Reddit reviews 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story
We found 19 Reddit comments about 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-help That Actually Works: A True Story
Right now someone you don't know is reading about your troubles and hoping you feel better. If you are suicidal, please tell someone. Recreational drugs are best for recreation, not solving problems. Have you looked into meditation? I know this sounds silly, bit if you spend five minutes on YouTube, you can learn to meditate. If you take another five minutes to meditate, you might find some answers that give you the strength to carry on. I'd strongly recommend this book.
First of all I totally get how you feel. I felt the same way about my parents, it is all comming rushing back now, and I'm 63.
I did not renounce the JW's until my 30's and I didn't have autism. I find it interesting that my experience was so similar to yours even though the two big things that are damaging your relationship with your parents were not in play with me.
It leads one to believe that the problem is much deeper than JW's or autism.
Some people can't dance, some can't play the guitar. Some people are just not good parents.
I do have some tricks for you that maybe will let you have a more pleasant few months until you can leave.
In short the skill you need to acquire is to have complete control over your own emotions. If you are under 25 that will be particularly hard as your brain is not fully developed yet. But you can make progress. It is a lot of fun to develop this skill, it is like a super power.
Here is another mental exercise that might help. Lets say a close family member had nervous breakdown and had to be hospitalized in an mental institution. Sometimes when you visited she would be nice other times she would froth at the mouth and scream the vilest vulgarities at you and try to kill you and the guys in the white coats would have to restrain her. What would you do? How would feel about it. Would you take it personally and scream back and have it ruin your day. Of course not, she is sick, under care and not herself.
When you think about it the whole world is one big insane institution. Your parents, the people at the KH they are all at different levels of nuts. You and me too. You have make big progress lately but probably have a way to go. So stop fighting and trying to make other people behave the way you want them to. Work on your behavior, it is the one thing you have some control over though even that not 100%.
I feel for you bro. it has been almost 50 years and I can still remember the hate.
PS:
They are still alive and still suck at being parents. I called my dad a couple weeks ago and told him he had a new great, grand son. His comment:
"Well that is a big deal for you but it doesn't affect us much". I asked him if he wanted some pictures. He said: "I don't do computers and I would want to bother anyone at the hall but if you want to print a couple out it is up to you."
So little dude, I'm not saying your parents are a bad as mine but remember the story about the pig.
You are smart and focused and are going to have a wonderful life.
Read this book: https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works/dp/0062265423
He wrote a book on his experiences. Basically the years of high stress jobs and some drug use just led to really bad anxiety. Therapy and meditation helped him enormously. If anyone is sceptical about meditation his book is for you. No hippy dippy stuff, just facts.
http://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works-A/dp/0062265423
May I recommend a book? I've meditated for years and never really 'got it' until I read a book called "10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story" by Dan Harris
https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works/dp/0062265423
For some reason it clicked for me. I've been doing mindful meditation for a few years now and it's changed my life.
From a practical standpoint, The Mind Illuminated is my personal favorite. Some of it will be difficult to interpret as a newer meditator, but it is an excellent and comprehensive guide to starting a practice and overcoming the many obstacles you'll encounter. If you get this one, go with paperback and not the E Book.
Other favorites are 10 Percent Happier and Waking Up. I have read both of these multiple times and they do a great job of inspiring curiosity about the mind and the value of meditation for skeptical people.
Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris. He's a outspoken atheist and neuroscientist, so he discusses it in a very scientific context.
10% Happier by Dan Harris (no relation). He is a news anchor and war corresponded who discuss a more personal view of meditation.
Both are great.
I was in a similar situation and I found that reading stories of others (non-fiction) helped me get a better understanding of the world. By reading someone else's story, you get insight on that person's view on things which allows you to re-evaluate your own thinking.
One book that changed my life (and talks about meditiation too) is this one.
Meditation/mindfulness practice (Dan Harris has a great book about that called 10% Happier. I'd also recommend more rest and more sleep and avoiding TV/Movies/friends/internet forums with a lot of drama.
Disclaimer: My comment is not providing material that will be a good guide to Buddhism / how to be a Buddhist. But they are my go to recommendations for people with no background/prior knowledge of Buddhism who are looking for a some secular thoughts that are Buddhist inspired.
And for good measure, you should absolutely read The Dhammapada.
I am biased (or maybe hopeful is the right word), but I really believe that we're on the precipice of a new thought-movement in reaction to the consumerist culture we live in. I don't think it will be Buddhist, but I believe it will be Buddhist inspired to an extent.
It's a change in perspective that can be so powerful in moving through the tough times. For me personally, I like to jump in to books, get a push towards that new perspective, read about people's philosophies on life, obstacles, etc. Two books that have been great reads that I go back to over and over are:
The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph - https://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/1591846358
10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story - https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works/dp/0062265423
I know at the time I would never had wanted to hear this, but it rings so true now looking back...you are so young, nothing you have done up to this point has been a mess up, but a vital lesson learned on your way towards being what you are meant to be.
I wish you the best in all the amazing things to come!
These books helped me:
https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works/dp/0062265423
https://www.amazon.com/Real-Happiness-Meditation-28-Day-Program/dp/0761159258/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=SN2FXVZ6H0FJK2JRJZ16
As 10% Happier, it was helpful for me to hear a scientifically-based, non-religious, non-spiritual grounds for meditation.
A great book that really helped me understand why I was nitpicking at everything was 10% happier. After I understood that a quieter mind is a happier mind I started to quiet the mind when I went to sleep by focusing on my breath. No special positions, no chanting, no candles. Just focus on the breath. It helped me get faster to sleep and significantly improved my quality of live because of that (I used to turnover for half a night and be miserable at work the day after). Also I'd recommend The power of now by Eckart Tolle. It says it's a guide to spiritual enlightenment, but what I took from it was that you have to live for today, not tomorrow. Always planning ahead is quite exhausting. And it really opened my eyes about perspective.
http://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works-A/dp/0062265423
If you get a chance I'd highly recommend Dan Harris's 10% Happier
https://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works/dp/0062265423
If you're looking for self-improvement, 10% Happier has made the biggest impact on my daily life. Especially if you prayed regularly, replacing that time with meditation can do surprising things to your mental well being.
Yes, I do. It's under Amazon's editorial reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/10%25-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works--/dp/0062265423/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394667298&sr=1-1&keywords=dan+harris+10+happier
Why did you start taking prozac? I don't want to come off as a backwoods conspiracy nut, but I'd never put that poison in my system.
The best way to naturally fix depression/depersonalization is:
4.Realize that most of the problems you think you have are problems you made for yourself. I know this isn't a very popular way of thinking about it but I went through all the things you said. After seeing a therapist and doing the things I listed above, I realized that I was the one making my life complete shit. Now I no longer see my therapist, I still meditate and do yoga, and I have never felt better. Its a hard feeling to describe, so I won't try, but it is amazing.
http://www.amazon.com/10-Happier-Self-Help-Actually-Works-A/dp/0062265423