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Super Self Care: How to Find Lasting Freedom from Addiction, Toxic Relationships and Dysfunctional Lifestyles
Christopher Dines has profound experience of recovery and personal growth; he struggled with drug addiction for most of his young adult life, and came into recovery in 2004, after a career as a music producer and well-known electronic house DJ.
In this book, he shares insights, epiphanies and practical strategies for anyone struggling with their wellbeing, but most particularly those in recovery from addiction, those in toxic relationships or those with destructive lifestyles and behaviours. Covering such resonant themes as feelings of unworthiness, the need for gentle compassion and the power of authentic relationships, this book offers an abundance of exercises to unlock a deeper understanding, and nearly 200 questions to enable a true self-appraisal.
This is self-care at its most profound, resonant and visceral level - as more than just a regular yoga habit, Super Self Care offers a chance to rewrite the script that ties us to codependency, addictive behaviours and shame.
- GenresPsychologySelf Help
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2020
2 people are currently reading
901 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Dines
11 books22 followersChristopher Dines is a private coach, a seasoned mindfulness practitioner, published author, and a former DJ/music producer. He has published eight books on mindfulness and addiction, including The Kindness Habit, which he co-authored with Dr. Barbara Mariposa, a distinguished medical doctor. Christopher’s books have featured forewords by renowned figures such as Rudolph E. Tanzi, PhD, of Harvard Medical School, and the late John Bradshaw—#1 New York Times bestselling author—at The Meadows, Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 4, 2023
SUPER SELF-CARE BY CHRISTOPHER DINES
Super Self-Care sets out to explain that self-care is not the same as self-centredness. It is not about being selfish; rather it is a way of dealing with issues that we have held onto, possibly for decades. The problem, Dines explains, is that we try to solve our problems with our rational brain but logical thinking has only developed over the last few million years, whereas we need to delve into our emotions, the part of our brain that has existed for many millions more, from our first feelings of fight or flight.
The book is laid out in an easy to access way, highlighting different subjects chapter by chapter, with how-to instructions. Having read through the book, I plan to go back to the areas which had resonance for me. The critical inner voice, shame attacks in a toxic working environment, gentleness and entrenched limiting believes are some of the subject areas tackled.
Although the tone of the book is kind, the solution to our issues, is firm. One must do the work to enjoy recovery. Dines advocates journaling, attending self help meetings such as 12 step programmes, developing a relationship with one person who can act as a mentor and allow one to reveal one’s vulnerability without getting hurt. Mindfulness and meditation are all disciplines he recommends. Dines himself took two years to get clean, having hit rock bottom at the tender age of 21, yet over the years he discovered that the process is continuous. 10 years after giving up his drink and drunk addictions, he discovered he was still addicted to obtaining a super adrenaline rush. Although it may seem a bit disheartening to realise that once one has overcome one disabling problem, there is yet another to face, that is in fact, life itself. Dines recommends that success is not to try and tackle everything at once but work on changing one habit at a time.
Super self-care is an extremely useful book, full of practical exercises, meditations and further reading recommendations. It is like having a personal mentor in one’s pocket.
Super Self-Care sets out to explain that self-care is not the same as self-centredness. It is not about being selfish; rather it is a way of dealing with issues that we have held onto, possibly for decades. The problem, Dines explains, is that we try to solve our problems with our rational brain but logical thinking has only developed over the last few million years, whereas we need to delve into our emotions, the part of our brain that has existed for many millions more, from our first feelings of fight or flight.
The book is laid out in an easy to access way, highlighting different subjects chapter by chapter, with how-to instructions. Having read through the book, I plan to go back to the areas which had resonance for me. The critical inner voice, shame attacks in a toxic working environment, gentleness and entrenched limiting believes are some of the subject areas tackled.
Although the tone of the book is kind, the solution to our issues, is firm. One must do the work to enjoy recovery. Dines advocates journaling, attending self help meetings such as 12 step programmes, developing a relationship with one person who can act as a mentor and allow one to reveal one’s vulnerability without getting hurt. Mindfulness and meditation are all disciplines he recommends. Dines himself took two years to get clean, having hit rock bottom at the tender age of 21, yet over the years he discovered that the process is continuous. 10 years after giving up his drink and drunk addictions, he discovered he was still addicted to obtaining a super adrenaline rush. Although it may seem a bit disheartening to realise that once one has overcome one disabling problem, there is yet another to face, that is in fact, life itself. Dines recommends that success is not to try and tackle everything at once but work on changing one habit at a time.
Super self-care is an extremely useful book, full of practical exercises, meditations and further reading recommendations. It is like having a personal mentor in one’s pocket.
August 3, 2020
Christopher expertly talks about the most important subject of self-care, which is still not talked about enough, at a time in the world today which is most needed. I have learned a lot from self-care books, but Christopher takes us to the next level of ‘super’ self-care that is desperately needed to help us let go of our emotional pain and be our best self to also be the best for others.
