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Summary of Reasons to Stay Alive 

4.5 . 14810 reviews

Short summary

At 24, Matt Haig was hit by depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. His world caved in. Everything seemed to come to an end. But with the help of his girlfriend — now his wife — he was able to stay afloat, find reasons for living, walk away from the dark tunnel of depression, and find a new and exciting life. This summary will show you the lessons he learned along the way. Who should read this? You need to read this summary if you're suffering from depression, caring for a depressant, or if you're none of these but just want to know what depression feels like and how people overcome one of the most painful experiences of humankind. Hear Matt himself: “I wrote this book because the oldest clichés remain the truest. Time heals. The bottom of the valley never provides the clearest view. The tunnel does have light at the end of it, even if we haven't been able to see it . . . Words, just sometimes, really can set you free.” ~ Matt Haig

Table of content

  • Summary of Reasons to Stay Alive
  • About the author
  • What is Reasons to Stay Alive about?
  • Who should read Reasons to Stay Alive
  • Topics in Reasons to Stay Alive
first key point

Depression has to be the most misunderstood medical condition in the world

Listen the first key point
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Depression and anxiety are some of those things that you can't exactly know how they feel until you experience them yourself. Being around a depressed person can only give you an idea of how they feel. You can't really know.

A depressed person usually looks healthy from the outside, so it's easy to think they aren't going through hell. In reality, being depressed is like being on fire from within, but that fire is invisible, so people can't understand its extent.
Only a depressant knows what depression really feels like. The best you can do is try to empathize.
However, this summary will take you into the heart and mind of a depression survivor. By the end of this summary, you would have an intimate idea of how depression feels and what depressants battle all day long. Needless to say, this summary would increase your empathy for depressants and people dealing with anxiety. The moment you begin to understand the untold torments that depression unleashes on people, you would begin to see things on a whole new level, and no more join the rest of the world to say hurtful things to depressants such as, “Be strong and get over it. It's not the end of the world.” Instead, you'll start making statements like, “I don't know how you feel right now, but I just want you to know that it's okay to feel this way. I'm here for you.”

Words like those in the statement above make depressed people feel less weird, and more importantly, reassured of love and company.

If you're a depressed person reading this, it's important to understand that you're not alone and that even if you can't see it, there is truly a light at the end of the tunnel. This summary is a product of a memoir by a depression survivor. Matt didn't have it any different, and if he can make it out of that terrible blackhole called depression, so can you!
To other people, it sometimes seems like nothing at all. You are walking around with your head on fire and no one can see the flames. ~ Matt Haig
Did you know? Depression diminishes with age. The older you get, the more the symptoms decline. This process is, however, slow and almost unnoticeable.
second key point

The mysterious nature of depression is sponsored mainly by ignorance

Depression is terrible. It's horrific. It's the worst thing anyone can wish on their enemy. But that still doesn't make it an incurable illness. As a matter of fact, the treatment for depression is so available and affordable that no one should die from depression.
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third key point

Having thin skin is not a bad thing

fourth key point

Time is like wine, don't gulp it if you want to enjoy it

fifth key point

Stick to the remedy that works for you

sixth key point

A friendly message to non-depressants

seventh key point

Conclusion

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What is Reasons to Stay Alive about?

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Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.