Self-help

'The book to recommend to patients when they face coming to terms with unavoidable childlessness.' British Medical JournalIn Living the Life Unexpected, Jody Day addresses the experience of involuntary childlessness and provides a powerful, practical guide to help those negotiating a future without children come to terms with their grief; a grief that is only just beginning to be recognised by society.This friendly, practical, humorous and honest guide from one of the world's most respected names in childless support offers compassion and understanding and shows how it's possible to move towards a creative, happy, meaningful and fulfilling future - even if it's not the one you had planned.Millions of people are now living a life without children, almost double that of a generation ago and the numbers are rising still. Although some are childfree by choice, many others are childless due to infertility or circumstance and are struggling to come to terms with their uncertain future. Although most people think that those without children either 'couldn't' or 'didn't want' to be parents, the truth is much more complex.Jody Day was forty-four when she realized that her quest to be a mother was at an end. She presumed that she was through the toughest part, but over the next couple of years she was hit by waves of grief, despair and isolation. Eventually she found her way and in 2011 created Gateway Women, the global friendship and support network for childless women which has now helped almost two million people worldwide. This edition, previously titled Rocking the Life Unexpected, has been extensively revised and updated, with significant additional content and case studies from forty involuntarily childless people (mostly women) from around the world.

This book reveals a remarkable paradox: what your brain wants is frequently not what your brain needs. In fact, much of what makes our brains "e;happy"e; leads to errors, biases, and distortions, which make getting out of our own way extremely difficult. Author David DiSalvo presents evidence from evolutionary and social psychology, cognitive science, neurology, and even marketing and economics. And he interviews many of the top thinkers in psychology and neuroscience today. From this research-based platform, DiSalvo draws out insights that we can use to identify our brains' foibles and turn our awareness into edifying action. Ultimately, he argues, the research does not serve up ready-made answers, but provides us with actionable clues for overcoming the plight of our advanced brains and, consequently, living more fulfilled lives.

Throughout his life, Michael Harding has lived with a sense of emptiness - through faith, marriage, fatherhood and his career as a writer, a pervading sense of darkness and unease remained.When he was fifty-eight, he became physically ill and found himself in the grip of a deep melancholy. Here, in this beautifully written memoir, he talks with openness and honesty about his journey: leaving the priesthood when he was in his thirties, settling in Leitrim with his artist wife, the depression that eventually overwhelmed him, and how, ultimately, he found a way out of the dark, by accepting the fragility of love and the importance of now.Staring at Lakes was a number one bestseller in Michael's native Ireland and won three BGE Irish book awards in 2013, including Non-Fiction Book of the Year. 'It's rare for a memoir to demand such intense emotional involvement and rarer still for it to be so fully rewarded' - SUNDAY TIMES.'Staring at Lakes is a raw and honest account of a life in depression. Harding's writing, which is rich and lyrical, is especially astute when describing the pain of living with an illness that has the ability to suck the joy out of any occasion.' - DAILY EXPRESS

'SIMPLY EXTRAORDINARY' New York Times'It's such a savage thing to lose your memory, but the crazy thing is, it doesn't hurt one bit. A blackout doesn't sting, or stab, or leave a scar when it robs you. Close your eyes and open them again. That's what a blackout feels like.'For Sarah Hepola, alcohol was 'the gasoline of all adventure'. She spent her evenings at cocktail parties and dark bars where she proudly stayed till last call. Drinking felt like freedom, part of her birthright as an enlightened twenty-first-century woman.But there was a price. She often blacked out, waking up with a blank space where four hours should be. Mornings became detective work on her own life. What did I say last night? How did I meet that guy?Publicly, she covered her shame with self-deprecating jokes, and her career flourished, but as the blackouts accumulated, she could no longer avoid a sinking truth. The fuel she thought she needed was draining her spirit instead.A memoir of unblinking honesty and poignant, laugh-out-loud humor, BLACKOUT is the story of a woman stumbling into a new adventure-the sober life she never wanted. Shining a light into her blackouts, she discovers the person she buried, as well as the confidence, intimacy, and creativity she once believed came only from a bottle. Her tale will resonate with anyone who has been forced to reinvent themselves or struggled in the face of necessary change. It's about giving up the thing you cherish most-but getting yourself back in return.A raw, vivid and ultimately uplifting memoir of addiction and recovery for anyone who is looking to find their way.

