Comments on: Self-Help Books

By: michael5000

michael5000 — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 04:14:58 +0000

Well, you SHOULD be anxious about cold calling or approaching a stranger, as either way you are (not necessarily in a bad way) breaching someone’s privacy. You are mixing up the normal flow of a transaction when you give a coupon to a waiter; nothing strange with being a little nervous about that. You obviously don’t have a serious writer’s procrastination problem, as you crank this blog out like clockwork.

Maybe you’re fine?

By: Richard Heft

Richard Heft — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 22:30:57 +0000

Neil, if you go into Borders and read books about your neuroses, you’ll just be more self-conscious about your moderately flawed character, and you’ll walk out to your car twitching wildly, for which Sophia will berate you. However, if you follow the advice of anti-Semitic savant Joseph Campbell and “follow your bliss,” you’ll spend a happy, healthy hour in the magazine section, learning “The MAXIM Philosophy” and reading the important interviews and fiction contained within that fascinating publication — for which, Sophia will berate you.

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:16:41 +0000

Ever read anything by Jennifer James? My mother-in-law really got a lot out of Women and the Blues, which despite its title you might find interesting. You can see the excerpt on Amazon.

Oh, and even if you have a coupon, tip for the full amount. The waitstaff will hold you in high esteem.

By: lotus07

lotus07 — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:55:22 +0000

I find this humorous….you are envious of others that have a specific diagnosis. Like you are being picked last for the baseball team or something. Even in neurosis, there is a striving to succeed and be better than the rest.

By: pia

pia — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:11:20 +0000

What gets to me are all the new blogs that purport to tell bloggers how they can be a new improved person if they just read this blog, follow the links, and keep reading

Sometimes the advice is so empowering as to be dangerous

Neil, anxiety is to the born New York Jew as___is to___

Therapists love us as we’re basically mentally healthy, always examining and are cash cows

By: margaret

margaret — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:50:52 +0000

hi, my name is margaret, i’m neurotic and have adhd with no hyper-active characteristics along with some social anxiety… sharing this sort of info is not generally the way to win friends and influence people

By: brettdl

brettdl — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:23:01 +0000

I’ve always been anxious about giving coupons to waiters and here’s why: My mom.

Back in the day when those coupons were relatively new, waiters used to flip out when handed one of those coupons. Seeing that I was about 11, I was mortified every time mom whipped one — or a handful — out.

Worse, they almost ALWAYS were expired or for a different restaurant. After a few minutes, the entire restaurant staff would be peering at 5 or 6 of the crumbled, ripped coupons trying to decide if they were “real” or not.

(Ironically, I’ve been reading “I’m So Embarrassed” by Robert Munsch to the kids lately.)

By: Vadiay

Vadiay — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:16:51 +0000

Try this: http://www.personalitypage.com/home.html

It “worked” for me… as in I accidentally discovered this listing of 16 personality types, found mine, panicked at the realisation that someone had obviously been following me round for the past couple of years and I was the target of an evil practical joke, calmed down when I accepted this was impossible and then felt not a little bit cross at the idea that I am not unique… I have a typical personality (one of 16 apparently).

Then I had the crisis… but it seems to have helped me understand myself a lot better… and more importantly start changing things I don’t like.

By: therapydoc

therapydoc — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:55:41 +0000

Neil, this is about assertiveness. You buck up and squeeze out Just the Facts.

Like a yuppie-type cuts in front of you in line at the theater. You’re assertive now that you’re in therapy.

You politely tap the guy on his shoulder and say (just the facts), Excuse me sir, the end of the line is over there (and you point to the end of the line).

Then when the big guy with tattoos all over his body does the same thing, you say. NOTHING.

By: helen

helen — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 07:46:18 +0000

You think coupons are bad, paying with credit card is worse. I have a friend who went to China 2 years back. He gave the waiter his card after the meal..(it was stated on the restaurant front door that place accepts all major credit cards)
The waiter took the card and yelled to the cashier…. (in Chinese)
“Beggar card here…”

**meaning, if you’re rich, you could have afford to pay in cash..**