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ventuslibra 's review for:
Reasons to Stay Alive
by Matt Haig
I've read a lot of memoirs of those dealing with mental illness, but I've yet to read one that had similar circumstances to my own battles, until Reasons to Stay Alive. Matt Haig's story and subsequent advice towards dealing with anxiety and depression rang true for me. Like him, I suffered from anxiety much longer until I was whammied with both of them at the same time. There was no real reason that they appeared. It just happened. Genetics maybe.
Haig goes back and forth through his own story of coping whilst dealing out advice and quotations that made my eyes burn with oncoming tears (Not in a bad way though!) I had given up on books such as these because I felt like no one understood MY struggle (everyone has a different battle with depression, we're not all the same) but reading the quotes he strategically put in while also doling out some things that at least make him feel better like yoga, running, music, reading, etc., i felt like he was telling me it was okay that i was healing like he was and even if i don't heal his way, i'll come out of it eventually. I do take medication, unlike Haig, but he doesn't make the reader feel guilty for doing that when he said it didn't work out for him. I liked that.
At the end of reading this book, I was close to tears because I finally felt like someone understood what I was going through. I've dealt with a lot of people who assume I'm feeling one way or "not suffering right" and it was quite refreshing to realize that not everyone is like that. I borrowed this from a library but I will buy my own copy because his last few chapters filled me with hope for myself and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and perhaps I won't need medication anymore. It also made me think of my reasons for staying alive and I've come up with a few
-sunsets
-a good book and music
-my friends and family
-the unconditional acceptance and love of my dog
-the thought that somewhere out there, there is a world I've yet to discover
#reasonstostayalive
Read this books my friends, either for yourself or to understand a friend who is going through some shit, this book is enlightening and warms the heart.
Haig goes back and forth through his own story of coping whilst dealing out advice and quotations that made my eyes burn with oncoming tears (Not in a bad way though!) I had given up on books such as these because I felt like no one understood MY struggle (everyone has a different battle with depression, we're not all the same) but reading the quotes he strategically put in while also doling out some things that at least make him feel better like yoga, running, music, reading, etc., i felt like he was telling me it was okay that i was healing like he was and even if i don't heal his way, i'll come out of it eventually. I do take medication, unlike Haig, but he doesn't make the reader feel guilty for doing that when he said it didn't work out for him. I liked that.
At the end of reading this book, I was close to tears because I finally felt like someone understood what I was going through. I've dealt with a lot of people who assume I'm feeling one way or "not suffering right" and it was quite refreshing to realize that not everyone is like that. I borrowed this from a library but I will buy my own copy because his last few chapters filled me with hope for myself and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and perhaps I won't need medication anymore. It also made me think of my reasons for staying alive and I've come up with a few
-sunsets
-a good book and music
-my friends and family
-the unconditional acceptance and love of my dog
-the thought that somewhere out there, there is a world I've yet to discover
#reasonstostayalive
Read this books my friends, either for yourself or to understand a friend who is going through some shit, this book is enlightening and warms the heart.