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'A TRULY IMPORTANT BOOK' JOHN HUMPHRYS 'FASCINATING... SHOCKING' SPECTATOR What is paranoia? What makes us mistrustful? How can this be overcome? Daniel Freeman, Professor of Psychology at Oxford, has spent thirty years at the vanguard of paranoia research and treatment. This remarkable and moving book tells the story of that journey. For decades, conventional wisdom held that paranoia was only experienced by people with severe mental health problems and little could be done to rectify its disastrous effects. Paranoia gives us a front row seat as Freeman turns the traditional view on its head. He develops life-changing treatments for clinical paranoia – often using state-of-the-art technology like virtual reality. He reveals that suspicion is rife in society, with paranoia widespread, conspiracy theories rampant and emotion all too often trumping evidence. He discovers the causes of mistrust, including the role of genes, trauma, lack of sleep, worry, low self-confidence, cannabis use and hearing voices, and delves into the murky world of Covid-19 conspiracy theories. Lighting up the narrative throughout are the rarely heard voices of people whose lives have been almost wrecked by paranoia – and then in many cases transformed by Freeman's groundbreaking treatments. This is also a practical book. Freeman shows how we can measure our own levels of mistrust. He explains how we can remedy things if those levels are higher than we'd like, because although mistrust can seem engrained, things can change for the better. Ultimately, it can be overcome. Compelling and compassionate, this is a gripping tale from the front line of suspicion – an impassioned plea for the urgent rebuilding of trust between us all.
Do you feel like you're drinking too much or using too much, but you don't necessarily want to give it up for good? A powerful alternative to "abstinence-only" approaches, the "harm reduction" model outlined in this evidence-based workbook draws on practices from motivational interviewing (MI) to help you explore your relationship with substance abuse, and find the motivation needed to create an individualized recovery plan. In The Harm Reduction Workbook for Addiction, you'll find skills-based exercises to help you focus on self-reflection; identify your strengths; discover common "life themes," values, and goals; and explore different reasons you may have for change. Most importantly, you'll find the tools needed to create your own "action plan" for moving forward and changing your relationship to substances. This workbook will help you: - Explore your relationship to substance abuse - Identify your strengths, values, and goals - Find your own motivations to change Change doesn't have to happen overnight.If you're ready to transform your relationship with addictive substances and change your life for the better, this workbook can help you get started now.
Psychotherapist Josh Fletcher takes us on a tour of the inner mind of a therapist—revealing a hilariously candid point of view on the therapeutic process, a practical guide to therapy, and maybe a few more cobwebs and dark corners than one might expect. It's everything you ever wanted to know about therapy (and maybe a few things you didn't). Trauma, heartbreak, anxiety, and mourning are all parts of the human experience, and Josh Fletcher's mission in life is to normalize the need to find a trusted professional with whom you can discuss all of life's scariest aspects. Through the lens of four of his patients—Daphne, a wildly successful actor who still struggles to find contentment; Levi, an intimidating bouncer with obsessive tendencies who's trapped in a sex cult; Zahra, an anxious, people-pleasing doctor in the midst of unpacking serious trauma; and Noah, a shy newcomer with some major closet skeletons—you'll share in their self-discovery and recovery as they untangle themselves from an all-too-familiar web of emotions. In between sessions, Fletcher struggles to balance his own well-being with that of his patients as details from his sometimes messy but always heartfelt personal life reveal that therapists aren't immune to getting tripped up by the same hurdles as the rest of us. And How Does That Make You Feel? is a primer on what to expect from therapy, how to find the right therapist, and the most common afflictions treated in therapy (such as depression, OCD, and panic attacks) as well as a darkly hilarious narrative about what's going on in your therapist's mind before, during, and after your session. Above all, it's filled with the promise that a better future is always possible . . . if we're willing to seek help and do the work.
