Self-Help Workbooks

I've been trying various self-help books lately, and at least one of them seems to be only making things worse for me and my situation. The book I am referring to is called, "The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anger".

Ever since I began reading it and learning strategies, it seems to only be making my anger worse. Just a little while ago, I snapped at my parents (I have schizoaffective disorder and live with my parents). I was complaining about "being a martyr" and told "them", or whoever was listening, to "f**k off".

Then I came up to my room and fumed over it. It really aggravates me that I am not making progress. I attribute my worsening of symptoms to the DBT book on anger that I recently started reading; I am on Chapter 3, and am on the exercise for weighing the pros and cons of anger and working on anger.

There was a self-help book that I found more therapeutic and useful. It's called "The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Psychosis" by Maggie Mullen LCSW. The only problem with it, that I can see, is that it addresses certain aspects of psychotic illness; but when taking anger, for instance, it does nothing for it.

In the chapter for emotion regulation, it gives useful techniques like identifying and validating one's emotions; as well as the survey method for suspiciousness. But the book as a whole fails to address my anger issues.

I like the DBT book on anger, and it seemed like it could have helped me, but now I am having serious doubts about it. Maybe the problem is that I believe I can work out my problems on my own time, such as via the New Harbinger Self-Help Workbooks.

I don't want to admit myself into an outpatient program. I have tried it in the past, but my Mother does not think it is very helpful or relative to my situation. And I agree with her about that. I've been mentally ill for seventeen years in counting. And it's been hell, not only for me, but for my significant others , too.

I am grateful that there is medication for what I have, but I am desperately pining to get better already. I'm done with this s**t.

Good on you for working on yourself.

If the DBT book about anger is causing you more anger, put it aside for a while and, as you're doing, focus on the other book.

Have you ever heard of schema therapy? I just found this: Borderline Personality Disorder Therapy | San Jose | California (Not suggesting you go to San Jose or anything, but they discuss schema)

Also Gestalt or Transactional Analysis might be interesting to consider. There's a book called "Born to Win" by Dorothy Jongeward and Muriel James that contains aspects of those two therapies.

You can also get books for cheaper at AbeBooks | Shop for Books, Art & Collectibles

Best wishes to you...

Hey, thanks for your reply and recommendations. I have not heard of schema therapy, but I have heard of the concept of negative self-schemas; it's mentioned in my copy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by Olivia Telford. I'm not too crazy about that book and have recently purchased a couple CBT books on Amazon by Seth J. Gillihan.

I also bought a third book that has a bunch of cognitive behavioral therapy worksheets that seem like they might be useful. I'm not sure if I am going overboard with it or not, but time will tell I suppose.

I had actually completed the DBT book for psychosis, and it seemed to help me. I recently began reading it again. This time, however, when I did the questionnaire in the introduction, I was a little unsure about saying "Yes" to each question; whereas the first time I answered the questions, I answered "Yes" to every single one. I see this as a sign of personal progress and am glad about it.

Good on you! It is progress!! Yay!

You've inspiried me to work on myself by myself, instead of waiting for therapy...

I need/want to do schema work myself. I only did a bit when I was in CBT group therapy. It was very interesting and helpful... I want more of that in my life!!

Just looked up: schema-focused cognitive therapy workbook ... & ... free scheme therapy worksheets...

I don't want to get trapped in my own overthinking, though, so I'm also exercising, singing aloud along with songs I like, and doing John Davisi guided meditations on YouTube.

Here's a 5-minute one, if you want to try it; otherwise just search for John Davisi or Goodful on YouTube, as there are many different ones: