Monkey Mind Review – The Monkey Mind Podcast By Alex Butt By Catherine October 4, 2020 A CEO, a Tourist and the Monk, Alex Butt, an Entrepreneur, The Monkey Mind Podcast 0 Instead of a book review I want to spoil you today with something else fun I discovered: The Monkey Mind podcast by Alex Butt. However, I felt as if she was sometimes sticking to concrete examples too much and therefore the book missed some depth for me. My counselor plopped it into my hands as a quick but effective assistant to my anxiety. Instead of following the drive to perfection, safety and overprotection, the author suggests - through examples and charts - to rather face the anxiety and set-up elaborated expansion charts. Daniel Smith's anxiety is matched by a wonderful sense of the comic, and it is this which makes Monkey Mind not only a dark, pain-filled book but a hilariously funny one, … And aren't we lucky, ladies, that we are so much more prone to anxiety and depression? It has helped me to see that everything I do to stifle, avoid, hide, or distract me from my anxiety just “feeds the monkey” and makes my anxiety worse. Vibrant images from illustrator Alexander Vidal are paired with key phrases and short meditations or activities to help children learn about themselves without judgement. Each chapter builds upon the previous chapter and follows 3 clients so you can see how it all works. I highly recommend this book if you suffer from anxiety. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. If the answer is yes to these questions, you’ve found a safety strategy.”, “Resisting, avoiding, and distracting yourself from your anxiety are behaviors that send the wrong message to your brain. This book however words anxiety-inducing situations as ways to expand learning to become more confident. This is a great book - it's very easy to read but it makes you think! It has helped me to see that everything I do to stifle, avoid, hide, or distract me from my anxiety just “feeds the monkey” and makes my anxiety worse. I think this book can be very helpful for people that suffer from anxiety and want to have some insight in what is actually going on and how to take some steps to overcome it. But something didn't really click for me here. It looks at the side effects of our social structure, how it affects children, and continues to affect them as they enter adulthood. Welcome back. I'm a card carrying member of they worriers' club and this book definitely addresses people like me. It's not about how you react, but how you respond to anxiety. Even the three examples of patients she uses throughout the book have relatively simple and straightforward symptoms. The author also gives some clear 'step-by-step' advice to overcome anxiety. Invisible to his mother but plain to see most of the time in Ross’ amateurishly painted domestic scenes, a monkey embodies young Jeremy Jones’ restless thoughts and physical clumsiness. In it, the author advocates helpful strategies such as separating yourself from your anxiety (such as thinking, “Oh that’s just my monkey brain acting up again”), pushing yourself into your anxiety (in order to lessen your subsequent reaction to it), and reframing negative thoughts into necessary or empowering ones. I’ve already begun practicing controlling my monkey mind. We’d love your help. "Taming" is common among Taming the Monkey Mind (Chodron 1999), Taming the Monkey Mind; A Guide to Pure Land Practice (Cheng 2000), and Taming Our Monkey Mind: Insight, Detachment, Identity (Krystal 2007). I think it was the over-simplification of the monkey metaphor paired with rather complicated solutions. . I came to this book during a period of high anxiety, and was able to apply there principles and techniques as I read the book. Number of pages: 288. I had never thought about welcoming anxiety before as a way to not feed the monkey. In English-language publishing, fewer books are titled with "mind monkey", such as Master the Mind Monkey (Patkar 2007), than "monkey mind". This mindset follows the logic: 'As long as I am certain, as long as I am perfect, and as long as others are okay, I will be safe, able to relax, and happy'. Each card has a beautiful illustration on one side, with a fun activity on the back. Change ). Omg I felt like the author was inside my mind as she wrote this book. As a person with plenty of mental illness issues the binary of positive or negative was difficult to choke on when other people shoved it down my throat. However, I felt as if she was sometimes sticking to concrete examples too much and therefore the book missed some depth for me. Book Review: MONKEY MIND: A MEMOIR OF ANXIETY by Daniel Smith Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety by Daniel Smith. Monkey Mind. Straightforward and clearly written, the author provides some achievable steps to begin dealing with anxiety. Cutesy CBT therapy that hinges on viewing your amygdala as an uninvited simian cohabitant of your skull, screeching into your frontal lobes. “Tales For Your Monkey’s Mind is a fun book, in the vein of Shel Silverstein, Roald Dahl, and Dr. Seuss – quirky and imaginative, with vibrant illustrations and themes of fantasy and wonder throughout…, The stories were fun and engaging, short and easy to read, and enjoyable ways to end the day. 