Christopher provides you with many useful and practical tools, and asks you a number of questions throughout the book, that if answered truthfully, will only inspire you with creative and imaginative thoughts of how you can change your behaviours to treat yourself with the respect you deserve and greatly improve your relationships.
Christopher delicately and compassionately talks about pain we’ve suppressed from the past such as guilt and shame which can help explain the lack of self-care today, but why the power of vulnerability and understanding our emotions and current behaviours can give us the strength to move through the discomfort today to lead a lighter and more radiant life.
I know it’s a book that I will continuously go back to time and again to remind myself of what true potential I really have, and that any small kindness act towards myself and others will make a huge difference. Christopher’s bravery to talk about moving through his pain and our collective pain only inspires me to move through mine.
Christopher provides you with many useful and practical tools, and asks you a number of questions throughout the book, that if answered truthfully, will only inspire you with creative and imaginative thoughts of how you can change your behaviours to treat yourself with the respect you deserve and greatly improve your relationships.
Christopher delicately and compassionately talks about pain we’ve suppressed from the past such as guilt and shame which can help explain the lack of self-care today, but why the power of vulnerability and understanding our emotions and current behaviours can give us the strength to move through the discomfort today to lead a lighter and more radiant life.
I know it’s a book that I will continuously go back to time and again to remind myself of what true potential I really have, and that any small kindness act towards myself and others will make a huge difference. Christopher’s bravery to talk about moving through his pain and our collective pain only inspires me to move through mine.
February 16, 2022
This a wonderfully comforting book and one which I will come back to again and again. I have been on a spiritual journey for some years now and have worked hard to try and free myself from self limiting beliefs acquired in early childhood due to various untreated traumatic episodes. I was often told as a child/teenager “you are your own worst enemy” and so I was naturally drawn to a book which may help me to think of myself more kindly and experience an easier ride through life.
Christopher Dines explains how many of us are unconsciously programmed from a very young age through circumstance and environment to find it very difficult indeed to rise above life’s vicissitudes. I myself, turned to addictive behaviours from a very young age to help numb my feelings. This book is a very gentle guide to taking a kinder, softer approach and how to change the way I view reality rather than wanting to change the reality itself.
I found the chapter on creating authentic relationships particularly enlightening and the relationships inventory was a game-changer. I recommend this book without reservation to anyone wishing to take a more self-forgiving and gentle path to self-awareness and ultimately find some inner-peace in an increasingly challenging (and what can sometimes seem) overwhelming reality.
Christopher Dines explains how many of us are unconsciously programmed from a very young age through circumstance and environment to find it very difficult indeed to rise above life’s vicissitudes. I myself, turned to addictive behaviours from a very young age to help numb my feelings. This book is a very gentle guide to taking a kinder, softer approach and how to change the way I view reality rather than wanting to change the reality itself.
I found the chapter on creating authentic relationships particularly enlightening and the relationships inventory was a game-changer. I recommend this book without reservation to anyone wishing to take a more self-forgiving and gentle path to self-awareness and ultimately find some inner-peace in an increasingly challenging (and what can sometimes seem) overwhelming reality.
May 6, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up. Short and to the point and skips a lot of the waffle and repetition in a lot of the other self-help books I've read. I can see this one being useful to me in future.
February 16, 2022
This a wonderfully comforting book and one which I will come back to again and again. I have been on a spiritual journey for some years now and have worked hard to try and free myself from self limiting beliefs acquired in early childhood due to various untreated traumatic episodes. I was often told as a child/teenager “you are your own worst enemy” and so I was naturally drawn to a book which may help me to think of myself more kindly and experience an easier ride through life.
Christopher Dines explains how many of us are unconsciously programmed from a very young age through circumstance and environment to find it very difficult indeed to rise above life’s vicissitudes. I myself, turned to addictive behaviours from a very young age to help numb my feelings. This book is a very gentle guide to taking a kinder, softer approach and how to change the way I view reality rather than wanting to change the reality itself.
I found the chapter on creating authentic relationships particularly enlightening and the relationships inventory was a game-changer. I recommend this book without reservation to anyone wishing to take a more self-forgiving and gentle path to self-awareness and ultimately find some inner-peace in an increasingly challenging (and what can sometimes seem) overwhelming reality.
Christopher Dines explains how many of us are unconsciously programmed from a very young age through circumstance and environment to find it very difficult indeed to rise above life’s vicissitudes. I myself, turned to addictive behaviours from a very young age to help numb my feelings. This book is a very gentle guide to taking a kinder, softer approach and how to change the way I view reality rather than wanting to change the reality itself.
I found the chapter on creating authentic relationships particularly enlightening and the relationships inventory was a game-changer. I recommend this book without reservation to anyone wishing to take a more self-forgiving and gentle path to self-awareness and ultimately find some inner-peace in an increasingly challenging (and what can sometimes seem) overwhelming reality.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews