You Are Not a Rock: A Step-by-Step Guide to Better Mental Health (for Humans)

Mark's work saved my brain! This book is helpful, straightforward, provides supportive exercises that will spark insight and help you understand how to map your way to a healthier mind. I've been practicing OCD recovery for a couple years now, and I have a sense of optimism and confidence I don't think I've ever had in my life before. Does that mean I am magically worry free all the time? Of course not, I'm a human. And Mark has helped me embrace and accept that.The style of this book is practical, friendly, and approachable. Flexible and universal enough to be a supportive companion for any other sort of spiritual, mental, emotional practices or therapies you have.I highly recommend this book for anyone struggling with OCD, anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, phobias, etc.

This was the first time I had read a book by this author. I found his book informative and easy to read. I really liked his writing style and the way the book was set up.

I am in awe that this book only has a few hundred reviews. The author is a brilliant combination of gentle and compassionate while also challenging the reader to take ownership over their mental health. He approaches everything from a holistic point of view, acknowledges how the pace of the modern world can exacerbate issues and how to be healthy regardless, and shares his own story with compassion and humor. I’ve been in multiple types of therapy for my entire adult life and this book is the first thing that has given me a sense of profound hope that the way my brain is is something I can *do* something about and I don’t have to live my life managing symptoms. I wish I could buy a copy for everyone I know and can’t recommend it highly enough.

I highly recommend reading this book for anyone suffering from anxiety disorders. If your symptoms are not severe yet, or you are recovering so you can put read and think, practicing the exercises laid out in this book fortifies your defenses against development / relapse of mental illnesses. The point is, do not just read the book, DO the exercises. I am speaking from point of experience. One more note, what the book says about anxiety might sound simple and self-evident, i.e. you perfect what you practice whether its anxiety or any other skill, BUT it is not as simple as that, otherwise not so many would suffer from anxiety. According to the book, in very very subtle ways, we train our brain to be an OCD, Phobia, borderline ,etc,etc monster. Those trainings we provide for the brain seem to be "normal" as mark emphasizes. One of the thing I like in the book is the specific example that Mark gives after explaining each point, examples even include daily routines such as laundry, brushing teeth. Actually, I wish the book gave even more of those example as I found them very very useful. By reading this books you improve your mental health by incorporating simple habits and adjusting wring believe and practicing them in your daily life when are doing laundry or when you brush your teeth. Mental health is attainable, surprisingly without having to meditate in an ivory tower or eating cosmic food and being enlightened by a wise alpaca.

Worth of reading.

When OCD took over my life last year, I was desperate to find help and escape from all-consuming doubt and fear. While I struggled to find quality therapy, I was lucky enough to find Mark's youtube Channel. His bright, cheerful, yet empathetic and understanding attitude where a breath of fresh air from the clinical and negative approach of those who say OCD can be "managed, but not recovered from". First and foremost, he helped me believe in recovery, which was a big step.Make no mistake, you have to do the work if you want to get better, but this book will give you the tools you need to get there. I wouldn't consider myself completely recovered, but I am well on my way and no longer terrified of the journey that lies ahead. if you're not struggling with OCD, but some other metal health disorder or even occasional anxiety... I bet this book will help you too.To refute another reviewer's comment on fart jokes, I must say one of them helped me finally comprehend the idea that "you are not your thoughts", more than anything that's been said on the subject before. Mark's humor and playful attitude are a welcome break from the seriousness that surrounds most mental health talk and helped me to understand his ideas in simple and logical ways.Buy this book!

I've been raving about this book to *everyone* since I bought it. Having dealt with anxiety for many years, medication and therapy only felt like short-term solutions. As the list of things I fear because of my anxiety started to grow, and I started developing depressive thoughts, I came across Mark's book through a random account on Instagram, just as I was thinking about going back on medication. I started reading the book carefully and doing all the practices. As I moved along, I looked forward to the practices at the end of each chapter, and little by little, I started seeing changes in how I reacted to my anxiety and how I live on a daily basis. It's been about a month since I started this book, and I feel myself growing more and more as a human every day, being more in tune with what I want out of life, what I value, and how I can get to those values while feeling all the feelings that come with being human! I am less afraid and more present, and most importantly, I now experience an inner calm and acceptance of uncertainty that I never thought possible.In short, buying this book will be the best gift you can give yourself. I cannot recommend it enough.Enjoy your journey to living a full, happy life! Mark has, quite literally, saved my life.

The best thing Mark said in this book, and it really sticks with me, essentially he said: looking back in your life and remembering and wanting that life you had before you had ocd/ anxiety isn't helpful. It actually got you to where you are now, so build better mental health now and live a new life. Frigging great book. What a great inspiring person.

Esse livro me trouxe esperança quando eu não tinha muita. É um livro corajoso que prega que a recuperação é possível, quando todos dizem o contrário e acho que ele está certo. Além de tudo traz a vivência de alguém que deu a volta por cima com muito mérito. Mark Freeman é uma grande pessoa!

Mark Freeman is the best MH and fitness advocate out there. This book breaks down why we struggle and how we can change to live a fuller, healthier life. I would have given it 6, 10 or a gazillion stars if I could. It's been life changing for me.

LOVE the interractiveness of this book.Most "mental health" focused books just gives you information. Theory is great, but when its comes to OCD (and most of mental health conditions) self-assessing and practice is where the real changes happen.This is built perfectly for that!I read bad reviews, but I have to disagree. It probably wont "cure" you. But sometimes it is about figuring out how things work in your brain and where you wanna go (in your personnal interpretation of the world) that pulls you out of the whole your own mind dug yourself into!He is great. The fact that he exposes his own reality helps to stop judging yourself and just try to see things how they are.

The book is well written, the concepts are clear, and it's one of the best self-help books I've read about anxiety issues. The approach is based on ACT therapy.

amazing ¡¡ thank you Mark¡