I have joined enthusiastic readers around the globe in applauding Matt Haig’s books. He creates characters and stories with intriguing themes and compelling stories.
Reasons to Stay Alive is Matt Haig’s very personal story. He opens his heart and his mind as he describes his long battle with depression and anxiety. His book presents important realities about mental illness and overflows with strategies he has tried over the years. He writes that other people’s stories of suffering and survival have comforted him.
Here is a taste of the book’s topics:
Depressives don’t seek happiness; they seek to be free of pain. They feel like no one is going through what they face.
Anxiety added to depression can be a deadly cocktail.
Why do so many more men than women commit suicide?
Mental illness is just as much an illness as cancer, so don’t tell someone who is suffering to “cheer up.”
Travel and exercise can be antidotes to some symptoms.
The world is designed to make us feel like we need more, leading some to become depressed and/or anxious. Happy people are not good for the economy. The more we join the race to acquire stuff, the more it makes life speed by, effectively shortening it.
There are ways to slow down the mind and reduce anxiety. The book includes a list.
A thin skin is an enemy of mental wellness.
It is impossible to think just happy thoughts, but it is possible not to become the bad thoughts if you accept all your thoughts.
If you want to explore related books, Anxiety Relief by Russell Kennedy and Toxic Positivity by Whitney Goodman are two I have reviewed that complement Reasons to Stay Alive. Drop me a note or comment on this post if you have other books to recommend.
Books and my backpack 