Manage Your Mind: The Mental Fitness Guide

Abstract

The second edition of this self-help book, written by a psychologist and a psychiatrist, describes itself on the back cover as a best-seller which has helped thousands of people improve their lives. This is enough to engender scepticism in any medical reader, but actually the book is quite refreshing, very informative and above all empathizing. I studied the book over several one hour train journeys and found myself reaching for it with increasing enthusiasm. Anyone with a psychological problem (and we all have such problems) is likely to find a way forward in its 499 pages (hardly a pocket book, but softbacked and compact enough to go into your case to read on the train or plane). There is a very broad coverage of psychological health issues, including depression, stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, trauma, relationships, sexual health, lifestyle issues and how to improve all these. The authors write in lucid, encouraging tones in seven sections: two principles underlying mental fitness (valuing yourself and recognizing you can change), the seven basic skills, how to improve relationships, the twin enemies of good mood, traumatic experience, mind and body and the working mind. These seven sections are subdivided well, so that the reader can find a topic of particular interest and is not overwhelmed by lengthy sections of prose. Case examples are used regularly and summaries are given at the end of each chapter. The book’s strength lies in the non-judgmental, supportive insight which it provides for each topic, which the authors then translate into techniques for dealing with each problem (without lapsing into psychobabble). The book is well indexed and also provides a clutch of references for most chapters and a separate list of recommended further reading, many of which items are valuable sources of further help. My impression was of authors who are trying very hard to consider the reader’s needs and succeeding rather than just imparting information like so many other self-help guides. From an occupational health practitioner’s viewpoint, the book offers many nuggets of insight which can help improve the advice we try to administer within the time constraints of our consultations. Would I recommend it to the employees I see? Yes, definitely. It is also very good for one’s personal needs—any doctor would benefit from having a copy and using it. Overall, it was a pleasant surprise to read this book. It is worth spending £14.99 on.