Description
A hands-on collection of effective tools for treating self-hatred
In I Hate Myself. Now What?: A Step-by-Step Workbook for You and Your Therapist, Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Blaise Aguirre delivers an essential companion resource to the author’s widely acclaimed review of self-hatred, I Hate Myself. Dr. Aguirre offers practical and hands-on resources for people struggling with self-loathing and self-hatred, as well as the therapists and loved ones who want to help them heal.
This workbook builds and expands on why some people come to incorrectly believe that they are a burden. It provides checklists, questionnaires, techniques, tips, strategies, and structured exercises that readers can work through individually or collaboratively with their therapist, creating a bridge between self-help and professional treatment.
Inside the book:
- Effective exercises designed for both self-guided work and therapist-client collaboration
- A practical toolkit for addressing an under-discussed component of suicidality in patients experiencing distress
- Step-by-step therapeutic interventions that mental health professionals can implement in their practice
- An essential resource for putting into practice the research-based insights found in the companion book, I Hate Myself
Perfect for people struggling with feelings of self-loathing, self-hatred, and worthlessness, I Hate Myself. Now What? is an indispensable resource for individuals seeking change, the mental health professionals who guide them, and the loved ones who support their journey toward healing.
Table of Contents
Preface ix
PART 1 UNDERSTANDING SELF-HATRED 1
1 What Is Self-Hatred? 3
2 Why Is Overcoming Self-Hatred So Critical? 21
3 Common Signs of Self-Hatred 31
4 The Lived Experience: Breaking the Cycle of Self-Hatred 59
5 What Is the Self That You Are Hating? 75
PART 2 ROOTS OF SELF-HATRED 93
6 Where Does Self-Hatred Come From? 95
7 Could It Be Temperament or Biology? 107
PART 3 SELF-HATRED IN MENTAL HEALTH 123
8 Borderline Personality Disorder and Self-Hatred 125
9 Other Psychiatric Diagnoses and Self-Hatred 133
10 Other Personality Traits and Self-Hatred 147
PART 4 TREATMENT AND OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO TREATMENT 167
11 Targeting Self-Hatred 169
12 Why Is Self-Hatred So Hard to Tackle? 183
13 Reflections of Therapists 203
14 Advice from Those with Lived Experience 219
15 Alternative Treatment Ideas 233
PART 5 FINDING HOPE AND TECHNOLOGY'S LIMIT 241
16 Enduring Hope 243
17 AI's Take on Self-Hatred 255
Conclusion 259
Acknowledgments 261
About the Author 263
Index 265