'Devote 5 minutes to self-care before responding to anything you think needs to get done', is a very good beginning for the process of pondering the best decisions, one smart step at a time towards your goal to set limits to your 'monkey mind'. Be the first to ask a question about Don't Feed the Monkey Mind. For the first time I actually have hope and not just a resolve that I will be miserable with anxiety my whole life. I was an anxious child, prone to stomach aches, missing school, and nightmares of a man who lived under the house. The reality is anxiety is often much messier and complicated and harder to figure out. I hope it will be helpful even more when I take the time to truly practice more. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The patients in the book were a great way to gauge the independent factors of time and relationships and their counseling was focused on dealing with the dependent factor of anxiety. Mar 17, 2017 Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews rated it really liked it When I seen the title Don’t Feed the Monkey Mind: How to stop the Cycle of Anxiety, Fear, and Worry I … I don't normally read these type of 'self help' or 'motivational' books but this is good. Decent but the material was better covered in other books I have read recently. Brief Content. When my father died I worried obsessively that my mother could die too. I wanted so much to be a psychologist and help others. Even though I am not an expert in anything and can always learn something, I resent the tone of these books, which I always take as condescending, no matter how hard I try to give the author the benefit of the doubt that it's not. This book does a nice job of helping conceptualize the anxiety creating portion of the brain in a relatable, non-threatening way. Knowing the root cause of your problems is something very valuable, but author suggests that it's even more important to know what is it that you do that maintains your anxiety - and how to change that. This book is a short but solid introduction to lowering the effect anxiety has over us. These behaviors fuel a cycle of anxiety that always leads to a bigger dose.”, The Best of WILT Wednesdays (Part 2) - CC Hearing Things Audiobook Club, Burned Out? Daniel Smith’s Monkey Mind is the … Feeding our monkey mindset is what fuels our anxiety and the author explains how to quit doing that. If you're chronically anxious and want to better explain to a loved one what you're going through, hand them Monkey Mind.” The charts towards the end of the book also provided more positive spins on negative things without using positive or negative language. Smith, Daniel. You can get it here. Publication date is February 4, 2020. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It became a little repetitive after a while though. Piper’s monkey is playful but very naughty, and he often prevents her from doing the things she enjoys the most. This book is currently available for pre-order. . It has helped me immensely, and I look forward to see how far I can get as I keep applying it. I wanted so much to be a psychologist and help others. That said, I'll just go with my gut and say 3.5 stars. Full Title: Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety Author: Daniel Smith Publisher: Simon & Schuster (2012) Number of Pages: 212 How long it took me to read: 3 days Where I got this book: Amazon’s Kindle Store ISBN: 978-1-4391-7732-7 Like a Moth to a Flame. This book does a nice job of helping conceptualize the anxiety creating portion of the brain in a relatable, non-threatening way. It confirms to my brain that whatever I am anxious about is indeed a dangerous threat and I need to panic. The author's recommendations are consistent with CBT therapies, ie: change the way you react to anxious symptoms, accept the feelings don't fight them, your thoughts are not reality. Navigate changing emotions with this beautifully illustrated meditation deck featuring 30 cards to help kids connect more deeply with themselves and others.Help your child become more focused, calm, and capable of dealing with overwhelming emotions. When my father died I worried obsessively that my mother could die too. Illustrator : Rebecca J. Palmer. “Are you giving up your long-term interests or compromising your personal values in exchange for short-term anxiety relief? Benoist called, “Addicted