How to Stay Alive in Your 20s

by Syafiq Sallehin

Ever thought you’d be better off gone? If you’ve ever had similar thoughts, let me be the first to tell you:

It’s okay. You’re not alone.

***

You are in your 20s. All of a sudden, the responsibilities of being an adult comes crashing down on you. You see your friends living their best lives – and you're living a sorry excuse for one. Life feels like a monotonous chore. Nothing feels right.

Your mind is shrouded by dark thoughts. What went wrong? How did this happen?

This book is for you – someone who is barely hanging on. Only just surviving. Barely living.

But there is hope yet, many have gone through the same thing and have come out stronger.

So, if you have ever felt like life's not worth it, and you're thinking of ending it all, please don’t give up yet, and read on.

202 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2023

Reviews

[Husna Rosli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the lessons in it. Tabbed a lot. Many are lessons that you learn as you age:

Like, life is mostly suffering. Searching for happiness will be exhausting eventually. The way is to make sense of your suffering. To accept and to grow into better versions of you.

There are reasons why we exist.

Definitely recommend everyone to have this book on their shelf

[Iman Danial Hakim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sama ada anda menempuhi ujian kesihatan mental, atau seseorang dalam kehidupan anda yang sedang diuji— saya sangat galakkan anda baca buku ini

Ia membantu anda untuk FAHAM

You need help, or someone needs your help

***

Benarkah 18 tahun = dewasa?

"Awak nak jadi apa?"

Soalan yang ditanya kepada kita tentang masa depan

We are expected to KNOW & plan the ENTIRE future, when we barely even figure out ourselves

Melangkah usia 20-an, soalannya makin bertambah, makin rumit. Ia sudah semakin berat, tidak lagi seringan "nak jadi apa?"

Ia bukan lagi "What?"

Ia sudah menjadi "How?" Bagaimana?

How to stay alive in our 20s, bila tiba² je kita jadi dewasa? Segala tanggungjawab & beban datang bertubi²!

Usia 20-an adalah usia yang aneh, sekaligus membingungkan

Kita terperangkap di antara zaman remaja brimming with happiness & freedom dan zaman 40-an where everyone seems to get their life together

20-an adalah fasa trial & error. Satu fasa kita redah & terjah what's in front of us. It's a phase where anxiety & doubt creeps in: "Eh, betul ke aku buat ni?"

Overthinking, self doubt, resah, gelisah.

Dan kita tak pernah belajar cara untuk "hidup" di fasa ini di sekolah dulu

Buku ini mengajak pembaca untuk tenang dulu. Ya, ini semua menyerabutkan! But no worries, it's okay to take thing slowly, one step at a time.

Bad things happen, and it's normal. Itulah namanya kehidupan. Sometime we win, sometime we learn

Pesanan, nasihat & tips yang dikongsi di dalam buku ini bukanlah sesuatu yang baru. Kita dah pernah tahu, atau dengar sebelum ini

Tetapi kita hanya belajar apabila "diajar" kehidupan. Bila kita buat kesilapan dalam hubungan, kewangan, kerjaya: barulah kita "faham"

Buku ini ditulis oleh seorang doktor, umurnya 20-an juga: seperti kita, Dr Syafiq juga melalui siri kegagalan & kesilapan: pernah terperosok ke dalam dark thought

How to Stay Alive in Your 20s is a relatable guide. On how to overcome your dark thoughts & finding hope in life

Solid 5 ⭐!

Saya sangat syorkan buku ini dibaca, ia adalah toolkit asas di mana kita belajar why we think how we think dan how to manage our feeling. A very helpful guide untuk melalui usia 20-an kita

Belajar cara melalui hidup usia 20-an di sini >> https://s.shopee.com.my/10lkLVVg01

#katapilarbooks

[Hidayatul Husna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t believe I managed to relate so much with this book. At the end of it, the feeling to ‘terjun bangunan’ is not as strong but I have a loooooong way to go.

[Nanadhoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating sebenar : 4.9/5.0 ⭐️

Saya sarankan buku ini untuk dibaca mereka yang di fasa depresi atau anxiety atau mempunyai masalah kesihatan mental / emosi, juga kepada mereka yang berminat untuk mengetahui tentang kesihatan mental. Ianya tidak terlalu detail tapi bagi saya ilmu yang diberikan di dalam buku ini cukup untuk kita mengenalpasti atau mengambil langkah seharusnya dalam menjaga kesihatan mental kita.


Penulis turut menyajikan kisah-kisah hidup beliau dan pengalaman beliau ketika merawat pesakit yang mengalami masalah kesihatan mental. Ianya agak menarik terutama kisah kejayaan bapanya dalam urusan bisnes walaupun tidak mempunyai banyak ilmu dan pengalaman melakukan bisnes pada mulanya dan kisah nenek penulis yang berjaya membesarkan 15 orang anak seorang diri dalam keadaan kurang serba-serbi. Penulis juga ada berkongsi sedikit pengalaman dan pelajaran yang beliau dapati berkenaan dengan hidup.


