[orchidlotus]

Have you had any success when using self-therapy books?
How do they work? How do you translate what you read into improvement on your current condition?

[Little Lulu]

I do think self-help books can be a part of growth and change. If you read something new that resonates with you, consider trying it out to see if it feels right. Adopt it if it works, move on if it doesn't. Go slow.

[penguinh]

I hate self-help books that have instructions and tasks. What I found really helpful was the book "Buddhist Boot camp". I would HIGHLY recommend it. It's not really about the religious aspects of Buddhism but more about the mindfulness. It gave me a lot of the answers I was looking for and certainly played a huge role in my improvement.

[Perna]

Sometimes books can get you to think about something in a new way, change your perspective and that can help you get past a previous difficulty in your life. Sometimes just doing tasks suggested instead of thinking "that won't work" without having ever tried it can get action to take the place of thought and imagination and get one out of one's head and into the "real" world.

[BLUEDOVE]

I dread to think where I would be,if it were not for
a brilliant psychologist's books which changed my
life. He is Nathaniel Branden who is the recognised
best,in the field of Self-Esteem and other subjects.

[orchidlotus]

Thanks for your replies!

I was trying to use a CBT workbook, but never managed getting through the entire book. That's why I was asking It really didn't resonate with me, that is it.

I will look into the other options suggested!

[Auntie2014]

I have done DBT and purchased a DBT self help bok just to use for reference information. It sure beats sorting through all of the hand outs I received. Interestingly there were a few other suggestions that that I have added to my skills list so I think in that way they are helpful.

[healingme4me]

I've completed cbt workbook, at home. I had dbt workbook, but wasn't something i ever got through nor felt pertinent. Codep workthrough. Alanon lit, step 4 booklet. I've read through for a year, four various daily meditations about letting go. I've used the swoe workbook. I've read various books, adult child guide to what is normal, have cbt for bpd, dsm iv handbook, comprehensive dictionary to psychoanalysis, power of two, five love languages, beyond the pleasure principle, facing the fire, writing from the body, human technology, codep no more, love is a choice, if you meet buddha on the road kill him, the interpretation of dreams, dream moods dictionary, dream analysis, 17 myths we tell ourselves, who's pulling your strings, whine, i hate you don't leave me, when the site existed i liked coping dot orgs section on personal responsibility, and when i get the charge going on my kindle, ive a few more, not to mention I've a few I've forgotten.

Out of these, adult Childs guide to what is normal and facing the fire were big hits for me.

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[healingme4me]

Men who hate women and the women who love them, from anger to forgiveness, my descent into death, enough about you-, the object of my affection is my reflection-coping with narcissists, are you in love with an unavailable man, stop attracting the unavailable man

Can't say I've read much in self help in a couple years. There were also many online articles and online discussions combined with reading all these works.

Hope you find what you need...

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[Grey Matter]

I have only read one self-help book that was sent to me by a friend, and I found it really angering and discouraging. But then I also know people who have read self help books and have really gotten help from them and self development and I think that speaks volumes about looking into your own self care literature.

I, for myself, prefer workbooks and something where I can see my own progress. Good luck!

[notthisagain]

It can take some trial and error to determine what works and what doesn't. What works for someone else may not work for you, and that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you. My therapist recommened that I get Feeling Good by David Burns, and From Panic to Power by Lucinda Bassett. For me, Feeling Good was a longer read, but more useful, because there are exercises that you can do to work through issues, and he presents them in a non-judgmental way. From Panic To Power is a quicker read, but it's about a woman that "cured" her depression and anxiety, and, for me, it just made me feel worse because she delivers platitudes such as "it's all about attitude" and that people are depressed or anxious because somehow they benefit from it. I honestly found it offensive. Another book that helped me was Maximum Self Esteem by Jerry Mitchinton. For a time, I read it every day. But again, you determine what works for you, and throw the rest out. Just because it's in print doesn't mean that the author has all the answers.

There is no "exchange" in a book so you cannot be addressed as a individual. CBT and DBT are programs that rely on exchange though the right T might be enough. The ones written by a non professional that some how gained some "insight" tend to have a one size fits all solution which ends up working for a small subset of people. They just tend to not have a broad enough experience. Those are the worst, IMO. I like Brenė Brown because she is trained and she is working off 20 years of research. Sharing her own experience is very much part of the lesson so it works. I read another book by a psychologist but it wouldn't work for everyone because it is specific to creative people with depression. I got a lot out of it but I wouldn't expect everyone to. Sometimes little gems come along like the four agreements. It's like the less they say the more powerful it is.

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Gabrielle's Bernstein's books helped me with self-esteem. They're new-agey, aimed at women, and I outgrew them after a while. However, they were very good with improving self-esteem and self-acceptance. There's no "one size fits all" in the self-help arena, and all books have their strengths and weaknesses. E.g. Bernstein's books were very good at the specific issues I mentioned here, but not so good for other things (e.g. they're not really aimed at people with mental health issues, those who are seeking deep spirituality, etc).

[Perna]

I turn the self-help books I like into workbooks. I outline chapters or write things about them, "go" where they suggest and figure out ways to put what they suggest into practice, to try it. I think and make plans on how to implement what they are saying in my own, actual life.

It can be helpful to me to read a chapter of a self-help book before I go to sleep. That way I can be thinking about it as I go to sleep and I may dream about associated things, get ideas of how to use the book, etc.

I get in trouble when a book is written really well and I enjoy reading it because I will just read it through instead of working with it as I go along. Just reading cannot get the ideas into my life; I think I'll "remember" what it says but it's like a movie, it's just the warm glow and a few scenes that one remembers.

[knight7]

I would suggest that you check the author of the self-help book. This is to know if he have the credentials and the expertise to write the book.

Many books seems to have nice title or nice cover or a famous know author but the entire point is so empty,waste of time,without giving real solutions.

[Malkhaz]

So many books in this genre have transformed my life. You learn so many new things, and then it's up to you to test them out and see results. Not everything is going to work. But that is normal to anything in life.

People saying that reading great books have had zero pragmatic impact on their life, makes me wonder whether they expected their life to change over night because they read a little bit of text. The hard part is having the open-mindedness and dedication after you know something, not whether something inherently has value or not.

[DarrenPH]

Self help books...the best thing that every happened to me. Period. I've got sooooo much from them. If I had to recommend some I have a few that I've read multiple times.

Anthony Robbins - Unlimited Power & Awaiken the Giant Within
Richard Wiseman - The Luck Factor
Jack Canfield - The Success Principles & Chicken Soup for the Soul
Cynthia Kersey - Unstoppable
KellyMcGonigal - Willpower Instinct

Some give you exercises to do, I haven't dome the all but I did some of them and I can't even begin the measure the massive impact they've had on my self-esteem and my life.

[archipelago]

I used a lot of self-help books alongside therapy. The best one by far, though it is probably not in print now, is Sensible Self-Help: The First Road Map for the Healing Journey by Grudermeyer.

It has exercises and things, but what is most valuable are the stages described and what is best to do at each stage. It totally makes applies and guides.