Customer Reviews

Choosing to Live: How to Defeat Suicide Through Congnitive Therapy

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As an RN and a person with bipolar disorder, I have walked the tightrope of life/death scenerio many times. Stressors of daily living, family, divorce etc. had cause my cycling and depression to increase and had I have attempted suicide several times.

I have read extensively both selfhelp books and autobiographies of people with depression and bipolar disorder to no avail looking for help.

Although I am on medications and seeing a cognitive-behavorial therapist for some time and while I understood what he was saying. I wasn't able to assimiliate it until I read this book.

This book changed my life. I give this book freely to friends who are in need of answers for this book has both rich insite and the forthrightness that hits home.

Thank you,the authors, for writing it. It has closed the door to suicide forever for me and has truly changed my life.

I read this book at a tough time in my life when I was being treated for depression and seeking and collecting reasons to "keep on keeping on." Besides clear information on the nature of depression and suicidal thinking, the book has several ways to personally interact with the material, through charts to complete, lists to make, etc. These help the reader to brainstorm about wiser and healthier responses to problems and sad or overwhelming emotions. It was a significant aid to the work that an experienced therapist was able to offer me. Now a few years later, as a counselor myself, I find I can use this book with my clients who are in therapy as a type of "homework" that they can work through on their own. I recommend this book as well to anyone who has a loved one dealing with suicidality. It will help you get inside his/her thinking so you can be a wiser helper. One cavaet: if you buy this book because you are wrestling with suicidal thinking or plans please also talk to your M.D., call a local crisis hotline (or 1-800-273-TALK) or 911, or go to your hospital's ER. Let a professional add his/her training to your wise and brave choice to live!

I do individual therapy and crisis intervention in a large community mental health center. This book has proven itself as an effective tool for helping those in crisis, as well as those who have an ongoing struggle with suicidal thoughts. This is, by far, the most practical, readable, and useful book written for the person struggling to stay alive. I encourage nearly all of the clients with whom I work to purchase and use this book. I even keep a loaner copy on hand for those who cannot afford it!

Perhaps the greatest strength of this book is the authors' ability to teach numerous proven therapy techniques while conveying a genuine concern and respect for the person struggling to stay alive. This helps create a sense of hope. For treatment providers, it models compassionate cognitive therapy for those who arguably need it most. I think this book should be required reading for mental health professionals whose training programs often do not adequately address work with suicidal individuals.

If you struggle with thoughts of suicide, know someone who does, or work in the field of mental health, I highly recommend this book. It will change the way you look at suicide.

Choosing to live is one of a kind. It offers cognitive behavioral therapy as the basis for effective suicide intervention. The first few chapters discuss suicide's stigma and risk factors. The first chapter appropriately opens with the statement, "Getting Rid of the Stigma"-an accurate description of our priorities.

The remaining chapters deal with various cognitive distortions and strategies. These thought distortions such as all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, and shoulds and musts, can be the precursors of aggravation. They are also the fuel that maintain and worsen the suicidal fire.

The book's cognitive behavioral interventions to manage and control suicidal thoughts are remarkable. I like the "Socratic Method"-asking the right questions to create clarity in ones thinking. "Logical/Empirical Approach" is also an effective way of dispelling inappropriate thoughts about oneself. For instance, if you believe that you're performing poorly at work, then you have to start "testing" the validity of such belief.

Choosing to live has offered a lot of strategies-ventilation, mobilizing support networks, and distraction-that sound reasonable and easy to do. I therefore recommend this book to anyone who desperately needs to cope.

I read this book for obvious reasons. I believe that this is a valuable book for many people out there who are suffering so much that living has become unbearable. However, in my case, it didn't give me the help that I needed. I don't have answers of why, since other reviews show positive accomplishment. I am severely depressed and found myself struggling very hard to do the book's homework. Regardless, I worked on the procedures and even felt positive for a very brief moment but unfortunately I am back to square one.

This book seems to pretend to be open-minded, while herding the reader in the direction the authors wish to go. The book also glosses over the idea that there are serious, unsolvable dilemmas, and instead gives examples of easily solved issues.

A person facing severe, unremitting problems may feel trivialized by this book.

This book is an excellent resource for anyone thinking about suicide. It is written in a well organized step by step format starting with an overview of suicide facts and how to determine if you are suicidal. The authors then show us how our distorted thoughts and belief systems can make life seem hopeless. They even explore the advantages and disadvantages of committing suicide. From there they guide us through the various techniques to improve our outlook on life and how to step back from thoughts of suicide. Although this book contains lots of useful information on suicide prevention, it was written in easy to read, well organized format that can easily keep the attention of those in a depressed state. Definitely a valuable book for those who are thinking of suicide or who know of someone suicidal

I am a psychologist who has worked with suicidal individuals every day for 30 years and I found many new ideas in this book. I borrowed it from the library and read it and I was so impressed by it that I ordered 2 copies today: one for my reference and one to loan my patients. I used ideas from it with my patients the first day I read them. Very practical and written to speak to the suicidal individual right where they are, addressing directly the thinking that people fall into when depressed and phrased in the words that I have heard from my patients thousands of times. I don't know where the one-star reviewer is coming from: I did not in any way feel that this book was talking down to the reader or not taking their concerns or situation seriously. It is honest and forthright, no rah-rah Pollyanna preaching.

A very clearly written book that demonstrates the authors do know how many different types of suicidal people think. By eschewing the ridiculous clichés so often expressed, the authors lull the reader into trust. However, the seemingly open-minded approach of addressing "advantages of suicide," for example, is only a cover for a step-by-step process of convenient omission and incomplete logic. While many "passing" suicidal thoughts may be overcome by this book's methodology, its condescending attitude toward "rational suicide" is revolting. This book is only for those who really already know they do not want to commit suicide; others will find it lacking in substance, but with a seductive appeal that leaves you feeling good at first, but saying "But, waitaminute!" after a few chapters.

I have been struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide for most of my life and this is the first book I have found that gave me some direction to finding my own answers. I find myself going back to it again and again because I want to remind myself that there is a way of looking at all things logically. I wish this book was in every therapists's office!!