Cutting its way through the media frenzy, Sweet Distress: How our love
affair with feelings has fuelled the current mental health crisis (and
what we can do about it) puts emotional wellbeing and resilience centre
stage.
Using an approach rooted in no-nonsense logic, author and
psycholinguistic consultant Gillian Bridge delves into a range of
problems which seem to be most frequently cited as sources of mental
distress. These include stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, body
image, eating disorders, social media, substance abuse, behavioural
disorders, academic pressures and bullying.
The author explores how these issues have led to seemingly
insurmountable emotional problems and takes a few potshots at some of
the things that have contributed to turning life events that may, at
other times or in other places, have been little more than nuisances or
inconveniences into sources of genuine psychic pain.
Packed with realistic and effective takeaway strategies for parents and
educators, Sweet Distress challenges under-researched but
over-promoted ideology and shares evidence-based help and advice for
anyone wanting to improve the mental health of those they care about.
The book focuses on offering that help in a practical way, so at the end
of chapters 5 to 10, which deal with specific issues, there are sections
of particular value to parents, would-be parents, teachers and those in
the business of young people's mental health, such as counsellors and
therapists. Likewise, towards the end of the book Gillian has gathered
together some selected material into 'a call to action' which will
reiterate and reinforce some of the most practical and achievable
lifestyle advice contained throughout.
Suitable for parents, educators, counsellors and therapists.
