Becoming Your Own Emotional Support System: Creating a Community of One

by Simmons; Linda

• ISBN13: 9780789032225
• ISBN10: 0789032228
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2007-10-10
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Not everyone facing difficult life situations has the resources to recover. Many times, we must deal with these problems alone or without a wide base of support. Becoming Your Own Emotional Support System provides practical ideas and encouragement to help people alienated from the consolation of others to become a community of one. This unique book guides individuals through the step-by-step process of developing the self-support system vital to the early stages of successful recovery. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xi
Preface	p. xiii
Acknowledgments	p. xvii
Those in Need of A Community of One-Their Stories
"One Is the Loneliest Number": When New Identities Are Forced Upon Us	p. 3
Maryanne's Story of Divorce	p. 3
Maryanne's Need for a Community of One	p. 7
A New Identity Enforced by Divorce	p. 8
Responses to Divorce That Lead to Creating a Community of One	p. 9
May I Introduce You?: Discovering Our Lost Selves	p. 15
Joan's Story of Chronic Illness	p. 15
Joan's Need for a Community of One	p. 20
Changes Wrought by Chronic Illness	p. 22
Responses to Chronic Illness That Lead to Creating a Community of One	p. 25
Finding the Strength Within: Accessing the Hidden Treasure of Our Spiritual Resources	p. 27
Dan's Story of Spiritual Crisis	p. 27
Dan's Need for a Community of One	p. 32
The Tarnishing of Spiritual Resources	p. 33
Responses to Situations of Spiritual Crisis That Lead to Creating a Community of One	p. 35
The Truth About the Royal Family: Stigmas Can Make Finding Support a Challenge	p. 39
Maggie's Story of Sexual Abuse	p. 39
Maggie's Need for a Community of One	p. 43
The Isolating Effects of Sexual Abuse	p. 45
Responses to Sexual Abuse That Lead to Creating a Community of One	p. 47
Cleaning House: Identifying the Unnecessary and Letting It Go	p. 49
Terry's Story of ADHD and Job Loss	p. 49
Terry's Need for a Community of One	p. 54
Repercussions of ADHD Such As Job Loss	p. 58
Responses to ADHD and Job Loss That Lead to Creating a Community of One	p. 59
Goals for the Real World: Examining Expectations	p. 61
April's Story of Mental Illness	p. 61
April's Need for a Community of One	p. 68
The Challenges of Realistically Living with Mental Illness	p. 69
Responses to Mental Illness That Lead to Creating a Community of One	p. 70
Coming Out of Hiding: Cutting the Weighty Issue of Obesity Down to Size	p. 73
Laura's Story of Obesity	p. 73
Laura's Need for a Community of One	p. 77
The Stigma of Obesity	p. 78
Responses to Obesity That Lead to Creating a Community of One	p. 81
Skydiving and Other Necessary Risks: Stagnant Waters Only Grow Mold	p. 85
Sue's Story of Alcoholism	p. 85
Sue's Need for a Community of One	p. 90
Risks Required to Conquer Addictions	p. 92
Responses to Addictions That Lead to Creating a Community of One	p. 93
A Leap of Faith: Exploring Strange New Worlds	p. 95
Diana's Story of Domestic Violence	p. 95
Diana's Need for a Community of One	p. 100
Daring to Take a Leap of Faith	p. 102
Responses to Domestic Violence That Lead to Creating a Community of One	p. 103
Barriers to Creating a Community of One
Taking the World by Storm: Facing Our Fears and Moving On	p. 111
Guilt Must Go!: Guilt Can Be Good But Needs to Be Temporary	p. 119
Corralling Crazy Thinking: Correcting Thought Distortions	p. 129
Selecting Your Frame of Mind: Choosing Our Life Perspective	p. 137
Creating a Community of One
Sitting with Suffering: Growing Through Grief	p. 145
The Value of Vision: Creating a Map for Future Direction	p. 155
Tools of the Trade: Skill Development	p. 161
Never Give Up: A Call for Hope	p. 171
Epilogue: A Final Word	p. 177
References	p. 179
Index	p. 181
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