SELF-HELP FOR YOUR NERVES: Learn to Relax and Enjoy Life Again by Overcoming Stress and Fear Paperback – 1 Jan. 1995

A bit of a background information for you before I begin my review.I'm currently 24 years old. I've suffered from Anxiety and Depression (on and off, but more or less constant) for the last 8 years following treatment with the acne medication, Roaccutane - known for it's damaging effects.For a long time, I googled my health problems, always trying new things.Over the years of suffering, I've tried supplements/herbs/counselling/CBT/Life coaching/Hypnosis/diet changes...Nothing has made a difference in the long run. I do believe CBT is a very useful tool, and the book 'Feeling good handbook' is very much worth a read... But, overall, you're still left worrying over your symptoms and what is wrong with you.I have no doubt that the drug I took was damaging to my health. At the time, I'd never had any previous mental health issues and suddenly, while on the drug, I became more angry a person. I started crying for unknown reasons and wanted to kill myself. I got off the drug after 5 months, but ended up chasing answers to what had happened to me. I had fatigue, my eyes and mouth were dry... and some other things. I began a forum topic on a site dedicated to acne and treatment options. I called the post 'Repairing the long-term damage from Roaccutane'... and tried to get someone to help me. That post now has around 1/2 a million views and pages full of comments. I started that post a few years back.Without going on and on, I want to point out something from all of this.I was just not getting it - I was spending so much time looking for cures. I would come home after work and spend my nights diagnosing myself and worrying myself to death. At times I worried I had a brain tumor or something terrible.The doctor's couldn't find anything wrong with me in blood tests, but to me that didn't matter.Because 'I knew' that doctor's were useless. They had messed me up and their blood tests weren't accurate.Although I still believe the medical industry has some major flaws - they push drugs onto so many people who could do without them - their tests are pretty accurate when finding out if there is a major problem. All the years I spent trying new things - spending thousands of pounds on health supplements alone over the years - I ended up getting worse. I wouldn't necessarily call myself a hypochondriac, because my issues were very real - I was exhausted, depressed and anxious. I did have dry eyes.. that sometimes looked horribly red. However, I failed to understand why I was getting weaker, and why it was almost impossible to get out of bed...It's because stress and anxiety will wear you down.Sure, I took a bad drug. But I now understand that by worrying myself to death for hours and days on end was becoming a real problem. How could I expect to have any energy at all? It was almost a miracle that I could still function.I've only recently realised how bad I'd become. I'm not cured, or fixed yet but now I understand the issues.I first purchased this book over 2 years ago. I read it and thought it was good, but I was doing a bunch of stuff all at once and wanted a quick fix. I've read so many self-help books but this is one of only a few I could recommend. Most are unrealistic, prey on the weak and patronise you.This is the #1 book on Anxiety - I'd also recommend At Last A Life by Paul David.Everyone gets anxious at times.It becomes a problem when you obsess over symptoms and begin to wonder if it's really 'just anxiety'.If you can relate to my story, it likely is just anxiety.Your body and mind are knackered and crave a break from all the constant worry.Give up searching for a cure. There isn't one.The people who've recovered from anxiety and depression have all done it the same way - You have to learn to life alongside your current issues and see them for what they are - mere exhaustion of the body and mind. CBT can help you to realise your unrealistic thinking but overall, you need rest and to create a life worth living.If you're anything like me, you've forgotten how to have fun.You tell yourself you'll have fun when you're better, failing to see you'll never be better until you give up the fight.I'm currently taking some time off work and - somewhat against my will - have gone on a low dose of antidepressants.I'm going to give them a month and if I don't think they're helping will come off them.Changing my job may be necessary, because it's boring and for a while has made me worse (competitive/noisy environment).I know my review is a little long, but I hope it offers help to those in need. We can get better. It's up to us.This book was written in 1962, but is still very readable (for the most part).Let it's messages sink in.Learn about 'floating' and acceptance, and stop watching your body and eagerly checking if you're suddenly better.Chill and subscribe to Netflix - there's some fantastic shows on there (I recommend The Killing and Modern Family')These things take time. Be kind to yourself. Relax.Peace.

This book is so helpful for people who have had setbacks and struggle to make sense of what is happening to them mentally.Will most certainly help to get back on track.Well worthwhile read.

I've been seeing a therapist for a couple of weeks, wondering when ever I was gonna feel somewhat normal again. I chanced upon this book, and within the same day of reading it, I felt...back to my pre-panic moment - similar stress but no fear - which is a major improvement after having a month of fear on a daily basis. The book is packed with practical, down to earth explanations and tips, I am so pleased I bought - so much so I started to question whether my therapist was any good or what exactly he was helping me with. With a combination of supportive friends and people, along with this book and some of my own intuition - I recovered far faster than with the therapist. I will stay on with the therapist to strengthen some areas within myself that clearly need strengthening - like my own belief in myself and strength in my own convictions and living my life as I like and maybe even the left-behind indecision - but as far as the actual panic and anxiety, it's gone by about 50% in the first day.I feel confident that I can make it to my volunteer job tomorrow, so unlike a week ago when I was dreading the journey there. After reading the book, I went outside, and walked to the loud and huge supermarket down the road, and walked back...without the slightest feeling of fear or even alarm. Just yesterday, walking around the block was an obstacle course and a half. What I really love about this book - which is something I discovered for myself in the middle of the BIG CRASH - was that acceptance and patience is key. Acceptance more than anything else. I get to practice self-acceptance at a very basic level - ground up- which is something no therapist can ever help you do. I've always felt grateful for my panic attack - which has changed me and changed people around me. It made everyone stop dead in their tracks and made us all begin to re-prioritse what is actually important to us. I'm letting go of the unimportant things (which is a slower process) and am glad to have begun my process. I know I will one day soon be smiling and laughing again, out in the open air.I was so happy to get an explanation about the physical responses....and to let go of the fear of them. When I notice the pins and needles in my legs, I just sigh and acknowledge, and accept - no more fighting and worrying. Instead, I've replaced worry and resistance with acknowledgment and acceptance of myself, with a good dollop of patience. My husband has also helped me a lot and he has been so supportive - by continuously reminding me to be patience and gentle with myself. Panic attacks are a life changing experience - or they can be - for the better...towards what you want rather than what is expected. This book sealed my direction for a full recovery.Highly, highly recommend it.