenge it with a positive thought – “I’m going to get healthier because I’m about to go for a run.”
. . . I didn’t actually go for a run, but you get the idea. . .
Self Help for Depression 10: Get through this and you are sorted for life
This piece of advice is very very personal to me. At the lowest point in my life I realised one thing that changed my entire world. That one thing was this “If you get through depression you will have mastered life.” Think about it. Depression is the biggest challenge we face. It’s the worst of times. Depression makes you feel your lowest. But when you learn to get through depression you will learn to master your mind. Get through this and you can get through anything. ANYTHING. Life is going to be a freaking DODDLE once you beat depression. Well, that thought worked for me anyway. I overcame my problem and now I know that no matter how I feel, no matter where I go, I will have the strength to overcome all burdens. It’s like the immortal line of Albert Camus “In the depths of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”
You are going to beat this.
DISCLAIMER: Consult a healthcare professional before using advice posted on LifeandSelf.com