Is it possible to make sense of something as elusive as creativity?Creativity works in mysterious ways, with inspiration often arising out of nowhere - and then failing to show up when we need it most!Combining the latest findings in neuroscience and psychology with original research, Dr Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire dig deeper than ever before into the creative mind. Taking us on a fascinating journey that unpacks the creative genius layer by layer, they reveal what creativity is, what creative people do differently and what we can all learn from this.With insights from some of the greatest creative minds in history, including Pablo Picasso, Marcel Proust, David Foster Wallace and Frida Kahlo, Wired to Create shows that we all have access to creative achievement and that, in essence, we are all wired to create.

Overcoming app now available.Fully updated edition of the bestselling self-help book, now recommended on the national Books on Prescription scheme. This ever-popular guide offers a self-help programme, written by one of the UK's leading authorities on anxiety and based on CBT, for those suffering from anxiety problems. A whole range of anxieties and fears are explained, from panic attacks and phobias to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and generalised anxiety. It includes an introduction to the nature of anxiety and stress and a complete self-help programme with monitoring sheets based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The following websites may offer useful further information on anxiety disorders: www.social-anxiety.org.uk www.stress.org.uk www.triumphoverphobia.com

This book will help the sufferer understand the links between past trauma and present difficulties and offers ways to gain control over these problems, allowing the individual to deal with intrusive memories, manage mood swings and build better relationships in adulthood.

Overcoming app now available via iTunes and the Google Play Store.Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT is widely recommended nowadays in the NHS for the treatment of emotional and psychological problems, such as depression, low self-esteem, low mood, chronic anxiety, stress or out-of-control anger. This thorough yet easy-to-read general self-help guide is a must-have for anyone experiencing these common problems. Based on the popular and proven therapy CBT, it is written by two of the UK's leading experts in the field of CBT.It contains:Case studies and step-by-step CBT-based exercises.Based on the very latest research into CBT.Addresses problems associated with depression, anxiety, stress, anger and low self-esteem inindividual chapters.Both for those suffering from these issues and clinicians.

Does the thought of flying fill you with dread? Do panic attacks leave you feeling scared and vulnerable?If so, this book could change your life. Written by top flying experts from British Airways Flying with Confidence course, this reassuring guide explains everything you need to know about air travel alongside techniques for feeling confident and in control from take off to landing. In easy-to-follow sections, you'll learn how to recognise cabin noises, manage turbulence and fly in bad weather conditions. As your knowledge grows, so will your confidence, with the fear of the unknown removed. Takes the terror out of common flight fears Includes techniques for controlling anxiety, claustrophobia and panic Will help you feel safe, calm and secure when you next take to the skies.

Richard La Ruina used to be the guy who couldn t get the girl. Shy, painfully awkward, and still living at home with his mother, at 25 he decided to finally take control of his life and become the kind of man men admire and women desire. Having developed and honed his seduction techniques, Richard is now a natural at attracting girls and one of the world s most renowned pick-up artists.As founder of PUA Training (Pick-up Artist Training), Richard has personally coached thousands of men through their own dramatic transformations. Now, in The Natural, he brings that experience to you, delivering field-tested methods and easy-to-use tools for attracting the women you want. Just like riding a bike or driving a car, meeting women and making them fall for you is a learned skill that, with enough practice, becomes effortless. There s no need for tricks, gimmicks, or lies. Instead, these methods make you more confident and attractive to women. Using the tools in The Natural, you ll finally have the ability to attract women just by being yourself.From body language to conversation starters, eye contact to the first touch, The Natural is a step-by-step blueprint for becoming the man that women can t resist.

Compete better...In a competitive situation our bodies can experience the same level of stress hormones as jumping out of a plane. Competition is often the key to outstanding achievement. But what is it that makes the difference between rising to the challenge and buckling under pressure? Using groundbreaking studies in diverse scientific fields, Bronson and Merryman demonstrate that understanding how to harness our competitive fire means we can perform our best whether the contest is sporting, academic or in the workplace.Why are men typically prepared to gamble on long or even stupid odds and women aren t?Why do some less talented students consistently outperform their smarter class mates in crucial exams?Why do higher levels of testosterone actually make you less selfish and more cooperative and cognitively astute?Why do so many market-leading companies cede their top position because they become risk averse at the wrong times?Why do sports teams where the pay differential between players is the greatest win more?The answer to all this and more is in New York Times no.1 bestselling authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman's Top Dog:The Science of Winning and Losing A great read for those paralyzed by the fear of failure as well as thosewho hunger for success Huffington Post

