Sometimes it’s hard to admit we need help with serious problems. There are some new books that can help us face our demons and start on the road to mental and physical health.
I can’t think of a better goal in 2012 than that which is expressed in the title FREEING YOURSELF FROM ANXIETY. Tamar Chansky, PhD, addresses the issue head on. “Regardless of the actual magnitude of the problems we’re contemplating, the mechanisms of anxiety are the same.” She understands how easily we can switch into feelings of helplessness and an inability to cope. In addition, in a post 9/11 world, there seems to be no end to the stream of bad news we receive every day. The truth is, as Dr. Chansky affirms, it’s not just that the news is worse; it’s that the reporting is better. So how do we get a grip on our fears? We’re given steps that have a breakthrough focus on possible, rather than just positive thinking. I’m in!
Diabetes in this country has become a modern day plague. With that in mind, Diane Kress, RD, CDE, has formulated THE DIABETES MIRACLE. She offers three simple steps to regain health by preventing and controlling the disease. A follow up to her bestselling THE METABOLISM MIRACLE, this book is for the twenty-six million people who suffer from diabetes now, and the seventy-nine million who are pre-diabetic. Kress stresses self-management through lifestyle modification. Her understanding of the ill effects of excess insulin includes an explanation of how the pancreas works, monitoring blood sugar, and her Core miracle diet program.
A great companion book is THINK LIKE A PANCREAS, by Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE. An insulin user himself, Scheiner details the importance of matching your program to your lifestyle. He also explains how emotions, stress, and illness can impact insulin levels. There are now so many products on the market, it’s helpful to have an expert discuss “smart” pumps, air infusers, lancets, and insulin pens. While the author considers blood-glucose balancing a science, he states his observations in a user-friendly format.
There are some topics that used to be strictly taboo in polite society. BREAKING THE CYCLE, by George N. Collins, MA, with Andrew Adleman, MA, uses two recent films to illuminate the world of sexual addiction. According to Collins, sex addicts become so wrapped up in their obsession, they often can no longer relate to their real life partners. By working to recognize triggers, addicts can recover from the cycle of addiction. Unconventional methods are recommended to help take the steps necessary for the road to recovery.
In addition, there’s A COUPLE’S GUIDE TO SEXUAL ADDICTION by George N. Collins, MA, and his wife Paldrom Catharine Collins, who is a former Buddhist nun. The question is asked “Can couples survive sexual addiction?” It’s estimated that up to 5% of the U.S. population suffer from sexual compulsive disorders. Tiger Woods, Arnold Schwarzenegger and other prominent transgressors are the public faces of this private marriage destroyer. The popularity of porn on the internet underscores the scope of addiction. A valuable first step toward a healthier life includes identifying the warning signs, including experiencing a lack of partnership and true intimacy.
Starting to deal with whatever ails us is a positive step toward making 2012 a year that’s going to get better every day.
Michall Jeffers is an accomplished Cultural Journalist and an avowed bibliophile. She writes extensively, both in print and online. Her eponymous cable TV show is syndicated throughout the tri-state area, and features celebrity interviews, reviews, and commentary. Michall is a voting member of National Book Critics Circle. www.michalljeffers.com