Overall saya rasa buku ini bagus dan sesuai dibaca oleh golongan yang saya nyatakan di awal perenggan.

[h · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically, the book tells us that if you want to change the world, you need to take steps to reassess yourself that includes your physical, mental (emotional), and spiritual well-being. Never feel ashamed if you have those issues with your mental. It’s a disease that can be cured if you seek help. I picked up this book not because I have depression, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, or the list goes on, but rather because I feel lost. Nearly 30 years old but I feel like I’m not good enough to fit into society. Alhamdulillah I pick up this good book at the time of breakdown to recheck, reschedule, and ‘reborn’ over my lostness. It gives us guidelines or steps for our betterment but at the end of the day is us as individuals who are willing and need to make the first step to be cured.

I read this at Cereka App and feel inculcated to buy the physical one cause I might be reread this again just in case I feel lost again.

[Abil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aku lagi muter-muter toko buku waktu tiba-tiba liat buku ini. Eyecatching banget, warnanya kuning, terus ada tali yang agak bikin kaget liatnya karena cukup triggering wkwkwk.

Anyway! Waktu itu juga kondisi aku lagi agak stress (bukan agak sih, super stress) dan beneran nggak tau mau ngomong ke siapa karena nggak mau trauma dumping ke orang lain, dan sebagai anak kuliahan, pergi ke psikolog atau psikiater agaknya kurang affordable. Namun, buku ini affordable. Akhirnya kubeli.

Salah sekali membaca buku ini di kafe. Rasanya mau aku terbalikin meja kafenya. Kok bisa buku ini relatable banget sama permasalahanku, udah gitu penulisnya ternyata in medical school juga!

Akhirnya aku pulang, terus lanjut baca lagi. Jujur, sebagai orang yang nggak begitu suka empty words semacam, "Sabar ya... it'll get better... love yourself... blah-blah-blah..." aku suka BANGET sama buku ini karena menurutku buku ini lebih logis, lebih runut, dan bikin aku mikir.

Misalnya, ada bagian yang ngebahas pertanyaan kayak, "Aku ngapain sih sekarang? Ngapain jauh-jauh kuliah demi gelar yang aku bahkan nggak mau?" Dan aku kayak, "Ih, sama!Gimana tuh terus?" Rasanya kayak ngobrol sama temen yang tau banget apa yang lagi aku rasain sekarang.

Buku ini nggak cuma jadi bacaan, tapi beneran jadi refleksi buat aku. Aku suka gimana authornya ngejelasin masalah hidup dari sudut pandang yang nggak judgemental tapi tetep jujur. Cocok banget untuk yang lagi merasa lost, nggak tau mau gimana, atau mungkin yang cuma butuh bacaan yang down to earth tapi tetep insightful! 👍

[Minna Zainal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of the content might be about the author telling the stories about himself and how he cope with his problems, but regardless of that the message is there, and able to touch the heart of the 20s including me. I can feel the brotherly advices towards the new adults. Do read this if you don't know where to start as a young adult. It can give you some ideas on how to fix and cope some of the things that you started wrongly.

[Faqihah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt like a slap on the face but in a good way. The author has a flair for writing - that’s for sure. I love how he offers realistic advice for us common folk rather than suggest generic and vague feel-good solutions which could probably work for the rare 1% of super motivated people.

Looking forward to your next book, Dr. Syafiq.

[Khairunnisaq · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful, wonderful book. If you are in your 20's and trying to understand why you have a certain bad feelings about yourself, this is a right book for you. A must read. Even if you are not in your 20's, this book will still be relevant to you. The author depicts certain feeling and situation really well. Kudos to the author.

[Faris Zikri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4.5, it really related with what I've been through in my life and it does change my perspective of view within myself to become a better person. This book make me feel that i wasn't the only one that has been in this situation. Really recommend for others to read it!

[Linda Raae · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book deeply resonated with me. I shed many tears while reading it because I could relate to almost everything the author wrote. It's definitely a great book worth reading.

[Fatihah Zunaidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is a gift from someone i dearly love. took some time finishing this book. i love how the author explain feelings without having to sugarcoat it. life is indeed cruel. thats life and it is meant to be unfair. the only fairness it is hereafter. i do find comfort in this book and i can say it helps me. i tabbed a lot too.

there are some point which i think kinda off the track of what the author is trying to say but i dont think it affects the reading much. overall, this book i can say applicable to not only 20s folks but also applicable to highschool kids, adult people too. overall, im glad i read it.

[Hanis · Rating 3 out of 5]

basic

[♡ Aliah ⸜( ˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right book for the right time :)

[Muhammad Haiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buku yang ditulis oleh Dr Syafiq bagi saya sangat bagus mengenai mental health yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat hari ini.