Quote From: ritehere This book can be harrowing to say the least. Many of us had to "shelve it" after a few chapters because of emotional responses we were not ready for. And many have had to resort to counseling when we decided that the memories were too much to handle alone.
You cannot change the past, but you can change the way you have internalized the emotions from past events. Do you see that it is the emotions that you carried away from them that continue to hold you hostage? You can free yourself from the pain and self punishment. This is what SELF MATTERS did for me. I was so afraid that I would get through it and it would just underline my worthlessness. But no, I came to understand that I was a very good person who made some mistakes and bad decisions out of faulty thinking and reasoning processes. Keep at it, it can be life-changing.
I've told my support group members that if they are seeing a therapist they should ask them to work with them in doing SELF MATTERS. One was lucky to have her therapist agreed. The problem the others had was that they don't think "thinking" is the key to healing.
Now, I tell the ladies -- if you aren't seeing a therapist or feel your therapist isn't helping -- then call your health plan and get a list of cognitive therapists. Self Matters is based on cognitive therapy. Weight Loss Solutions is based on Behavior Modification which is part of cognitive therapy work.
