Top

We have updated our Privacy Policy Please take a moment to review it. By continuing to use this site, you agree to the terms of our updated Privacy Policy.

Things I Got Wrong So You Don't Have To

On sale

21st April 2022

Price: £14.99

Select a format

Selected: Paperback / ISBN-13: 9781839972676

Disclosure: If you buy products using the retailer buttons above, we may earn a commission from the retailers you visit.

An internationally respected campaigner, Pooky Knightsmith has worked tirelessly to promote good child and adolescent mental health. Her knowledge, ideas and advice come not just from years of research and study, but from hard earned experience with PTSD, anorexia, self-harm and depression.

Part mental health guide, part memoir, this book contains 48 life lessons learned from everyday victories to life-changing events. Pooky shares tips on how to avoid burnout, how small acts of self-care can make a big difference, steps you can take to live with anxiety, and how to nurture key friendships and relationships, amongst many other things. Each lesson ends with space for the reader to reflect, and includes exercises to help take the first steps to incorporating these lessons into their own lives.

Unflinching and utterly authentic, Pooky shares the things she got wrong so that you don’t have to.

What's Inside

Read More Read Less

Reviews

Cara Lisette, mental health campaigner and writer, registered mental health nurse and children cognitive behavioural therapist
This book is a gift for anybody struggling with their mental health or self-esteem. It's full of lessons in learning and growing, and most importantly in forgiving ourselves for living imperfect lives. Pooky shares so much wisdom, and the exercises at the end of each chapter help to personalise the learning we can take from Pooky's wealth of experience, both personal and professional. A truly wonderful resource for anyone hoping to overcome their imposter syndrome and be kinder to themselves.
Pete Wharmby, autistic author and advocate
Such a valuable and practical guide to taking care of your most precious asset - your mental health. Filled with immediately relevant advice, based on a disarming and always honest reflection on life, this book will help huge numbers of people.
Gareth D Morewood, Educational Advisor, and former SENCo
This is a very accessible and practical book that anyone who has an interest in self-improvement and seeing what they may be able to do differently with their lives, would benefit from reading. Looking at the following key topics: learning, self-care, self-acceptance, life online, death and dying, love and friendship, living with anxiety, Pooky draws from personal experiences to support the reader through a reflective process, whilst also providing practical things to try for each topic area covered. The book oozes humility, honesty and authenticity; and in doing so allows the reader to reflect on the topics in relation to themselves throughout. This provides a powerful and accessible approach that I wholeheartedly recommend. I don't think you could read this book, without being better after having done so....why not give it a try?
Ann Marie Christian, International Safeguarding Consultant and Trainer
Fantastic, honest account of true life. Humorous at times, hard hitting but good for the soul. Pooky is a well-respected professional within the mental health field and this book highlights her personal dilemmas connecting to her professional role. We can all relate to the lessons learnt, feelings shared and only become a better person after reading this book. Honest accounts of her personal and professional thoughts and experiences. Priceless! Helpful tools given to support self-refection.
Jo Ames, counsellor MBACP (Accred), from University & College Counselling Journal
This makes for essential reading, especially for those of us with a curiosity about the lives and experiences of others... I recommend this candid and courageous book to any adult, as Knightsmith helps to normalise emotional turmoil and distress, while encouraging communication, self-help and reaching out for support. I firmly believe there are many valuable life lessons contained within it, which could help young people navigate adolescence and emerge more mentally healthy as a result.