“Overcomer – A Journey Through Mental Health” by Victor J Clark is a powerful mental health guide written to help the reader deal both with mental illness and the inner struggles that one might have, explain the many aspects of mental health and educate the reader about the several hidden aspects of it, directing one into discovering his own inner self.
Right in the introduction of this book, you realize that Victor J Clark is talking from deep experience on the subject, and has gone through the battle for his own mental health, through inner analysis and is fit to provide guide or direction to help others in their own journeys.
There is an interesting and much ignored, or not talked about enough, perspective when it comes to mental health, that has roots at our early age, which causes most to ignore these problems due to their inability to understand, or reflect upon them in those tender ages and live with them as if they were normal and healthy.
Poignant and straightforward phraseology is used with vigor and purpose, which lets us know that this isn’t a simple, politically correct, cookie-cutter book on self-help, something that is most welcomed to our blog.
“We struggle with figuring out who we truly are and why we feel like an empty shell of ourselves. We are bombarded with self-doubt, self-hatred, and self-depreciation and become so self-absorbed in the cesspool of apathetic mindless behavior.”
Victor J Clark
The author doesn’t prescribe easy solutions, or one-size-fits-all advice, but lets you know what he learned, what he observed and how he dealt with the whole situation, allowing space for the reader to let itself see him or herself in the narrative, in the events and learn the lessons on the many chapters that this book presents.
“Following these guidelines will only be the beginning of dealing with mental health struggles, but not the solution. The solution lies in each one of us.”´
Victor J Clark
There is clarity on the approach of Victor J Clark, and he quickly and skilfully captures the reader, not with miraculous promises, but with understanding and compassion.
“What is mental health? What comes to mind when you think about this topic? Why does it seem so taboo when it’s brought up as a topic of discussion? We feel as though we are going to be looked at differently, as though we’re psychotic, emotionally unstable, or mentally weak or can’t handle the pressures of life. “
Victor J Clark
” We tend to confuse mental health with mental illness, but there is a drastic difference between the two.”
Victor J Clark
It’s VERY surprising that the author doesn’t hinder to talk about what the media does in order to influence the view of mental health. He talks about autism and deconstructs many mental barriers that we have been taught to construct when it comes to the perception of mental health and mental illness, enlightening!
How many of us have heard about the concept of “personal competence” and “social awareness” when it comes to mental health? Did you know that the music that you listen to highly influences how you feel?
There is more educational content about mental-health and mental illness in 30 pages of this book by Victor J. Clark than most of us get in our daily lives. There is some research and references on this book, pointing to scientifically articles and verified entities such as WHO, Jama Pediatrics and the CDC, which is great because the reader can make its own confirmation to the claims of the author if so needs to be the case.
We loved how the author crumbles and simplifies complex researches and gives us everything we need, including little and neat tricks about how to control our minds and how to deal with anxiety, depression, fear and self-hate. To read this book is so cool.
This book touches on the fact of how harmful the male stereotype is and how the neglect of male emotions, both of society overall and male individuals, creates devastating problems to males and consequently to overall society! These statements and the sharing of experiences about it coming from the writer are potential life-savers to male readers. Excellent stuff right here.
Negative self-talk is also extensively addressed and it all just feels and sounds right as the writer invites us to take responsibility, to take action and to mind what we do several times, both suggesting scientifically approved methods and letting us know why and how we should do this, something that is missing in many self-help books.
This is a hefty read, there are more than 200 pages of experiences, tips, tricks, methods and research, all told in a simple, comprehensive, clear, amusing manner that will keep us focused on the book all the way through, and this is one of the reasons we recommend reading this book: You learn and you are entertained while you receive a high amount of information and experiences. We need more books like this.
Ok, there are many, many biblical references, and fortunately, in no instance the author pushes religion to the reader. He mentions passages of the Bible, and talks about the passage and its meaning, but he does it respectfully and with grace. VERY nice touch indeed.
We enjoyed reading this book, and will surely repeat reading it soon because this book is multifaceted. It is philosophical, motivational, spiritual and there are scientifically based claims working in unison to achieve a single great purpose: To help each and every reader to better handle the mental health aspects in their life, whether the reader is dealing with a mental illness or not.
This is a book you will want to check out, and reading it will help you in facing and better dealing with many challenges in your personal, emotional and spiritual life, IF you care to apply its lessons that were so well put out for you.
PS: Please mind that this is written by a Christian author, and there are many references, and sometimes lengthy discussions, about the Christian God, and prophets. This will suit Christian readers mostly, but even still I invite everyone to read this book, regardless of denomination or belief, there is great content here.
Pros:
- Extremely easy read, the facts, stats, ideas and tales are easy to absorb
- EXCELLENT narrative!
- EXCELLENT lessons when it comes to mental health
- A book packed with information about mental health and mental illness that will forever change how you see everything and will make you realize how we can approach dealing with our own mental health in a better light
- Many of the scientific, specially biological aspects, were very well put and explained
- There is a very good flow and pace of reading throughout the book
- The constant call to self-reflection, responsibility and accountability is a strong aspect of this book, very nice
Cons:
- Although this isn’t a scientific related book, or an article, the author could have had put numerical tags to the research papers in order for easy reference to the reader. “Quote”1 ; “Quote”2
- There are some statements that could have been put under reference, in order for reader to be able to verify for themselves
Scribble's Worth 
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