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, you want to do everything possible to beat the disease. But with so much conflicting advice and so many options available, how do you decide on the best treatment plan for you?In this major new book, Professor Jane Plant and Professor Mustafa Djamgoz present a clear and scientifically sound 10-step programme to help you beat cancer. At a time when you may be feeling helpless and confused, this book provides the essential guidance you need to take control of your life and regain your health with targeted advice for specific cancers.Included in the 10-step plan: Inform yourself: understand what cancer is, what causes it and how to avoid carcinogens Choosing the right treatment: evidence-based advice on conventional and complementary therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and medication Change your lifestyle: guidance on diet, exercise, reducing stress, relationships and other lifestyle factors that have a proven link with cancerBeat Cancer will help you prevent cancer, tackle your diagnosis and stay in remission.

In HEALING GRIEF James Van Praagh draws on his unique access to the world of spirit to show you how to move on from pain and grief to achieve inner peace.Sensitive and inspiring, HEALING GRIEF shows you how to cope with losing a loved one and rebuilding your life. The book explains that by confronting repressed feelings of grief and anger you can bring about self-healing. Through James Van Praagh's advice and guidance you may begin to recognise your loss, beyond the pain and sadness it brings, as an opportunity to involve yourself fully in life. HEALING GRIEF also explores other kinds of loss including divorce, losing your home or job and ageing.

A 'dark night of the soul' is not a psychological syndrome, but a quest for meaning during life's darkest hours: the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, ageing and illness, career disappointments or just an ongoing dissatisfaction with life. Thomas Moore's extensive experience as a psychologist and theologian has taught him that the dark night is a challenge to restore ourselves and to become someone of substance, depth and soul. By using these trying times as an opportunity to reflect and delve into the soul's deepest needs, we can find a new understanding of life's meaning. Dark Nights of the Soul has its roots in a favourite chapter in Thomas Moore's million copy bestseller, Care of the Soul. In this beautifully-written and thought-provoking work he explores our contemporary anxieties and insecurities and shows how these metaphoric dark nights can become transforming rites of passage.

A healthy brain is the key to living longer and looking younger. In Use Your Brain to Change Your Age, clinical neuroscientist and bestselling author Dr Daniel G. Amen shares simple steps to boost your brain, helping you to look, feel and think younger. Based on the approach that has helped thousands of people at the Amen Clinics and the most up-to-date research collected from over 70,000 brain scans, Dr Amen's breakthrough programme leads you through ten simple anti-aging steps that will also dramatically decrease the risk for Alzheimer's disease. You will learn how to:- Boost your memory, mood, attention and energy- Decrease your risk of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia- Reduce the outward signs of aging and make your skin more beautiful- Promote the healing of brain damage due to injury, strokes, substance abuse and toxic exposure- Dramatically increase your chances of living longer and looking younger

When you want to buy or rent your dream home, you go to an estate agent. When you want to learn to cook, you buy a recipe book from TV's latest celebrity chef. But who is there for you when you want to learn about having great sex? Or when you want to revive a flagging sex life? How to Have Great Sex is the answer. This step-by-step guide takes you from the underrated pleasures of a good snog through to the best positions for having that quickie in a forbidden place and gives you all the advice you need on:- How to initiate sex- How to talk dirty- How to give and get great oral sex- How to enjoy casual, safe sex - How to make love to the same partner for the rest of your lifeWhether you are a novice wanting to move on from the basics of the missionary position, or an experienced lover aching to know how to pep up your sex life, you'll find it all explained between these sheets in explicit, intimate, fun and supersexy detail.

Be inspired and empowered by Carry on, Warrior by Glennon Melton.Here's my hunch: nobody's secure, and nobody feels like she completely belongs. Those insecurities are just job hazards of being human. But some people dance anyway, and those people have more fun. On my deathbed, I'm not gong to wish I had danced like JLo; I'm just going to wish I had danced more. On Mother's Day, 2002, Glennon Melton was unmarried, addicted to drugs, booze, food and bad love. Her criminal record had grown steadily more muddied in her desperate quest for escapism. But by a strange twist of fate, it was on this day that she discovered she was pregnant. After twenty years of wilful self-destruction, how could Glennon rise to the challenge of looking after the helpless, innocent child growing within her, when she couldn't even look after herself? This is the inspiring story of Glennon Melton, the mother who, for the love of her child, was determined to change her life forever. Carry on, Warrior is a true woman's book, which touches on the universal themes of friendship, marriage and family in a way that is unique and enlightening.Glennon Melton lives in the US with her husband Craig, her three beautiful children Chase, Tish and Amma and their two dogs. She has an enormous following for her blog and online community momastery.com, and as a recovering alcoholic and bulimic she views writing as a form of healing. Her charity Monkee See - Monkee Do is dedicated to helping struggling parents to provide a better life for themselves and their children.

