I read a couple of books by people who had been through things similar to what I had survived, but that was it. The one thing I never did was consult a self-help book. There was, and is, no quick fix and I might never completely heal. I’ve had lots of help from two therapists, a yoga teacher and a acupuncturist with the first two issues, and I see a doctor regularly for treatment of the latter. I’m a recovered substance abuser, have dealt with post-traumatic stress syndrome brought about by being sexually abused as a child, and live with a chronic pain condition. Nothing better than making someone who has serious problems feel guilty about them on top of everything else. Which carries with it the cavil of, if the book doesn’t help you, it’s not the author’s fault it’s yours because you didn’t really want to be well. It always sounds as if you don’t get better after reading the book it’s your fault because you don’t want to help yourself.Ĭalling a book self-help is like saying to your readers: you can cure yourself if you really want to. No, the real reason I hate them is what the words self-help implies. It’s not just because I feel they are basically about taking advantage of other’s misfortune or on the whole useless.
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