Ten Days to Self-Esteem

by David D. Burns

Book Overview

In Ten Days to Self-Esteem, Dr. David Burns presents innovative, clear, and compassionate methods that have helped hundreds of thousands of people identify the causes of their mood slumps and develop a more positive outlook on life

Do you wake up dreading the day? Do you feel discouraged with what you've accomplished in life? Do you want greater self-esteem, productivity, and joy in daily living?

If so, you will benefit...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688094554
• ISBN13: 9780688094553
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.6" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

i wouldnt be where i am now without it

Like many other people who have posted their opinion of this book, I too have struggled for most of my life with Severe Depression, Severe Anxiety, and manic bipolar disorder- which led to a number of suicide attempts and constant ideation... Soon after finally recieving treatment, My therapist had recommended that i take a look at this book- at first i wasnt very motivated, but i decided that i dont HAVE TO do it in ten days- so i spread it out longer- doing one chapter a week and talking/discussing everything with my therapist. It was very helpful to have worked on it with someone who could help me understand everything and be able to help me look at MY situations and apply them to what i was working on. I cant even begin to tell you about what a difference this book has made im my life. ive noticed that alot of people are "turned off" by just reading the introduction and basing their entire opinion on a few sentences that Burns said about Medication etc... I encourage you to keep an open mind and begin reading and doing the work in this book. If you give it a chance- I guarantee that you wont regret it. > I still take medication, to keep me balanced- But after working with the book i have, for the first time in 10 years, been able to be MYSELF again, and i couldnt be happier.

Deceptively Powerful

For over 15 years I've suffered with mild to moderate chronic depression. I've been on six different anti-depressants, had five years of talk therapy, and read a shelf full of books on depression. My results have been marginal. Nothing changes my moods and outlook as quickly or as powerfully as the work I do guided by Burn's book. His approach looks simple--even simplistic at times. Do not be deceived. The approach, thinking, and exercises in the book are sound and sophisticated. The key is following Burns' instructions and doing the work. When I purchased my copy of Burns' book, I dismissed the title as marketing hype. The title proved true for me. In less than a week after beginning the work in the book, I saw significant changes in my mood, motivation, and outlook on life. Get the book. Do the work. The exercises are challenging. There are days I hate Burns and his book. I do the exercises anyway--they invariably result in mood changes within hours.

Have depression or anxiety? Get this book.

I've had depression for over ten years, flirting with suicide for most of them, before finally seeking help. So I know what it's like at the bottom, trust me. Meds can make you a LOT better... but they're only a kick-start to taking care of the problems addressed in this book. This book can make you ALL better by taking care of the main symptom of depression - negative thoughts - and thus preventing deeper depression and relapse. "Ten Days to Self-Esteem" includes checklist tests to chart your progress, simple homework assignments, and daily exercises to train yourself to think more positively. In other words, if you're willing to put in the work, and let Dr. Burns show you where to start, it WILL help you, step-by-step.So why all the negative reviews? I have to put in my two cents, here.There are three major themes running through the brains of those with depression:1. "I have a very special case of depression. Other people may have gotten better, but I'm different. I'll never be cured."2. Life's details are tainted with bad-ness. ("That's nice, but...")3. If it's not perfect, it's not good enough. ("There's a typo on my resume, so I won't bother applying for the job.")All of these combined will invariably lead to negative reviews of this book. The depressed patient will find one or two things they don't agree with (whether rational or not), and since they have an all-or-nothing philosophy, they decide this book is worthless and can't help them, so they don't read it or do the exercises (or do them half-heartedly), and this book gets one star.Now, I'm NOT picking on any certain reviewer here; I haven't read the complaints in that much detail. I'm just trying to help explain to the non-depressed people why there are such a bafflingly wide range of opinions about this book. Well, that's the way depressed people think - negatively. (In fact, depressed people even answer "No" to questions significantly more often than non-depressed people.) With that said, I'll admit that I had EXACTLY the same reaction. The book was too _______, I didn't have enough time for the exercises, it wasn't helping fast enough, blah blah blah. (I have a high IQ - so sometimes my negative thoughts are downright artistic in their warped-ness.) I managed to do the exercises up until Day 3, at which point I did what most other depressed people will probably do with this book -- I put it aside to collect dust, and procrastinated, until I conveniently forgot about the exercises I was supposed to be doing.A month or two later, I noticed that I was happier. My head was clearer. I had fewer doubts and paid less attention to that snide play-by-play announcer in my head. ("But what will they think? You can't do it, you'll screw up, stupid...") And I realized that it was this book, "Ten Days to Self-Esteem," that had taught me the methods. I'm currently eager and happy to be ordering a new copy. Exactly what I need. Yes, after rejecting it, now I'm coming back to