to the Monkey Mind, Change the Programming that Sabotages Your Life”. The Monkey Mind Meditation Deck explores the playful and powerful qualities of animals and nature to inspire your child to discover the same qualities in themselves and others. This book portrayed a very interesting view on anxiety in an easy, fluent style and I certainly liked the metaphor of "the monkey mind" and "feeding it". Genre: Children's. ( Log Out /  Full disclosure, two people who read my reviews - I was asked to read this by my therapist. I wonder if it's because of all the S*&t we have to do, remember, care about or if we are just built differently? Omg I felt like the author was inside my mind as she wrote this book. March 30, 2019 My journey writing this book began as a 5 year-old, sitting next to my mother while she studied for her psychology classes. A smattering of positive self-talk scripts. We like to think that we can easily keep our thoughts under control, but the truth is that the comparison to a monkey is actually incredibly relevant. Read this review to find out how your thinking relates to how you become addicted to drugs and alcohol. I don't read many self-help books, so I don't know what criteria are important in the rating process. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published I was an anxious child, prone to stomach aches, missing school, and nightmares of a man who lived under the house. I have been known to call my anxiety Monkey Chatter and was able to relate well to to the anxiety, fears and worry describe in this book. This unique guide offers a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based approach to help you recognize the constant chatter of your anxious “monkey mind,” stop feeding anxious thoughts, and find the personal peace you crave. MyChild: My favorite picture was the Butterfly one. When I saw this deck of cards aimed at children, I was very excited to let MyChild try it out. The Monkey Mind Meditation Deck by Carolyn Kanjuro. I have had the privilege of review a couple Advance Reader Copy books through NetGalley and when I was recently searching for some new books to read, there were a few children’s books available. I know this day and age, therapy isn't a big dealio, but, I digress. One of the many useful recommendations is to start being. Tagged: anxiety, Picture Book, resilience, self-care. By getting to know the impulses that give rise to their actions, children can become empowered to make choices that truly serve them best. Or is it part and parcel of growing old, having jobs and families? Mind mapped … Daniel Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow divides thought processes between System 1 and System 2. This book was a therapy homework read for me. The book highlights two different states of mind: the “monkey mind” and the “observing mind.” The monkey mind is the inner critic that spirals your emotions out of control, invokes erratic thoughts, and creates anxiety. Than I would get myself so tired up in knots I wouldn't be able to eat or sleep for days on end. Daniel Smith wrote a memoir of his experiences with anxiety in the book titled Monkey mind:A memoir of anxiety. Watch a 1-minute YouTube video showing a drypoint etching print of a page in the book. Book title: ‘The Monkey Is The Messenger: Meditation And What Your Busy Mind Is Trying To Tell You’. This book was a therapy homework read for me. Like many self help or motivational books, this one didn’t completely hold my interest. Life is a never-ending lessons and there is always a chance to grow. I had never thought about welcoming anxiety before as a way to not feed the monkey. . ( Log Out /  This mindset follows the logic: 'As long as I am certain, as long as I am perfect, and as long as others are okay, I will be safe, able to relax, and happy'. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. MEDIA REVIEWS "I read Monkey Mind with admiration for its bravery and clarity. To be completely honest, the reason I first noticed this book was that it was on sale. It confirms to my brain that whatever I am anxious about is indeed a dangerous threat and I need to panic. The image of feeding the monkey just didn’t work for me. Reviewed on 18 December 2020 18 December 2020. I liked the idea of a "monkey mind", and definitely have all 3 main characteristics discussed in the book. Mom: Having practiced yoga for more than a decade, I learned how to deal with the “monkey mind” and how to refocus. By Daniel Smith. A very interesting and well-structured book, dealing with a common problem nowadays: anxiety. