Chasing the Elusive Dream
Viewing comments for Chapter 31 "Self Help to a Nervous Breakdown"A southern couple's journey in the 60's,70's & 80'
33 total reviews
Comment from penelope
This is a great piece of writing, and even though I'm an alternative healer, who has always had a fascinating with the human psyche, am studying astrology, have studied homeopathy, light therapy and much more, I totally agree with you. How did our parents cope? They often had to face much greater trials and they just got on with it. Having said that, there are some fabulous books out there, maybe just a band-aid temporarily protecting the wound, but they can offer wisdom and relief to us in times of need. Here in Germany I've often heard the term 'Helfer Syndrom' (Helper's syndrome) used to describe people who are overly fond of helping others. If you care to take a look, I've written something in a similar vein called 'The Yoni Collage'. It didn't get too many reviews - I wonder why. I thought it was funny. I could write a book, actually I am, about my experiences with all the Mind, Body, Spirit fares and alternative methods. Pity I just gave out my last six-star rating. In truth, though, Yoga, Shiatsu, acupressure and -puncture, homeopathy and many more are fantastic and do help. Penelope
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2009
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This is a great piece of writing, and even though I'm an alternative healer, who has always had a fascinating with the human psyche, am studying astrology, have studied homeopathy, light therapy and much more, I totally agree with you. How did our parents cope? They often had to face much greater trials and they just got on with it. Having said that, there are some fabulous books out there, maybe just a band-aid temporarily protecting the wound, but they can offer wisdom and relief to us in times of need. Here in Germany I've often heard the term 'Helfer Syndrom' (Helper's syndrome) used to describe people who are overly fond of helping others. If you care to take a look, I've written something in a similar vein called 'The Yoni Collage'. It didn't get too many reviews - I wonder why. I thought it was funny. I could write a book, actually I am, about my experiences with all the Mind, Body, Spirit fares and alternative methods. Pity I just gave out my last six-star rating. In truth, though, Yoga, Shiatsu, acupressure and -puncture, homeopathy and many more are fantastic and do help. Penelope
Comment Written 04-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2009
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Thank you Penelope. Actually, I've read my share of self-help books and have found some remarkable things there. I'm definitely more inclined to go with the alternative methods of healing. Admitting that just didn't fit with the tone of this piece.
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I know what you mean. We have to be able to laugh at ourselves as well at others. Smile, P
Comment from Adri7enne
That was just a fun read! Didn't see a thing I'd change. I followed you, right along, from the first word. Very humorous, tongue-in-cheek, subtle. Great little essay.As long as you retain that sense of humor, life will never get you down. Go girl!
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2009
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That was just a fun read! Didn't see a thing I'd change. I followed you, right along, from the first word. Very humorous, tongue-in-cheek, subtle. Great little essay.As long as you retain that sense of humor, life will never get you down. Go girl!
Comment Written 04-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2009
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Thank you for you review and comments. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Beth
Comment from DecrepitOldBag
You write so very well. This had me simply howling with laughter in places. It's so perfect, I can't even single out one particular phrase or paragraph. Absolutely no criticisms. Beautifully edited too, no SpaG or typos (I note Evil Eddie adjusted the font for one word - preferably - but I am sure that's beyond your control anyway as Eddie's antics usually are beyond our control.
Great stuff, fabulous writing.
All the best.
Kat
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2009
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You write so very well. This had me simply howling with laughter in places. It's so perfect, I can't even single out one particular phrase or paragraph. Absolutely no criticisms. Beautifully edited too, no SpaG or typos (I note Evil Eddie adjusted the font for one word - preferably - but I am sure that's beyond your control anyway as Eddie's antics usually are beyond our control.
Great stuff, fabulous writing.
All the best.
Kat
Comment Written 04-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2009
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Thank you so much, especially for the exceptional rating. I am becoming a fan of your work as well.
Beth
Comment from yachtworknz
Beth-Nice work, and well told from, well I now don't want a how to help myself book.
And co dependency? Isn't that just marage? All the ones I have gotten to obsdrve intamantly.
funy world for sure.
Cheers and nice work. Food for thought.
Scott
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2009
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Beth-Nice work, and well told from, well I now don't want a how to help myself book.
And co dependency? Isn't that just marage? All the ones I have gotten to obsdrve intamantly.
funy world for sure.
Cheers and nice work. Food for thought.
Scott
Comment Written 04-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2009
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Scott, Thank you for reading and commenting. I do appreciate your rating.
Beth
Comment from Lady & Louis
Very engaging, BethShelby! I enjoyed this little dig at the endless "save yourself and make my fortune" books. They can help, but boy, do they pathologise a lot of the normal frustrations and bumps of being human!