A practical program rooted in optimism to help you live fully and joyfully in an imperfect, turbulent world As the first medical director and attending psychiatrist at the World Trade Center Mental Health Program, Dr. Sue Varma worked directly with civilian and first-responder survivors in the aftermath of 9/11. There, she met people at every point of the stress and trauma continuum. She saw devastation and stagnancy as much as she saw amazing resilience and growth. She asked herself: how do some people survive, even thrive, despite profound challenges? And how can we optimize the things we have control over, while buffering ourselves from stress? Through her work with patients and combining philosophy, her own personal experience, and a review of the latest research in psychology, psychiatry, medicine, and neuroscience, Dr. Varma discovered that the answer lies in cultivating an optimistic mindset that stays tethered to the real world and helps us make sound and reasonable decisions. This epiphany inspired Practical Optimism, Dr. Varma’s powerful program with eight pillars to help all of us experience a sense of meaning, mastery, and self-acceptance and create lives filled with joy and purpose. Optimists, research has shown, are not just happier and more successful, but physically healthier. And if you’re a natural-born pessimist? No problem: the most vital piece of the Practical Optimism program is that it is a practice , a skillset that we can choose to adopt and get better at every day. This book isn’t about magical thinking. Practical optimists are resourceful, realistic, and thoughtful problem solvers who possess something of rare value: the inner resources to cope during a crisis and to use as fuel to flourish. Complete with self-assessment quizzes and exercises, Practical Optimism will help us all see the world for the better and reach our true potential. Practical Optimism is a scientific and tangible pathway to boosting health, happiness, resilience, success, and longevity.
Learn to identify—and combat—Systemic Shame, the feeling of self-hatred and disempowerment that comes from living in a society that blames individuals for systemic problems, with this invaluable resource from the social psychologist and author of Unmasking Autism . Systemic Shame is the socially engineered self-loathing that says we are solely to blame for our circumstances. It tells us that poverty is remedied by hard-working people pulling themselves up by their bootstraps, that marginalized people are personally responsible for solving the problem of their own oppression, and that massive global crises like climate change can be solved with individual action. Feeling overwhelmed? That’s your problem, too. The more we try and ultimately fail to live up to impossible societal standards of moral goodness, the more shame we feel—and the more we retreat into isolation and despair. Social psychologist Dr. Devon Price knows firsthand the destructive effects of Systemic Shame; he experienced shame and self-hatred as he grappled with his transgender identity, feeling as if his suffering was caused by his own actions rather than systems like cissexism. And it doesn’t just end with internal feelings of anguish. It causes us to judge other people the same way we fear being judged, which blocks us from seeking out the acceptance and support we need and discourages us from trying to improve our communities and our relationships. In Unlearning Shame , Dr. Price explores how we can deal with those hard emotions more effectively, tackling the societal shame we’ve absorbed and directed at ourselves. He introduces the antidote to Systemic Shame: expansive recognition, an awareness of one’s position in the larger social world and the knowledge that our battles are only won when they are shared. He provides a suite of exercises and resources designed to combat Systemic Shame on a personal, interpersonal, and global level through rebuilding trust in yourself, in others, and in our shared future. By offering a roadmap to healing and a toolkit of actionable items, Unlearning Shame helps us reject hopelessness and achieve sustainable change and personal growth. * This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF which contains exercises, tools, and prompts from the book.
Discover the remarkable ways your nervous system works in service of your safety and well-being. Polyvagal Theory, developed by researcher and scientist Dr. Stephen Porges and popularized by therapist Deb Dana, has impacted countless lives. It has changed the way therapists work with their clients and provided a pathway toward healing for those who have experienced hardship or trauma. In Polyvagal Prompts, Deb Dana and Courtney Rolfe invite listeners to explore their nervous systems through Polyvagal Theory with engaging questions and exercises. Listeners are guided in noticing their systems, listening with curiosity, and reflecting on what they learn. The prompts can be used as a daily practice or to explore specific topics at the listener's own pace and are also ideal for helping clients track and reflect upon their polyvagal-informed therapies. No matter how listeners decide to explore, Polyvagal Prompts offers an invaluable opportunity to begin the life-changing journey of befriending one's nervous system.
An unforgettable, illuminating story of how men live and how they survive, from Abraham Verghese, the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of Cutting for Stone and The Covenant of Water, an Oprah's Book Club Pick. "Heartbreaking. . . . Indelible and haunting, [The Tennis Partner] is an elegy to friendship found, and an ode to a good friend lost." — The Boston Globe When Abraham Verghese, a physician whose marriage is unraveling, relocates to El Paso, Texas, he hopes to make a fresh start as a staff member at the county hospital. There he meets David Smith, a medical student recovering from drug addiction, and the two men begin a tennis ritual that allows them to shed their inhibitions and find security in the sport they love and with each other. This friendship between doctor and intern grows increasingly rich and complex, more intimate than two men usually allow. Just when it seems nothing can go wrong, the dark beast from David's past emerges once again—and almost everything Verghese has come to trust and believe in is threatened as David spirals out of control.
