True Happiness: Your complete guide to emotional health

by Dr. Mark Atkinson

Overview

Are you fed up with the way you feel? Are fear, anger, low self-acceptance or other negative emotions holding you back from living the life you want? If, like so many others, you are unable to recognise what you really feel or want, this book will be invaluable. In THE MOOD DOCTOR'S GUIDE TO HAPPINESS, Dr Mark Atkinson will show you how to transform your mind and mood in order to realise your fullest potential for happiness.

Packed with questionnaires, practical advice and exercises, this groundbreaking book will help you identify and release emotional baggage; change self-limiting beliefs and increase confidence; deepen your relationships and so much more. Ultimately it will help you discover your true self, that aspect that holds your unique talents and gifts and the one that can help you live a deeply fulfilling and happy life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780748119035
Publisher:	Little, Brown Book Group
Publication date:	04/07/2011
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
File size:	430 KB

About the Author

Dr Mark Atkinson is one of Britain's most innovative holistic medical doctors and a leading authority on drug-free solutions to chronic illnesses. He specialises in the integrated medicine approach to depression and other mental health and emotional problems. Many of his holistic health programmes have been featured in the national press in the media.

Table of Contents

About the author xi

Introduction xiii

How to make this book work for you xvii

Choose happiness now 1

Part 1 The essentials of emotional health and happiness 17

Pillar 1 Get out of your head 18

Practise mindfulness 22

Defuse your 'negative' thoughts 25

Investigate your thinking 28

Transform any self-limiting beliefs 30

Pillar 2 Become a master of your emotions 34

Assess your emotional-management style 38

Identify your emotional-control strategies 41

Increase your emotional-body awareness 47

Improve your emotional literacy 49

Become skilful in emotional processing 51

Pillar 3 Live a fulfilling and meaningful life 61

Meet your emotional needs 65

Embrace gratitude 72

Identify your life purpose and gifts 74

Discover your values 77

Live in alignment with your highest values 84

Part 2 Overcoming common barriers to emotional health 89

Pillar 4 Meet your physical needs 90

Optimise your nutrition 93

Get active 110

Sleep soundly 113

Rest and relax 117

Live and work in a healthy environment 121

Pillar 5 Identify and address physical imbalances 125

Physical-imbalance questionnaires 126

Neurotransmitter imbalances 140

Nutritional imbalances 147

Allergies and intolerances 154

Hormone imbalances 157

Dysbiosis 168

Pillar 6 Identify and address any mental-health challenges 173

Mental-health questionnaires 176

Psychological stress 182

Anger 188

Depression 191

Anxiety and panic disorders 195

Addictions 199

Trauma/post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 202

Grief 206

Part 3 Maximise your happiness 211

Pillar 7 Accept and love yourself 212

Make peace with your body 216

Let go of your resentments 218

Experience self-love 221

Discover and embrace your selves 224

Awaken to the true self 229

Pillar 8 Create positive, healthy relationships 233

Practise empathy and loving-kindness 229

Practise the four As of healthy, mature relationships 241

Identify the presence of co-dependency or counter-dependency 245

Develop and maintain healthy boundaries 251

Learn how to resolve conflicts 257

Contribute to the happiness and well-being of others 261

A final word on true happiness 265

Appendix: The 14-day happiness test 267

References 269

Resources 275

Recommended reading 289

Index 292