Breaking the Chain of Low Self-Esteem [Paperback]

Marilyn Sorensen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1998

Finally, a book that fully reveals the devastating inner experience of low self-esteem and explains how LSE negatively controls the thinking, feelings, and behavior of those who suffer from it. Readers say they are astonished at how closely this book mirrors their lives, and that years of therapy did not explain what they read in this book. (A companion workbook available 08/2002)

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . .This is a book whose essence should be taught in every grammar school. We need to empower ourselves and each other. Our internal beliefs can be altered and we need to become aware of that. Then we can begin to build a foundation of self-worth. This is the best handbook to aid in the architecture of self-esteem." --

"Although the book is written for lay people who suffer from LSE, it could also be a helpful guide for therapists who want to learn about the subject and how it effects their clients. Using uncomplicated language, Sorensen describes the symptoms associated with low self-esteem, such as negative self-talk, fear of inadequacy, unhealthy relationships, and negative reactions to situations that can trigger it. Each chapter describes a different component of the problem and methods for treating it.

Whether the reader is seeking help or simply gathering information, "Breaking the Chain Low Self-Esteem" is a revealing and helpful book." (THE ADVOCATE, newsletter of THE AMERICAN MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS'S ASSN.) REVIEW: "First time author, Dr. Marilyn J. Sorensen has come up with a winner in Breaking the Chain of Low Self-Esteem. Not your usual self-help book, this fascinating and powerful edition clarifies how people who suffer from low self-esteem (LSE) think and feel, and why they behave as they do.... -- SAGE WOMAN MAGAZINE

"An excellent addition to an adult self-help collection, the book aids in overcoming anxiety, guilt and pain. Beginning with a self-esteem questionnaire, the book offers mechanisms and behavior modification for those seeking to rebuild their lives. . . .Sorensen offers no quick fixes, but provides tips and motivation to get the reader on the way to healthier living." -- TODAY'S LIBRARIAN

"Sorensen leads the reader through a complex subject with admirable ease and restraint. She promises no miracle cures. . . Her open, clear approach and plain language cut to the heart of things.. . This is a wise and valuable volume." -- THE STATESMAN JOURNAL

About the Author

Marilyn J. Sorensen, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and consultant in Portland, Oregon with over 21 years in private practice, specializing in issues of self-esteem and relationships. Dr. Sorensen is also the co-founder of the Northwest Women's Studies Institute which provides workshops, consultation, and training for businesses and the general public. She was honored as a professional in the 1996-97 national directory of Who's Who in Executives and Professionals.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Wolf Publishing Company; 1 edition (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966431502
• ISBN-13: 978-0966431506
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Life Changing Experience, November 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Breaking the Chain of Low Self-Esteem (Paperback)

THIS BOOK CHANGED MY LIFE.When I began reading it, I started to realize that many of the conditions described mirror my life. Dr. Sorensen outlines a course of action to gradually raise your self-esteem. I began following all of the recommendations 3 months ago and I can truthfully say that my self-esteem has been raised significantly. I am now socializing with people, making friends, living happily by myself and recovering from a codependency condtion that has plagued me for my entire life. This book is easy to read and understand and accurately describes the problem and provides solutions that really work. I recommend this book to anyone who suffers from depression and low self-esteem.

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Explains Everthing !, March 11, 2000

By 

April Taylor (Chattanooga, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking the Chain of Low Self-Esteem (Paperback)

I was given the book "Breaking the Chains of Low Self-Esteem" by a very close friend, several months ago. I have never read anything that defined so clearly what is going on in my life. I thank God for Dr. Sorensen's insight into this wide reaching problem. I have recommended this book to my therapist in hopes that he will be able to help me solve this life controlling situation. I was especially fascinated by the information on "triggers". If you are depressed, can not seem to figure out what is going on in your life, have low self-esteem, or have tried everything else; this book is a must read. I found Dr Sorensen to be especially warm and helpful, she is someone who truly understands my plight.

87 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Helpfull, But With Serious Flaws, January 31, 2002

By 

Charlie Chisholm (Spokane, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Breaking the Chain of Low Self-Esteem (Audio Cassette)

This set was helpfull, in that it allowed me to see the root causes of my low self-esteem. However, very little information about how to recover from low self-esteem is given. The author relies entirely on a recommendation that you get expensive therapy (at least one year) - an option that the vast majority of people cannot afford. There is virtually nothing suggested about how you can help yourself, except for a proposal that you get a second job or borrow money from your family so that you can afford therapy. The long-winded descriptions and stories do, however, accurately illustrate what it is like to experience low self-esteem. Some descriptions apply only to the most severely affected sufferers. The most beneficial segments correctly link low self-esteem to painfull experiences in childhood, and these illustrations are helpful in relieving guilt and allowing you to see that what has happened to you is not really your fault. At one point I was brought to tears as I recalled the painfull experiences of my childhood and realized that not only was I not responsible for the way I was treated, but also that recovery is entirely possible. It was helpfull to realize that I was not the only one with this problem - many people suffer from low self-esteem. The characterizations are so accurate that it becomes easy to recognize other people you may know who also suffer from low self-esteem; and helps you better understand their feelings and behavior.
The flaws are glaring and unpleasant. The set starts out with a scathing rebuke of the modern practice of psychology/psychiatry, with all practicioners who do not agree with the author being portrayed as the bad guys. About halfway through the tapes, the listener is assaulted with a lengthy diatribe condemning the mis-treatment of all women by all men since the beginning of time. All women are portrayed as victims, and all men are portrayed as villians - the concept that a woman can be equally capable of hurting a man seems lost on this author. Also disappointing was the author's absolute condemnation of any women who consents to be involved in a traditional religion - Christian women should not listen to these tapes! A good portion of the end of the set is devoted to telling you which therapists NOT to see - which is virtually any therapist whom does not completely agree with the author in every detail. She has no tolerance whatsoever for any other opinion but her own, and the language is always written in a doomsday fashion - the listener is told repeatedly that recovery is utterly impossible unless her recommendations are followed precisely.
Conclusion: Overall it is beneficial to purchase and own these tapes, but take the authors man-hating, condemnation of religion, and doomsday rhetoric with a BIG grain of salt.