A NATIONAL BESTSELLER In this raw coming-of-age memoir, in the vein of The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace , The Other Wes Moore , and Someone Has Led This Child to Believe , Rob Henderson vividly recounts growing up in foster care, enlisting in the US Air Force, attending elite universities, and pioneering the concept of "luxury beliefs"—ideas and opinions that confer status on the upper class while inflicting costs on the less fortunate. Rob Henderson was born to a drug-addicted mother and a father he never met, ultimately shuttling between ten different foster homes in California. When he was adopted into a loving family, he hoped that life would finally be stable and safe. Divorce, tragedy, poverty, and violence marked his adolescent and teen years, propelling Henderson to join the military upon completing high school. An unflinching portrait of shattered families, desperation, and determination, Troubled recounts Henderson's expectation-defying young life and juxtaposes his story with those of his friends who wound up incarcerated or killed. He retreads the steps and missteps he took to escape the drama and disorder of his youth. As he navigates the peaks and valleys of social class, Henderson finds that he remains on the outside looking in. His greatest achievements—a military career, an undergraduate education from Yale, a PhD from Cambridge—feel like hollow measures of success. He argues that stability at home is more important than external accomplishments, and he illustrates the ways the most privileged among us benefit from a set of social standards that actively harm the most vulnerable.
Finally understand why you do things differently from the rest! Psych2go created this guide to connect the history of human psychology with practical mental health therapy tools to help you thrive in your everyday life. Discover things about yourself! With The Psychology of People, learn about the history of human psychology-and apply it to your own life. Understand your innate need to conform, the roots of your social anxiety, how to heal and grow emotionally-and so much more! An empath's survival guide to psychology. Written by the creators of the popular YouTube channel, blog, and website Psych2go, The Psychology of People is one of the best mental wellness books that gives practical and applicable methods! From the ethics of experimental psychology to therapy techniques, The Psychology of People helps you develop empathy for yourself and others. Inside, you'll find: - Your very own therapist on the go, packed with practical methods and experiments - How to understand and rewire your brain by discovering psychological-based patterns in yourself and others - One of the best books about psychology, the history of psychology, and the ethics of experimental science.
'This book captures the magic of being in flow . . . Highly recommend' RONNIE O'SULLIVAN 'Entertaining and enlightening' MATTHEW SYED ' Simon has looked into something we actually all know or at least once did - the ability to live life more in the now' JASON FOX Simon Mundie, host of The Life Lessons podcast , draws on interviews with some of the world's sporting legends to redefine how we understand – and pursue - success through 8 key lessons. As the sports reporter for BBC Radio 1 for the best part of a decade, Simon Mundie was pitch-side at many of the most high-profile sporting events in history. It was often thrilling, but the emphasis always seemed to be on results, tactics and the score. But as the saying goes, sport is a metaphor for life – so Simon set out to explore that. Drawing on interviews with sporting legends from Jonny Wilkinson to Kate Richardson-Walsh, Caitlyn Jenner to Goldie Sayers , along with psychologists, philosophers and world-renowned thinkers, Simon shares some of the tools and techniques that sportspeople have embraced to grow and evolve. From developing emotional intelligence to the power of true acceptance and the joy of getting in flow , he explores eight universal themes that are highlighted in sport, but that are all too easily overlooked. What can the careers of Gaël Monfils and Andy Murray teach us about exploring our potential? What can England's Olympic gold-medal winning hockey team teach us about the power of being truly selfless? Wise and inspiring, Champion Thinking illustrates that the contentment we are all looking for isn't somewhere 'out there' – it's actually so close that we tend to overlook it. 'The intention behind this book is beautiful, and I highly recommend it' RUPERT SPIRA 'Mundie understands something most of us discover eventually: that the pursuit of sporting excellence is the best guide we have to what it means to be human' AMOL RAJAN.