The essay's well written and fun, and I only saw one nit: "a hermit, preferable on an isolated island near Atlantis" - preferably
Cheers,
Louis's Lady :)
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2009
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Very engaging, BethShelby! I enjoyed this little dig at the endless "save yourself and make my fortune" books. They can help, but boy, do they pathologise a lot of the normal frustrations and bumps of being human!
The essay's well written and fun, and I only saw one nit: "a hermit, preferable on an isolated island near Atlantis" - preferably
Cheers,
Louis's Lady :)
Comment Written 04-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2009
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Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I'm glad you caught the misspelling. I will correct it.
Beth
Comment from jojosug
A well thought out and humorous piece of writing. Unfortunately it is also very true. So why can't we just be and accept this is the way things are, does there have to be a hidden motive, or deeper meaning? I really enjoyed reading this, a real pleasure.
Jo
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2009
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A well thought out and humorous piece of writing. Unfortunately it is also very true. So why can't we just be and accept this is the way things are, does there have to be a hidden motive, or deeper meaning? I really enjoyed reading this, a real pleasure.
Jo
Comment Written 03-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2009
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Thank you so much Jo. I started writing that out of frustration but I ended up having fun with it.
Beth
Comment from adewpearl
more a leaky diaphragm than a deliberate plot - that is one funny line - I am also greatly skeptical of all those self-help books with their pseudo science and pseudo philosophy and pseudo religion - all claiming great revelations - and you do such a great job of making fun of them!! Please promise me you won't let your children get to my children! LOL Brooke
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2009
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more a leaky diaphragm than a deliberate plot - that is one funny line - I am also greatly skeptical of all those self-help books with their pseudo science and pseudo philosophy and pseudo religion - all claiming great revelations - and you do such a great job of making fun of them!! Please promise me you won't let your children get to my children! LOL Brooke
Comment Written 03-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2009
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Thank you. I'm so glad you found it funny. I also going to try to keep my children from getting to this web site. No telling what reading this might do to them.
Comment from Themon
Well written, dryly humorous, pointed and tight. Well done!
Anais Nin - as in the Diaries of - explained in one of them how she entered the brand-new field of psychoanalysis as a therapist. Back in those days, you didn't need a degree, all you needed was clients. She became lover of a well-known psychotherapist, then his secretary, then a therapist herself.
She made an interesting comment (working from memory here) to the effect that she worried that the field of psychotherapy would create a new standard of perfection that people would try to adhere to. In her day, people were "eccentric." A person with a "neurosis" was a person with a psychological ailment so severe that they could not function at all. Now, a person with a "neurosis" is a person who is not certifiably "normal" in every respect.
I think she was right...
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2009
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Well written, dryly humorous, pointed and tight. Well done!
Anais Nin - as in the Diaries of - explained in one of them how she entered the brand-new field of psychoanalysis as a therapist. Back in those days, you didn't need a degree, all you needed was clients. She became lover of a well-known psychotherapist, then his secretary, then a therapist herself.
She made an interesting comment (working from memory here) to the effect that she worried that the field of psychotherapy would create a new standard of perfection that people would try to adhere to. In her day, people were "eccentric." A person with a "neurosis" was a person with a psychological ailment so severe that they could not function at all. Now, a person with a "neurosis" is a person who is not certifiably "normal" in every respect.
I think she was right...
Comment Written 03-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2009
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Thank you for reading and reviewing. I found your comments about Anais Nin very interesting.
Beth
Comment from lkatka
I really appreciate the fun "history" here. This is a fun and enjoyable read and I have to add "honest" as well. We are all bombarded with these kinds of things!
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2009
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I really appreciate the fun "history" here. This is a fun and enjoyable read and I have to add "honest" as well. We are all bombarded with these kinds of things!
Comment Written 03-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2009
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Thank you. Sometimes things get so frustration that you just have laugh. My daughters didn't find it that amusing.
Beth
Comment from Jazh
This is such a wonderful piece...I thoroughly enjoyed it, thank you. I totally agree, btw. You described this trend so well, and with such humour. I'm pleased you were able to withstand your own family! Two minor typos:
responce - response (in your description line)
It's depressing but then, that's not - depressing, but
Well done! :)
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2009
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This is such a wonderful piece...I thoroughly enjoyed it, thank you. I totally agree, btw. You described this trend so well, and with such humour. I'm pleased you were able to withstand your own family! Two minor typos:
responce - response (in your description line)
It's depressing but then, that's not - depressing, but
Well done! :)
Comment Written 03-Mar-2009
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2009
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I think I've thanked you already on the personal message but let me say again how much I appreciate the exceptional rating.
Beth
