Emotionally Free

by David Viscott

A remarkable program for shedding emotional baggage and embracing the present, from the host of the popular radio program "The David Viscott Show."

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

In 1980 Viscott began presenting his own full-time show on talk radio, and was notably one of the first psychiatrists to do so (talk station KABC). He screened telephone calls and gave considerable amount of free psychological counselling to his on-air "patients."

In 1987 Viscott briefly had his own live syndicated TV show, Getting in Touch with Dr. David Viscott, providing much the same service as his radio show. In fact, the shows ran concurrently. In the early 1990s he had a weekly call-in therapy television program on KNBC in Los Angeles early Sunday morning after Saturday Night Live, titled Night Talk with Dr. David Viscott.

Viscott's signature style was to attempt to isolate an individual's source of emotional problems in a very short amount of time.[citation needed] Many of his books were of a self-help nature, written to assist the individual with his/her own examination of life. His autobiography, The Making of a Psychiatrist, was a best-seller, a Book of the Month Club Main Selection, and nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

Along with psychiatric advice, he would fall back on his medical knowledge to regularly devote entire segments of radio to answering medical questions. During these segments he would give medical advice. Many of the questions answered had to do with pharmacological advice. This was unique in the world of talk radio.

Viscott's popularity peaked in the early 1990s, and then fell sharply. A separation from his wife, followed by declining health, occurred at about the same time that he left the air waves. He died in 1996 of heart failure complicated by a diabetic condition. At the time, he was living alone in Los Angeles. He is survived by his four children, Elizabeth, Penelope, Jonathan, and Melanie.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best self-help books I've read. It actually made sense and addressed what it said it would do, which in my opinion is a rarity in these types of books. Like any self-help book, you must read it smart and not take everything the author says as gospel, but see how much of it really applies to what you are looking for. I found the dialogue helpful and words practical instead of a lot of psychological mumbo jumbo. I was able to overlook the parts that did not apply to me (a chapter on the marriage relationship - which could have helped me 10 years ago but not now) and stick to the sections that made me think about myself. The final chapter I perused but found its practicality wonderfully informative but dealt with issues I had already conquered in the same manner the author suggested a few years back. I do highly recommend it for anyone hanging on to a lot of old hurts and struggling to get past certain portions of their life. If you have 'stuff' back there that is hindering the here and now, then I highly suggest it. The first chapters seem like they don't make sense but if you tough it through then it really works out.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I got mad at this book. Yep, at a book. Why? Because something the author said was absolutely true.

Allow me to elucidate.

At the beginning of the book are some self-evaluation tools that the author has created to figure out the reader's overarching personality type: dependent, controlling, or competitive. And I was pretty angry to come out as a "controlling" type; my immediate response was "That's ridiculous; I don't go around trying to control people." But then I thought about it for a while and realized that I spend a lot of time controlling *myself.* I don't like appearing stupid or incompetent, so I try to make sure that no one ever thinks that. The author acknowledges that we all fall into the other two categories from whatever our overarching one is from time to time, but he wants to help readers understand how they process anger, depression, etc. (what the author calls emotional debt) and why.

So, yes. I learned some uncomfortable things about myself in the process of reading this book. And reading the book is indeed a process. It is not something that can be sped through without giving any thought to what you're taking in.

After the explanations for how each personality type processes emotional debt, there are practical exercises for letting go of that debt. There are also exercises for finding out what you really want from life; they reminded me of the work I did while reading Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live on some levels, although Viscott's methodology is a little different from Beck's.

I have recommended this book to friends before I even finished reading it. I think it's a worthwhile addition to a well-rounded self-help armamentarium.

[Helene M · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROFOUND AND AWAKENING

Helpful in recognizing strengths and weakness in our self and others .The author goes into great detail on how to deal and identify these gifts. Empowering and personal . This book is written in a concise and intelligent manner .

. Emotional freedom gets it's energy from self-acceptance . Emotional debt is the price and pain of suppressing and avoiding unpleasant and hurtful parts of our lives . This in returns continues a cycle of continuous setbacks that if not dealt with openly and honestly will ultimately sabotage all areas of your life .

"If anyone is going to get in your way and hurt you, it is probably you yourself." Therefore , your weakness admitted is your greatest strength ."

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Solid book but pretty long and I didn’t like how he tried to put everyone into three separate categories of people.

[Noor Alhuda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it as it includes many inspiring quotes. Here is one for us all:
"Your assignment on this planet is to enhance the part of the world you were put in charge of. You keep that world free by living and speaking the truth."

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rereading this again

[Innocent Ejimofo]

It is a therapy