First book I have ever felt so good about that I am writting

The concepts in this book worked for me. I was very skeptical in the beginning but found the simple techniques to be very effective. It was hard work at times but the dividends were great. With time, I found myself looking forward to working the book. I set aside 15 minutes 5 days a week. I ended up missing some days but spending more then 15 minutes on others. Many mornings, with my cup of coffee in hand and a pencil in the other I would read a page or two then dive into the exercises. The workbook takes much longer then the ten days that the title suggests. It took me about three months to complete the ten outlined steps. Yes, this is a book you must work and write in. Don't bother buying it if you don't want to write. The book starts out with a depression checklist, anxiety inventory and relationship exercise at the beginning of each chapter. These exercises go fast. They are very helpful for doing a basic checkup and tracking any progress. At first, I saw little change but with time my scores were showing some real signs of improvement. Each week I was learning something new and eventually found it easier to get up each morning. This workbook is designed to challenge your negative thoughts and show you ways to untwist your thinking. Dr. Burns suggests fifteen practical ways to confront your self-defeating thoughts. You will learn about self-defeating beliefs and how they differ from negative thoughts. You will become skilled at accepting negative thoughts while maintaining a healthy self-esteem and balanced view of yourself. ?Your thoughts create your moods. When you are upset it?s not so much what?s happening to you, but the way you think about it that causes you to feel the way you do.? Life is full of many ups and downs but if you are stuck and are looking for help get this book and work this book. The author will tell you that his research has showed that 70% of the people who used these techniques improve but 30% do not. This book is not for everyone but I can honestly say the principles in this book have helped me grow. While there is still more work ahead and more to do I feel that I am better equipped then before to tackle my problems. Thank you Dr Burns!

A mistitled, misunderstood book

I ignored the comments attached to this book before ordering, and I'm glad I did. As has often been said, a review says more about the reviewer than the object in question, mine included. This book is meant to accomplish very specific things, which are clearly outlined in the book, and it does those things extremely well.The problem is of course the title: it puts the book in the "thinner thighs" niche, and this is no quick fix, fairy tale book. This is not a superficial or simplistic book, though it is simple. The book was originally written for a 10 day workshop for disadvantaged people of various types who had one thing in common: major depression. As such, it's sort of an inpatient book. Most of us can't do it in 10 business days, either because of the time required or because of the emotional stamina it would require.I've read hundreds of self-help books over the years, and many of them have fine ideas. Like diets, though, we don't DO them. The point of this book is to put Burns' lessons down on paper, because that's the only way you learn. Keeping it in your head simply does not work(I've tried), no matter who you are.(I have three Ivy League degrees blah blah, but that's not worth a hill of beans in emotional healing or learning how to have a mental, spiritual, and physical life coexist happily.) CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)has been shown effective for people with not much education. It's the effort that counts, according to studies cited in his books.I read Burns' first book over 10 years ago, but put it aside because it just was too much; it wasn't helpful to me at that point. I've come a long way since then, and now have the patience, persistence, and yes desperation, to do whatever I can. Luckily I stumbled across the first book again recently and recognized it for the gem it is. This workbook forces me to actually do the work instead of thinking about it. That has been extraordinarily valuable, because I am depressed, can't be bothered to do things, and don't want to do potentially painful things. Depression is a fierce, dangerous thing, and until I recognized it for what it is, I would not have taken the time and effort to do the book. FWIW. I personally have fun drawing stick figures as the book suggests. Not much about depression work is fun, so I'll take it where I can get it, especially if it is also the most practical route to a better life.