In Speak of It, Marcos McPeek Villatoro explores how he channeled his Latino roots to come to terms with the childhood sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of a relative in his home in Appalachia, and he recounts his ensuing struggle with trauma and mental illness. The son of a Salvadoran mother and Scotch Irish mechanic father, Marcos spent much of his life trying to break away from his Southern Appalachian past and the trauma experienced there and striving to get closer to his Salvadoran heritage. His journey includes steeping himself in the Spanish language and Latin American literature, especially the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez; a stint in Nicaragua with Witness for Peace, followed by missionary work in Guatemala; and social-justice work with Mexican migrant farmworkers in Alabama. Each experience brought him closer to understanding where he came from and to forging an identity as a whole self in the wake of trauma. Riveting, horrifying, moving, and inspiring, Speak of It is a testament to the healing power of language, books, and identity.
All of us would like to live longer, or to slow the debilitating effects of age. In How We Age, Coleen Murphy shows how recent research on longevity and aging may be bringing us closer to this goal. Murphy, a leading scholar of aging, explains that the study of model systems, particularly simple invertebrate animals, combined with breakthroughs in genomic methods, have allowed scientists to probe the molecular mechanisms of longevity and aging. Understanding the fundamental biological rules that govern aging in model systems provides clues about how we might slow human aging, which could lead in turn to new therapeutics and treatments for age-related disease. Among other vivid examples, Murphy describes research that shows how changing a single gene in the nematode worm C. elegans doubles its lifespan, extending not only the end of life but also the youthful, healthy part of life. Drawing on work in her own lab as well as other recent research, Murphy chronicles the history and current state of the field, explaining longevity's links to reproduction and mating, sensory and cognitive function, inheritances from our ancestors, and the gut microbiome. Written with clarity and wit, How We Age provides a guide to the science: what we know about aging, how we know what we know, and what we can do with this new knowledge.
Tools and anecdotes to reframe aging from the bestselling author of Work as a Spiritual Practice and Aging as a Spiritual Practice. Aging is a journey: a decades-long adventure of new opportunities and surprises. For many men, the decline in virility and power that accompanies age can be a tough pill to swallow. When these fall away, how do we make sense of who we are? What does it mean to be a man? Drawing from research, interviews, and personal stories, Every Breath, New Chances shows readers how to turn toward the changes associated with aging and to reevaluate losses and transitions as new avenues for joy, self-discovery, renewal, and growth. Delving into topics such as divorce, single living, retirement, and encore careers, each chapter includes a contemplative practice called Deep Mind Reflection to help readers navigate the fears and aspirations that come along with changes in relationships and work. This book addresses the more challenging realities associated with illness, substance abuse, and mortality, while empowering readers to compassionately embrace next steps and spiritual preparations for their final decades of life. This book does not proffer tools for staving off an inevitable part of life; rather, it offers frameworks and strategies for peacefully embracing it.
A NATIONAL BESTSELLER Create a lasting and loving attachment with the help of the expert couple's therapist behind the popular Instagram account @TheSecureRelationship. What does a healthy relationship look like? A good question, in theory, but expert couple's therapist Julie Menanno wants you to consider: what does a securely attached relationship feel like? The answer to this question is the ultimate goal in Secure Love , a groundbreaking guide to understanding secure attachment in adult relationships. While attachment theory has grown in popularity to explain the relationship between children and their caregivers, it's also the closest science has come to making sense of our adult romantic connections. Julie Menanno is the couple's therapist behind the popular Instagram account @TheSecureRelationship, whose valuable relationship advice from her expertise gained her over a million fans. In Secure Love , Menanno tackles: - Why you and your partner have the same fight over and over (hint: it's called a negative cycle, and underlying every fight, argument, silent treatment, or passive-aggressive comment is an unmet attachment need). - The four attachment types, with exercises designed to help you understand you and your partner's attachment style. - How to improve communication, including staying connected during conflict by prioritizing vulnerability rather than protecting yourself. - "Instead of that, say this" suggested scripts of how to approach difficult situations in your relationship. - Why insecure attachment negatively impacts a couple's sex life and how to restore that sexual connection. Secure Love is a crash course in understanding how you show up in a relationship and how to get out of negative cycles. Menanno teaches you how to establish a secure attachment with your partner to create the bond you've been longing for.
