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A review by elderlingfool
A Arte de Te Sentires Melhor by Matilda Heindow
4.0
I never thought I would read a self-help book, but here we are. This one is also part memoir, which is why it makes it more interesting and bearable to me. The author shares her struggles with mental health and her past experiences while giving some tips that hopefully will be useful to others. It isn't in depth, but it's a good first step to understanding what might be wrong and take better care of ourselves. Plus, the illustrations make this book pleasant to look at.
I am glad that this book briefly shows different ways that depression and anxiety can manifest because it took me a long time to be aware of it for myself since most people have a fixed idea of how depression and anxiety are like and don't realize it can present in opposite ways of what is commonly known.
This little book also made me aware of the difference between toxic positivity and genuine optimism. I guess it is easier to change the mind of someone that has never bought into the common toxic positivity phrases. Unfortunately, that isn't my case. The author states that she always got angry by those statements, but I believed them when they were said to me the first time so those have been coming from inside the house for years. At least now I know why it's never helpful and how to change it. It would have been worth it to read this just for that.
I don't know how helful this book would be to someone that is already aware of their struggles and that did research to get better and went to therapy. My guess is that this will not be very helpful or new in those cases, but it worked for me even if I already knew some of the information shared. I know I will still need reminders sometimes so it is kind of a comfort to have this readily available for when I need it.
The only thing that made me wary is that one of the options given to get better is to visit cult places. It is implied that this is for someone that is already religious and trusts the specific institution. However, I can't help thinking about how dangerous it is to go seek those places while being extremelly vulnerable, even though I know religion is a comfort to a lot of people. There are just too many opportunistic people for me to think this is a good option unless the person is fully capable of judging what is being said and done at the moment.
I am glad that this book briefly shows different ways that depression and anxiety can manifest because it took me a long time to be aware of it for myself since most people have a fixed idea of how depression and anxiety are like and don't realize it can present in opposite ways of what is commonly known.
This little book also made me aware of the difference between toxic positivity and genuine optimism. I guess it is easier to change the mind of someone that has never bought into the common toxic positivity phrases. Unfortunately, that isn't my case. The author states that she always got angry by those statements, but I believed them when they were said to me the first time so those have been coming from inside the house for years. At least now I know why it's never helpful and how to change it. It would have been worth it to read this just for that.
I don't know how helful this book would be to someone that is already aware of their struggles and that did research to get better and went to therapy. My guess is that this will not be very helpful or new in those cases, but it worked for me even if I already knew some of the information shared. I know I will still need reminders sometimes so it is kind of a comfort to have this readily available for when I need it.
The only thing that made me wary is that one of the options given to get better is to visit cult places. It is implied that this is for someone that is already religious and trusts the specific institution. However, I can't help thinking about how dangerous it is to go seek those places while being extremelly vulnerable, even though I know religion is a comfort to a lot of people. There are just too many opportunistic people for me to think this is a good option unless the person is fully capable of judging what is being said and done at the moment.