How To Cope The Welcoming Approach To Life S Challenges

How to Cope – The Welcoming Approach to Life's Challenges

The gentle and powerful way to turn feelings of distress into helpful action'Life can be demanding enough without us causing ourselves greater upset because we "don't feel happy". Instead, let's welcome all our feelings of distress, all our thoughts and beliefs about life's challenges, and focus on transforming these in a way that is helpful for us.'In How to Cope, psychologist and clinical director of depression awareness charity Aware Dr Claire Hayes takes a good look at our thoughts and how they can affect us, demonstrating how each of us can use cognitive behavioural principles to help us cope. In a very clear, practical way she shows us how to make sense of our distressing feelings, to become aware of our unhelpful thoughts and our core beliefs, and most of all, to focus on what we can actually do to improve things for ourselves. Rather than trying to suppress or ignore negative thoughts and feelings of distress, she invites us to welcome them as messengers asking us to do something helpful to improve things.Using her unique techniques such as the 'Coping Triangle' and 'Coping Sentences', Dr Hayes shows us how to proactively manage life's challenges, such as pressure, rejection, loss, failure, success and change. Real-life case studies illustrate the success of Dr Hayes's approach, while practical exercises and advice make it accessible to all readers. How to Cope is the ideal book is for anyone who has suffered from stress, anxiety or depression, and for their friends and family.'Thoughts, no matter how awful they seem, cannot do us any harm unless we actually believe them! Think it's not that easy? Well, maybe it is!''A standout volume that will prove a timely resource for those navigating the pressures of daily living in a society that is in danger of burning out.'Dr Declan Lyons, Consultant Psychiatrist in St Patrick's Hospital, Dublin

How to Cope

Finding Hope in the Age of Anxiety

I can't face this. No one understands how hard it is for me. People are looking at me. Why am I like this? Why can I not be like everyone else? What's wrong with me? Sound familiar? Thoughts such as these can trigger us to feel anxious, stupid, upset and frustrated. We have choices. We can blame ourselves and others, avoid certain situations and worry. Or we can acknowledge our thoughts and feelings and take our power back from anxiety by facing it with understanding, courage and compassion. Here, taking a self-compassionate approach, Dr Claire Hayes presents anxiety as a normal part of every stage of life, from childhood through to adolescence and adulthood. Using the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dr Hayes helps us to recognise, understand and take control of the unhelpful thoughts, beliefs and actions that cause anxiety. This book offers hope to people who struggle with anxiety, as well as to those who support them. 'Helps us understand how we contribute unwittingly to our own difficulties, how we can change the way we think, feel and act, and thus live a more fulfilling life.' Dr Rosaleen McElvaney, Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist and Lecturer, School of Nursing and Human Sciences, DCU 'Offers gentle ways to hope and cope in the Age of Anxiety.' Professor Philip C. Kendall, Temple University, Philadelphia 'Truly outstanding ... I can think of no other work in this area that I would recommend as strongly.' Mark Morgan, Cregan Professor of Education and Psychology, DCU