15 May 2008

BTT for 5/15



Following up last week’s question about reading writing/grammar guides, this week, we’re expanding the question….
Scenario: You’ve just bought some complicated gadget home . . . do you read the accompanying documentation? Or not?
Do you ever read manuals?
How-to books?
Self-help guides?
Anything at all?




Big complicated gadget that I don't know about: heavy skim. I won't read cover to cover but I will keep it around to make sure I know what I'm doing. If i get something i already know how to use like a camera I wouldn't read it at all probably. I do read furniture instructions usually.

How to books: really only cooking books on any kind of regular basis. I know I've read a few dog training books, books on scrapbooking and photography but i don't really practice my other hobbies much so i don't read those a lot.

Self-help: hmm. I am trying to read books on depression. The problem is I really can't get to into them because reading about the symptoms, the automatic thoughts, etc, makes me start thinking my own bad thoughts and I have to put it down. Same for the couple of relationship types books I have attempted. I read the little example stories of people/patients and I think about how bad off these people are and how I have no right to feel bad. Which makes me feel bad. It is rough.

at 6:23 AM

3 comments:

  1. Your self-help remarks remind me of a "Guide to your symptoms" book my mom used to have. She diagnosed herself with every ailment under the sun until finally we realized we had to hide it from her. She may have been right about the hypochondria one.
    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice post. I try to stay away from books specifically about depression for similar reasons. You may want to look at the books I posted about today or similar ones that take a more fun approach to improving yourself. The one depression related book I have been using is Pain and Possibility and it uses writing to recover. It is great because it helps you accept your feelings. And I was going to blog about it today but the post got too long as it was. I will get you the exact title and the author soon. At the moment I am having some technical difficulties.
    ReplyDelete
  3. John-that is awful! :) I am not too bad normally about that sort of thing, it really seems it is just with these books that are supposed to help me getting me down.

    Megan-I will have to check out your suggestion. i just ordered a workbook called Cognitive Behavioral workbook for depression so maybe that will help. My therapist said to skip anything that made me feel low and just focus on the how to parts.
    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)