This textbook connects the big ideas and key thinkers of psychology and philosophy in a clear and cohesive theoretical narrative. Students are led to understand the relations between different schools of thought, and to connect the various thinkers, theories and facts in psychology's history. Focusing on the major ideas that have reoccurred throughout history, such as the mind-body problem and the role of the mind in our experience, Martin Farrell shows how specific thinkers have explored the same ideas, but in different ways, leading to distinct schools of thought. The coherent narrative enables students to see the bigger picture, through which the historical and conceptual roots of psychology can be easily understood.

A practical and inspiring guide to adjusting to life after your children leave home.More than half a million parents confront the empty nest for the first time each year. It is one of the most challenging phases of parenting, often creating feelings of loss, lack of purpose and crisis of identity which can lead to depression. Yet it receives little recognition. And contrary to popular opinion it doesn't only affect women who've put their careers on hold: working mothers and fathers suffer too. Equally, it can be a period of liberation and discovery of new challenges, when marriages long overstressed by childcare can be rejuvenated.The Empty Nest includes case studies documenting a wide range of experiences of parents living through an empty nest; expert comment and advice; plenty of practical ideas, inspiration and tips. This encouraging, empowering books helps you to focus on the positive as well as how to handle the changing relationship with your children to ensure a fulfilling and good relationship going forward, an area of parenting often ignored.

Every day we make choices. Coke or Pepsi? Save or spend? Stay or go?Whether mundane or life-altering, these choices define us and shape our lives. Sheena Iyengar asks the difficult questions about how and why we choose: Is the desire for choice innate or bound by culture? Why do we sometimes choose against our best interests? How much control do we really have over what we choose? Her award-winning research reveals that the answers are surprising and profound. In our world of shifting political and cultural forces, technological revolution, and interconnected commerce, our decisions have far-reaching consequences. Use this book as your companion and guide for the many challenges ahead.'No one asks better questions, or comes up with more intriguing answers' Malcolm Gladwell, author of THE TIPPING POINT

With a foreword by Richard Thaler, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics 2017!Dr David Halpern, behavioural scientist and head of Number 10's Behavioural Insights Team, or the 'Nudge Unit', invites you inside the unconventional, multi-million pound saving initiative that makes a big difference through influencing small, simple changes in our behaviour. Using the application of psychology to the challenges we face in the world today, the Nudge Unit is pushing us in the right direction. This is their story.

We are the safest humans who ever lived - the statistics prove it. And yet the media tells a different story with its warnings and scare stories. How is it possible that anxiety has become the stuff of daily life?In this ground-breaking, compulsively readable book, Dan Gardner shows how our flawed strategies for perceiving risk influence our lives, often with unforeseen and sometimes-tragic consequences. He throws light on our paranoia about everything from paedophiles to terrorism and reveals how the most significant threats are actually the mundane risks to which we pay little attention.Speaking to psychologists and scientists, as well as looking at the influence of the media and politicians, Gardner uncovers one of the central puzzles of our time: why are the safest people in history living in a culture of fear?

Unmastered is a new kind of book that allows us to think afresh about sex and desire. Incisive, moving, and lyrical, it opens up a larger space for the exploration of feelings that can be difficult to express. Touching on experiences of desire and pleasure, as well as grief and pain, the book probes the porousness between masculine and feminine, thought and sensation, self and culture, power and pliancy. Katherine Angel reflects on the history of her own feelings, on her encounters and beliefs, and shows how our lives can be shaped by sexuality and feminism; by the words we use, and the stories we tell. The result is a book letting light into places that are often dark and constrained - a searching, erotic work that shifts in meaning and resonance even as it is read.

