Self-help refers to actions and interventions that can help you improve mental health. These include learning therapeutic techniques and taking action-oriented steps to overcome challenges. Using self-help can also help you set short and long-term goals for your life.
Proponents of self-help argue that research shows it can be more effective than placebos and that its results often match those achieved by therapists. However, it’s important to approach self-help with a dose of skepticism.
It doesn’t work for everyone
While self help is a big business with new titles coming out every day, it is also a field that has been subjected to fierce criticism. Respected psychologists like Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi have warned that self-help books will not make you thin, rich, or well-adjusted and that they may actually cause harm through encouraging false hope syndrome or making people avoid professional help.
Self-help authors tend to rely on pseudoscience and have an interest in selling their product. They typically neglect to test their theories, and they often contradict each other. They also often slant their writing to appeal to the middle class, and their recommendations are generally too simplistic for real life.
As a result, self-help books tend to fail on their own and are no better than a placebo. Rosen says that UW researchers have the skills and obligation to improve self-help books by testing them rigorously. He suggests experimenting with different formats, such as writing them as novels or in short steps. He also wants them to include a self-assessment procedure at the beginning and a chapter measuring progress at the end, as well as warnings throughout not to blame yourself if the book fails.
It doesn’t work for every problem
If self-help methods are not effective for you, it may be time to seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can provide you with guidance, support, and evidence-based treatments to help you overcome your challenges. They can also help you develop a plan for making long-term changes in your life.
People who get sucked into self-help material tend to fall into two categories: Bad-to-OK people and OK-to-Great people. The former are convinced that there is something wrong with them, and they will try anything to change themselves. The latter, on the other hand, are in search of a solution to their problems and blind spots.
Unfortunately, most self-help advice is based on hindsight and doesn’t necessarily work for everyone. There are some practices that have been shown to be beneficial, such as meditation or mindfulness, keeping a journal, and giving to others. However, most of the self-help industry is either placebo at best or complete nonsense at worst.
It doesn’t work for every person
Self help can be useful, but it is not an answer for everyone. The problem with these books is that they are often written by laymen and may not take into account an individual’s nuanced symptoms, which a psychotherapist is trained to interpret. Additionally, they may not take into consideration the way an individual deals with stress or their unique coping skills.
Moreover, the overly optimistic messages of these books can be detrimental to a person’s mental health, as they may discourage readers from working hard. They may also encourage daydreaming, such as when women who read diet books fantasize about their size 36 figure.
On the other hand, self-help books can be a good source of information if they are legitimate and provide a balanced view. They should be based on hard data and provide a step-by-step approach to change. They should also include a checklist for measuring progress and warn against false promises.
It doesn’t work for every situation
Self-help started 200 years ago with a new conception of society that was based on Jefferson’s idea of an individual “pursuit of happiness.” It replaced rigid, fixed-class systems with open societies in which people could rise or fall in social status based on their achievements. The success of this concept is partly due to the popularity of self help books.
Nevertheless, self-help can also be dangerous. It may encourage unrealistic optimism or daydreaming, which can be counterproductive to real change. Some books even contain harmful advice, such as the recommendation to use herbs for depression, which has been discredited by research. In addition, some self-help treatments are unwieldy or difficult to follow, and others may not take into account the nuanced symptoms that a psychotherapist is trained to interpret.
The best self-help books are based on scientific research and sound psychological principles. Some practices have been proven to be effective, such as keeping a gratitude journal, mindfulness meditation, and practicing kindness. Other strategies, however, are hit or miss, and some are downright nonsense.