So my videos have really been about reminding people and helping them to build that awareness – that if this is impacting you in a negative way, you are one decision away from something different. Social media is often blamed for young people’s mental health problems, especially self-esteem and anxiety … There’s a mix in there. I’ve tried to keep it to everyday tools. I’ve been very careful about that distinction: “This is the educational element of therapy, it’s not therapy.” These are tools that you can put into use today and tomorrow, but the book’s not a therapist. You have a choice how long you spend online, you have a choice about who you follow and who you don’t

Dr.Julie Dr.Julie

Smith provides an array of significantly beneficial techniques in understanding, regulating and observing our emotions as opposed to immediately reacting in negative ways, such as:It’s good, basic, helpful advice. Probably every reader will find several things that make a difference. I was impressed how often her discussions on each kind of life challenge involved some aspect of mindfulness. She talks very practically about mindfulness during real-time living, and has an impressively simple, basic way of describing what it is. I’m gonna go ahead and just quote her on mindfulness about thoughts:

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Julie Smith | Goodreads

As a veteran reader of self-help books I look for original content and information that can be actually put to use rather than theoretical prose. This book accomplishes both of these things and there are actual tools and ideas which can be put to use by those who need some help with emotional issues. Dr. Julie has a following on social media and this book is her way of putting together advise on a variety of subjects from self-esteem, to depression to grief. I appreciated the fact that the author did not start the book with chapters of scientific studies on the brain as I have read those many times and that type of information is not useful to someone who is suffering. Each chapter has a theme and she includes ideas which are identified with a light bulb graphic and tools which are identified with a wrench graphic. I would not say any of her tools are new but they are presented in a new way which makes it valuable. People found that educational aspect so empowering that there was a shift in their ability to manage their mental health day to day. So I would come home and harp on to my husband about how this stuff should be more available, that people shouldn’t have to come to me to find out the basics, and he said: “Well, go on then, make it available. Put it on YouTube or something.” Positive thoughts are great, they’re not bad. But there is this sort of movement online around only positive vibes; don’t allow the negative thoughts to be there. If you have that standard for yourself, as soon as negative thoughts start to appear that you can’t control, you start to feel like you’re failing or that you’re not positive enough. That you’re not enough in general. It sets you up to feel worse. Filled with secrets from a therapist's toolkit, this is a must-have handbook for optimising your mental health. Dr Julie's simple but expert advice and powerful coping techniques will help you stay resilient no matter what life throws your way. Emotional Vocabulary - labelling our emotions (both positive and negative) for greater understanding and thus better regulation.I read this because I wanted to learn more about mental health in general and specifically anxiety. I liked Dr. Smith’s writing style because she’s realistic and she does not like to be overly positive. She even criticizes some of the common advice given in real life and social media which can be more harmful than helpful.