Anyone who has read Jon Krakauer's famous account of the 1996 Everest disaster, INTO THIN AIR, will remember the story of Beck Weathers: the gregarious Texan climber who went snow-blind in the Death Zone below the summit and who spent a night out in the open during a blizzard that took the lives of a dozen colleagues and friends.Even as he staggered back into Camp 4 the next morning, Beck's condition was such that the other survivors assumed he would not make it back down the mountain. He was effectively left for dead, but drawing upon reserves of determination and courage he didn't know he had - as well as the extraordinary selflessness and bravery of a Nepalese helicopter pilot he'd never met - he finally made it to safety. Only then could a new battle begin: to rebuild his life with a family he'd taken for granted for too long.Heartstoppingly exciting and ultimately very moving, LEFT FOR DEAD is a terrific read.

This revision guide book covers the major areas of Statistical Analysis covered in Undergraduate Psychology. The focus is on the practical application of statistics to assignments and assessments that you may encounter. To ensure that you are able to apply statistics, particular attention is given to the key concepts you need to understand in order to be able to use statistics correctly; the process you need to follow in order to choose the correct statistic; and what you need to do to present and interpret your statistics correctly. The coverage of the individual tests focus on pragmatic issues, such as when the test is appropriate, how to format data correctly and what to do when you don't get the data you expect. You are directed to further readings for the mathematical underpinnings of the statistical tests. Examples and case studies are used throughout, so you can see the application of statistics to problems that are similar to those you are likely to encounter. Features focused on critical thinking, practical applications and key research will offer additional pointers for you in your revision process/exam preparation.A companion website provides supporting resources for self testing, exam practice, answers to questions in the book, and links to further resources.

This revision guide provides concise coverage of the central topics within cognitive psychology, designed to help you focus on assessment and exams. The guide is organised to cater for QAA and BPS recommendations for course content. Sample questions, assessment advice and exam tips drive the organisation within chapters so you are able to grasp and marshal your thoughts towards revision of the main topics. Features focused on critical thinking, practical applications and key research offer additional pointers for you in your revision process and exam preparation.A companion website provides supporting resources for self testing, exam practice, answers to questions in the book, and links to further resources.

This revision guide provides concise coverage of the central topics within Research Methods in Psychology, presented within a framework designed to help you focus on assessment and exams. The text encapsulates all the subject matter listed in the BPS Qualifying Examination syllabus for the area. The structure of the book represents a logical, linear progress through your typical learning in relation to Research Methods in Psychology. The two authors bring their clear, accessible style to bear on this, making the normally dry subject matter seem more lively and engaging. The chapter on writing reports is deliberately left to the end since this is the natural culmination of your research process.Sample questions, assessment advice and exam tips drive the organisation within chapters so you are able to grasp and marshal your thoughts towards revision of the main topics. Features focused on critical thinking, practical applications and key research will offer additional pointers for you in your revision process and exam preparation.A companion website provides supporting resources for self testing, exam practice, answers to questions in the book, and links to further resources.

Arguably our brain's greatest sense is the ability to understand the minds of others - our sixth sense. In Mindwise, renowned psychologist Nicholas Epley shows that this incredible capacity for inferring what others are thinking and feeling is, however sophisticated, still prone to critical errors. We often misread social situations, misjudge others' characters, or guess the wrong motives for their actions. Drawing on the latest in psychological research, Epley suggests that only by learning more about our sixth sense will we have the humility to overcome these errors and understand others as they actually are instead of as we imagine them to be.

Many of us experience pain in our childhoods, and young people face trauma all over the world. How is it possible to recover? Do those abused always go on to hurt others? This incredible bestseller has overturned the way we view trauma, by showing how the extraordinary power of resilience can heal damaged lives. Renowned psychoanalyst Boris Cyrulnik has dealt with many young victims of distress and he relates stories of children who have been abused, orphaned, fought in wars and escaped genocide, yet who have not only survived, but grown in the face of adversity. By the way we deal with our memories and emotions, he shows, we can reshape our lives and transform pain into something stronger - just as a grain of sand in an oyster becomes a pearl. Resilience is not just about resisting; it is about learning to live. This life-changing book points the way towards hope and happiness.

The Stuff of Thought is an exhilarating work of non-fiction. Surprising, thought-provoking and incredibly enjoyable, there is no other book like it - Steven Pinker will revolutionise the way you think about language. He analyses what words actually mean and how we use them, and he reveals what this can tell us about ourselves. He shows how we use space and motion as metaphors for more abstract ideas, and uncovers the deeper structures of human thought that have been shaped by evolutionary history. He also explores the emotional impact of language, from names to swear words, and shows us the full power that it can have over us. And, with this book, he also shows just how stimulating and entertaining language can be.