Living with Your Body and Other Things You Hate: Letting Go of the Struggle with What You See in the Mirror Using Acceptance and

Description

It's no secret that body image dissatisfaction has reached epidemic levels, but what's less often understood is the effect that these unhealthy views about one's body can have on a person's overall mental health, body image problems are often at the root of social anxiety . This book takes a unique approach to addressing readers' struggles with their body image, as readers will not find the typical soothing arguments that their perceptions are wrong, and that their thoughts are irrational. Instead, readers learn to live with the reality that these often painful thoughts and beliefs about themselves will arise from time to time, and discover new ways of managing these thoughts without allowing them to dominate their lives. The assessments within, help readers to realize what body image difficulties have cost them and encourages them to choose a purpose for life that is more important. The book also includes a companion CD with guided audio mindfulness meditations and printable worksheets.

Emily K. Sandoz, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and behaviour analyst who specialize in treating clients using acceptance and commitment therapy. She received her doctorate from the University of Mississippi, and she lives and works in New Orleans, LA. Kelly G. Wilson, PhD, is on the faculty of the Psychology Department at the University of Mississippi. He is co-author of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Experiential Approach to Behavior Change, Terapia de Aception y Compromiso: Un Tratamiento Conductual Centrado en los Valores, Acceptance andCommitment Therapy for Chronic Pain, as well as over 45 articles and chapters on related basic and applied issues. His work includes the investigation of acceptance, mindfulness, and values-oriented strategies in the treatment of an variety of problems in living as well as in the basic behavioural science underlying therapeutic change. A complete listing of publications and other academic activities can be found in Wilson's vita on his academic website. Troy DuFrene is a writer who specializes in psychology. He is co-author of Coping with OCD, Mindfulness for Two, and Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong. He divides his time between the San Francisco Bay Area and Austin, TX.

"Full of wisdom and compassion, this is a beautifully written and highly practical guide to self-acceptance. I wish I'd read it thirty years ago; it would have saved me decades of self-loathing!" --Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap "If you are unhappy with your appearance in any way, this book will help you and others understand what you experience and why. It will explain why your feelings are devastating, and how your struggles to overcome it may have been futile. The authors provide a totally different way to approach the problem of poor self-image. If all other methods have failed, this book offers hope and guidance in a distinctly new way. Acceptance and commitment therapy techniques will teach you to live the life you want, follow your values, and stop struggling for an ideal image. The authors write in a very friendly manner, sharing their own experiences at times, and provide wonderful exercises to follow. I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to stop struggling and begin living." --Fugen Neziroglu, PhD, ABBP, ABPP, author of Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Treatment Manual "Practical, gentle, and thorough, this book nudges and guides you into your body and your senses. As you learn how to turn down the volume of the chatter and self-judgment there is more room to experience yourself as a whole, physical human being. What a relief, and what an opportunity! Highly recommended." --Steven C. Hayes, PhD, cofounder of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and author of Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life "We humans are so often at war with our own bodies. We use our powerful intellect to break ourselves into parts--thighs, buttocks, stomach, nose--and then often judge these parts as 'not good enough.' We then waste energy trying to fix ourselves and/or become self-conscious and withdraw from life. Living with Your body and Other Things You Hate will help you to declare peace on your body, connect with it, nurture it, and appreciate it. The book never preaches. It uses practical exercises to take you on a gentle, mindful journey. If you are the sort of person who is hard on yourself and insecure about your body, then I believe this book will help you to accept yourself, find your inner strength, and build a life filled with joy and meaning." --Joseph Ciarrochi, author of Get out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens and Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Positive Psychology