Reasons to Stay Alive ~ Matt Haig ☆ Review
I’ve been following Matt Haig‘s twitter even before that I’ve had realized that he was a writer; I think one of my friends over there shared one of his tweet and I just falled in love. Everything he said about anxiety & depression was pinpoint and I was loving them!
Later, I found out that he had wrote this book and how it helped so much people in their rock-bottom. I then went on a quest to find it, I just NEEDED that book. It took me a while, but I finally found it and it had been sitting on my shelves since.
I was actually in the middle of reading something else when I just got the urge to pick this book up and finally read it, for some reason. This is the first non-fiction novel i’m reading, besides the few anthrologies of Ghost stories.
Both of my dogs, Kafei and Sheik, has been the reason why I stayed alive upon reaching my own rock-bottom.
5 / 5 stars
The way he wrote this book, so personal with sharing his own experience from start to finish, makes me think as if he’d be physically right beside me and telling me his story. I absolutely love how the “chapters” are so short and includes a variety of stuff, from his story telling to facts; quotes and bits of conversations. Thoses are also separated by what we could call “categories”.
He explains how he got sick at 24 and what he went through while still “young” and im reading this at pinpoint 24 years old aswell ! Which is just kind of perfect.. I specially likes how he won’t deny medication works for a LOT of people out there (myself included!) but that it just didn’t worked for him personally, and that we should follow whatever do wonders for ourselves without shaming anyone else for using something different.
I’ve been astonished to see, at the early start of the book, something my very own mother keep repeating. How, the rise of people affected by anxiety & depression, is in direct correlation with how life’s getting harder. We’re always improving our technologies, and yet our mental capacities as human beings remains the same.. It clearly goes un-balanced by far.
This book also made me realize in thoses “bullet points symptoms” lists, that the Derealization I was feeling wasn’t just an alien thing and that it is really related to my anxiety & depression ! See, I did talked about that to my psychologist at the time, but she didn’t said much.. all I remember is that she said I shouldn’t take weed because i’d be one to flip out more. So to see that thoses little periods of time where I felt like I was in a videogame/nothing is really real and therefore no action really matter (in a good AND bad way) is indeed part of that ? It was a relief!
« that’s the odd thing about depression and anxiety. It acts like an intense fear of happiness, even as you yourself consciously want that happiness more than anything »
Well Kristina I am very happy to have read your review because what he is saying about technology but us staying the same is so true! That’s why I try to disconnect and not feel guilty if some days I am not on FB or the blog but would rather walk in the wild with my dog …
Yes !
I do try to branch out sometimes and just.. not touch my computer or my mac for a while (television still “dont count”, like snuggling a weein and stay to watch the tv with the family)
“that’s the odd thing about depression and anxiety. It acts like an intense fear of happiness, even as you yourself consciously want that happiness more than anything” *insert ugly cry gif*
That was literally one of thoses moments for me. One of the few in the book where I just needed to take a full stop, reread it like 10times, take a picture of it, and so on XD
the “omg I so needed that.”
Oh my god, the way Matt Haig talks about depression and anxiety, in both his books and his tweets, is SO SO on point. There are so many quotes of his that struck me right to the heart.
And I so need to read this book but I’m afraid I’m going to cry through it all and not be able read because of the tears. XD
“Both of my dogs, Kafei and Sheik, has been the reason why I stayed alive upon reaching my own rock-bottom.” All the hugs!! <3 <3
Ahahah the only thing that made me really cry was reading other’s #ReasonsToStayAlive ..
thank you ❤️❤️
Oh wow, this book sounds so amazing. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one!!!!
It was! I understood some stuff through my read. Making so much sense out of some symptoms- so thats always good
I read Notes on a Nervous Planet I really need to get to Reasons to Stay Alive!
yesyes!! you should !
Are pets just wonderful?! I’m so glad your dogs are a source of joy for you. I so appreciate Matt willing to talk about his journey and share with us. Anything to break down the stigma of mental health! Thanks Kristina for sharing too. ❤️❤️
They totally are ❤️
Yes, I agree! At first he would’ve never even thought of writting it, but ending up doing it as he saw how many positive responses he got after a tweet.
This sounds like such an amazing book! I haven’t read this or Notes yet, but I really like his tweets on anxiety and depression and feel like I would enjoy his writing style. Great review!
You definately should investigate into his books then! The book felt really similar vibes than his tweet did