The national bestseller From one of our country’s most prominent rabbis, an inspiring book about the power of community based on one of her most impactful sermons. In a time of loneliness and isolation, social rupture and alienation, what will it take to mend our broken hearts and rebuild our society? Sharon Brous—a leading American rabbi—makes the case that the spiritual work of our time, as instinctual as it is counter-cultural, is to find our way to one other in celebration, in sorrow, and in solidarity. To show up for each other in moments of joy and pain, vulnerability and possibility, to invest in relationships of shared purpose and build communities of care. Brous contends that it is through honoring our most basic human instinct— the yearning for real connection— that we reawaken our shared humanity and begin to heal. This kind of sacred presence is captured by the word amen, a powerful ancient idea that we affirm the fullness of one another’s experience by demonstrating, in body and word: “I see you. You are not alone.” An acclaimed preacher and story-teller, Brous pairs heart-driven anecdotes from her experience building and pastoring to a leading-edge faith community over the past two decades with ancient Jewish wisdom and contemporary science. The result is a clarion call: the sense of belonging engendered by our genuine presence is not only a social and biological need, but a moral and spiritual necessity. With original insights and practical tools, The Amen Effect translates foundational ideas into simple practices that connect us to our better angels, offering a blueprint for a more meaningful life and a more connected and caring world.
Everything you need to know about recognising and diagnosing ADHD in women, and how to live a full and fulfilling life after When Julie Legg was diagnosed with ADHD at age 52, suddenly her life made sense. Bringing together her own experience along with research studies and personal stories from other Kiwi women with ADHD, this book is a go-to reference no matter where you are in your journey. It covers the different presentations of ADHD, understanding how the brain works, why girls are underdiagnosed, traits and triggers, the value of an assessment, choosing (or not) medication, freeing yourself from shame, and tips for living and thriving with ADHD. Dispelling myths and opening a lid on the real experiences of the one-in-twenty women who have found their own missing piece, The Missing Piece is an informative and empowering guide to knowing and loving yourself.
An essential resource that addresses the unique experiences of trauma, healing, and mental health in Asian and Asian American communities. Coauthors Soo Jin Lee and Linda Yoon are professional therapists who witnessed firsthand how mental health issues often went unaddressed not only in their own immigrant families, but in Asian and Asian American communities. Where I Belong shows us how the cycle of trauma can play out in our relationships, placing Asian American experiences front and center to help us process and heal from racial and intergenerational trauma. This book validates our experiences and helps us understand how they fit into the broader context of our family history and the trauma experienced by previous generations. Lee and Yoon draw on their own stories, as well as those of a diverse segment of the Asian diaspora, to help us feel seen and connected to our wider community. They provide essential therapeutic tools, reflection questions, journal prompts, and grounding exercises to empower readers to identify their strengths and resilience across generations and to embrace the beauty and fullness of their own identity and culture.
This thoughtful and heartfelt book develops two main themes: the healing power of a compassionate understanding towards ourselves and others, and the ways boundaries are set within and around various areas of our lives. It examines how we live these boundaries, how they impact us, and what it takes to live these with deeper satisfaction. This book also addresses shame and rage; the impact of trauma; the power of parental messages, spoken and unspoken; and transgenerational burdens. A theoretical chapter summarizes the author's integrative, phenomenological approach: it brings the insights of a body-focused trauma therapy and a systemic lens to an overarching existential perspective. Numerous vignettes, case studies, and client-therapist dialogues illustrate reflections on life, philosophy, and therapeutic modalities and practice. This book will be a thought-provoking listen for trainee and practicing counselors and psychotherapists, or anyone looking for self-reflection on their own practices, life, and ultimately, what it means to be human.
Contrary to popular belief, addiction isn't a conscious choice. It's a chronic illness, like diabetes or asthma, that responds to treatment and deserves compassion. And yet, too many people expect their loved ones to simply recover on their own without interventions. Drawing on peer-reviewed research and decades of expertise, Dr. Nzinga Harrison reveals the factors that predict one's risk for addiction: biology and heritability, childhood experience, physical environment, injuries and health conditions, discrimination, and cultural influence. With revelatory anecdotes and sobering data, Un-Addiction guides listeners to unlearn what they think they know about substance use, undo stigma surrounding addiction, and uncover critical conversations that could end the epidemic.