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. My journey writing this book began as a 5 year-old, sitting next to my mother while she studied for her psychology classes. It was a quick and easy read, which helps when a person is struggling and wants to find fast tools to help. But I needed plenty of help myself. Simon & Schuster, July 3, 2012 ISBN 978-1-4391-7730-3 (Hardcover) Mental illness is a serious, grave topic. . Specifications. Well, if this wasn't the most powerful book on anxiety I've ever read, then I don't read very much. I tried, but I can't. Refresh and try again. Just like many reviews I also have general and social Anxiety. Book Review: Don ’ t Feed the Monkey Mind. Each chapter builds upon the previous chapter and follows 3 clients so you can see how it all works. I think this is mainly due to the fact that I have mostly overcome my (not too severe) anxiety myself and that the book was not very relevant anymore for me. Learn how your comment data is processed. This book is part of my journey to overcome an anxiety disorder I have struggled with my whole life. Yet, if you are a person with a mental illness, it is a prerogative, a right, and a survival mechanism to find the humor in your condition. Intimate, compelling memoir exploring the boundaries of the author’s severe anxiety. “Surviving, not thriving” is no way to live! For the first time I actually have hope and not just a resolve that I will be miserable with anxiety my who. Advice on how to get him to shut his mouth, mostly in the form of lists. Watch a 35-second YouTube video showing the process of making Monkey Mind. As someone who suffers from anxiety, I literally could relate to almost everything in this book. In Monkey Mind, Smith articulates what it is like to live with anxiety, defanging the disease with humor, traveling through its demonic layers, and evocatively expressing its self-destructive absurdities and painful internal coherence. Create an “if-then” plan for times when monkeys start to get the better of you. I read (or actually listened to) this book because I have suffered from mild anxiety symptoms since my teenage years. But something didn't really click for me here. Visit Rebecca J Palmer’s website for more about her and her book. Book reviews; Monkey Mind; Monkey Mind. Since 2011, I have spent what free time I have writing my Monkey Mind Tales® book series. He describes the ways in which anxiety has shaped his personality, his relationships and his life, and also the things that have helped him loosen its grip. Simon & Schuster 2012 212 pages $25.00 Hardcover RC464 In this New York Times bestseller, Smith candidly but humorously presents his personal story of suffering under the yoke of acute anxiety, discussing his mother, losing his virginity, his favorite therapist, and a series of events which cause or have caused anxiety attacks. by New Harbinger Publications. Summary | Reviews | More Information | More Books. Monkey Mind is a rare gem.” ― Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Monkey Mind is fleet, funny, and productively exhausting.” -- Ben Greenman ― The New York Times Book Review “Superb writing [and] marvelous humor . Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Shambhala Publications through NetGalley. Unfortunately I just read it too late and I wish somebody gave it to me five years ago. I try the "radical honesty" thing a little more as I get older. I didn’t want to fill the world with another set of clinical self-help books. Would have been good to have more examples and exercises. The Monkey Mind Meditation Deck explores the playful and powerful qualities of animals and nature to inspire your child to discover the same qualities in themselves and others. A low-rent road to quick inner serenity with drifty Japanese-style flute music to speed the way. The very things we do to control anxiety can make anxiety worse. Wiggle, wiggle! Raised in a neurotic family consisting of two anxious parents and a brother suffering from hypochondria, Smith’s (Muses, Madmen, and Prophets: Rethinking the History, Science, and Meaning of Auditory Hallucination, 2007) anxiety began in childhood. I found this book to be well written and gripping. The activities have a physical component blended with a mental- or emotion-based element. A very interesting and well-structured book, dealing with a common problem nowadays: anxiety. 878 reviews In the insightful narrative tradition of Oliver Sacks, Monkey Mind is an uplifting, smart, and very funny memoir of life with anxiety—America’s most common psychological complaint. Suggested by my counselor for help with my anxiety/panic/obsessive thinking disorders. And for the most part it's efficient and uses some anecdotal examples like Eric and Maria to sympathize with. I think it was the over-simplifi. I think this is mainly d. I read (or actually listened to) this book because I have suffered from mild anxiety symptoms since my teenage years. ISBN number: 9781611805840. Author: Rebecca J. Palmer. I have struggled most of my life with it not really knowing what it was until the last 6 years ago. I hated and loved being around crowds. I highly recommend this book if you suffer from. All I need to do now is get the wife to read it in the name of domestic peace & quiet. These Books Explain Why You Feel That Way. Table of Contents. