How Self-help Books Can Save You Money

Therapy, therapy, therapy. This has become such a common word, we probably all know at least one person around us who has gone to a therapy session for mental health purposes. I've personally tried therapy sessions myself and there is no doubt that they can be of tremendous help especially if you meet someone who has enough experience to understand you. And part of it is that someone's understanding of your struggles brings about healing and restoration. But despite the benefits, therapy may not be the most accessible for students because they can be quite costly especially for those that don't work or don't have their parents' financial support. So prior to finding a job to afford these sessions, what I recommend students to do is to try out a couple self-help books that are relevant to the struggles they are going through.

Now self-help books have many subcategories to choose from. It can be money-related, personality and psych-related, abuse-related, disability-related, relationship-related and many more. There honestly are so many great books out there that are worth consulting to bring yourself some healing and restoration. You'd be surprised at how powerful these written words can be, and how much it can actually touch you. And I want to share my experiences with some of the self-books I've checked out and here is how self-help books can save you money and time.

1. Don't underestimate the voices inside the book.

There are numerous self-help books out there that have amalgamated the experiences of many people in similar situations as you or have similar traits as you that may be struggling in a similar way. One example of this kind of a book is Highly Sensitive People in an Insensitive World by Ilse Sand, which I introduced as a recommended book in my other blog post. In this book, the author includes many voices of overly sensitive people that have suffered in various ways due to their sensitive personality. They also share ways they coped with the stresses that come with their sensitivity. What these books can bestow you is the sense of relief that you are not alone in feeling this way. And the understanding that there are many others who are similar to you can tremendously help accept yourself for who you are, which is a necessary component of restoration. Once you begin to accept and love yourself, you begin to develop confidence in yourself. Ultimately, you will see yourself grow to a point where you are hardly swayed by others' judgments and criticisms.

2. Self-books may provide you with practical ways to resolve issues

Whatever issue you might have, you may find some practical ways with which you can minimize or cope with your struggles within the book. Generally, they are ways the author has personally utilized, or they may be strategies used by others as well. Again to bring Sand's book back, she emphasizes the need to practice setting boundaries with others and practice saying "no" no matter how uncomfortable that might be initially. She mentions that not setting proper boundaries will only accumulate stresses and ultimately your relationships with others may suffer because of your inaction. In this way, the author provides practical ways to cope with one's sensitive nature, also sharing accounts of many others who have coped this way. Try searching books that are relevant to your needs and struggles as you may find the answers to alleviating the discomfort within you.

3. Sometimes the author is more specialized in the issue than your therapist

When we need a heart surgery, we'd probably choose a cardiologist to do the work for us rather than a family physician for obvious reasons. Similarly, whatever book you've chosen related to your issue, the author most likely published that book because he or she is an expert who has specialized in that area. Someone who has the expertise will more likely provide better understanding of your situation, give you diverse ways to cope with them, and share accounts of many others who have taken a similar path. All of this will allow you to feel less ailenated and give you hope that others are undetaking the same mission as you.

Final Words

I've shared with you the benefits of self-help books for those who have difficulty accessing therapy. The experiences shared by the author, accounts of many others in a similar situation as you, practical coping strategies, and many other relevant content you can read in the book can bring about significant healing and restoration. I'm not suggesting that these books are a direct alternative to a therapy session as these sessions have their own advantages. However, I do want to encourage you to consult the books and make this an addition to your therapy sessions to maximize your efforts in overcoming the struggles you might have.