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Mom: My favorite was the Hurricane card and activity. Unlike so many books that expound platitudes that address true, but of little utility when you need to apply them, this boom is purely pragmatic - it gives you tangible and practical tools and techniques to address your anxiety and stop the cycle. So I'm not entirely sure as to how I should rate this. Instead of following the drive to perfection, safety and overprotection, the author suggests - through examples and charts - to rather face the anxiety and set-up elaborated expansion charts. Monkey Mind Tales® is an award winning children's book series that uses fairytales and fables to explore the puzzling world of humans. One of the many useful recommendations is to start being more focused on our needs and cope straight forward with our challenges, including by taking risks. Trade Paperback; LIST PRICE £6.99 PRICE MAY VARY BY RETAILER. But I needed plenty of help myself. I love the concept of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely our own. Anyway ... back to the book. I love the concept of this book. But overall I found the book to offer useful ways of thinking about anxiety as well as some useful tools. It’s a good starting place. “Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety”, Daniel Smith, like any other book on the topic, is no supposed to offer a silver bullet for how to overcome anxiety. The author's recommendations are consistent with CBT therapies, ie: change the way you react to anxious symptoms, accept the feelings don't fight them, your thoughts are not reality. The author also gives some clear 'step-by-step' advice to overcome anxiety. Books are critically important in our family – the saying around here goes, “I am always willing to spend money on books and Legos.” As a refresher, MyChild is 8-years-old, in second grade, reads on her own, and her current favorite books to read are the DogMan series and the Pig the Pug books. Reading Group Guide; Rave and Reviews; About The Book. Other examples of book titles include … Release Date: 11/13/2018. Vibrant images from illustrator Alexander Vidal are paired with key phrases and short meditations or activities to help children learn about themselves without judgement. And for the most part it's efficient and uses some anecdotal examples like Eric and Maria to sympathize with. To see what your friends thought of this book, Don't Feed the Monkey Mind: How to Stop the Cycle of Anxiety, Fear, and Worry. Monkey Mind is a rare gem.”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Monkey Mind is fleet, funny, and productively exhausting.” -- Ben Greenman, The New York Times Book Review “Superb writing [and] marvelous humor . The “observing mind” offers an objective perspective free of judgments. A great book that breaks the loop of constantly analysing and trying to figure out what's happening to you and instead gives you the tools and perspective in order to move on with your life. I identified more with the personal situations presented in showing the author’s methods for identifying and addressing “feeding the monkey” habits. Daniel Smith’s book is an insightful and entertaining account of his experiences with anxiety. This book is part of my journey to overcome an anxiety disorder I have struggled with my whole life. When I seen the title Don’t Feed the Monkey Mind: How to stop the Cycle of Anxiety, Fear, and Worry I knew this book was for me and it sure was. eBook. The Monkey Mind Meditation Deck: 30 Fun Ways for Kids to Chill Out, Tune In, and Open Up by Carolyn Kanjuro. The only reason I’m not giving five stars is because the constant monkey talk got kind of irritating and sometimes it made it more difficult to understand her concepts. If you don't feel the urge to visit a psychologist, this book can be a good step in between. As someone who suffers from anxiety, I literally could relate to almost everything in this book. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Lawson’s first book, a memoir of growing up dirt poor in rural Texas, was a hugely popular hit in 2012 and sat at the top of the New York Times bestseller list for weeks. Take a sneak peek at some of the pages in Monkey Mind on the publisher’s website. Low-Rent road to quick inner serenity with drifty Japanese-style flute music to speed way! Book missed some depth for me: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches Weight: ounces. Deck of cards aimed at children, I digress she enjoys the most it. 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