4 years ago, I went through a very scary existential crisis with a lot of existential fears, and depersonalization/derealization as a result. I hardly got through my days and found it very hard to even navigate life as I was so scared of it. I felt like I had awakened to the reality of life, and I couldn’t go back to sleep. I felt scared, and ungrounded, and felt like nothing was ever going to make me feel okay in life again. Until I found these books bellow. I started embracing the awakening instead of running away from it. And these books made this journey much easier for me. From the first one, that helped me really navigate my fears themselves, to the last one, that helped me understand how to re-frame and reprogram how I look at life. They each individually contributed to me finding my way back to peace.
- ‘Fear’ by Thich Nhat Hanh
If there’s any book I would ever recommend anyone to read when struggling with ANY fear or anxiety, it’s this one.
“Fear” by Thich Nhat Hanh is a compassionate guide that transforms your relationship with fear, offering mindfulness practices to navigate life’s uncertainties with serenity. This insightful book provides practical wisdom to help you truly embrace fear as a teacher, ultimately unlocking the path to greater resilience, inner peace, and a profound sense of freedom. This book made me not just overcome anxiety, but grow from it and use it as a way to live a more deep and meaningful life. It also taught me all about acceptance, which is what I started practicing consistently, tackling my need for control and therefor finding peace in letting go and surrendering.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007HBY9RK?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzrobin04f-20&creativeASIN=B007HBY9RK&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.1CSUGCQJNH8FR&ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_aipsfshop_aipsfrobinschindelka_EG095MPFJWNXDK7VWZC8_asin - ‘A new Earth’ by Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle was my biggest influence in learning to seperate myself from my negative thoughts and patterns and transcend them. It was truly one of the biggest puzzle-peaces in my spiritual journey towards inner peace, and is a book I still return to from time to time.
“A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle is a transcendent masterpiece that guides readers to awaken to a higher state of awareness and peace. Tolle delves into profound insights, guiding us to break free from ego-driven patterns and embrace a more enlightened existence. With transformative wisdom, this book not only illuminates the individual journey but also inspires a collective shift towards a harmonious and awakened world. “A New Earth” is your invitation to a life of purpose, presence, and lasting fulfillment. For those struggling with a sense of purpose, I definitely recommend this book as well.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0452289963?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzrobin04f-20&creativeASIN=0452289963&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.1CSUGCQJNH8FR&ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_aipsfshop_aipsfrobinschindelka_EG095MPFJWNXDK7VWZC8_asin - ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle
Another, earlier book by Eckhart. Just as good, but a bit of a simpler read and more focussed on the individual journey towards peace rather than the collective one.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0095GVWMA?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzrobin04f-20&creativeASIN=B0095GVWMA&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.1CSUGCQJNH8FR&ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_aipsfshop_aipsfrobinschindelka_EG095MPFJWNXDK7VWZC8_asin - ‘The untethered soul’ by Michael Singer
This book was one of the starters of my spiritual journey and learning to find unconditional peace within. It made me start focussing on: if everything goes south, how can I maintain my peace and happiness and detach it from the world around me?
This book is your ticket to inner freedom and spiritual awakening. Delve into the profound exploration of consciousness and self-discovery as Singer guides you to release the limitations holding you back. This transformative book offers practical insights and a roadmap to untangle yourself from the constraints of your mind, empowering you to live with joy, mindfulness, and a newfound sense of inner peace. Embark on a journey of self-liberation with “The Untethered Soul” and discover the boundless possibilities that await when you let go and embrace the true essence of your being.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1572245379?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzrobin04f-20&creativeASIN=1572245379&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.1CSUGCQJNH8FR&ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_aipsfshop_aipsfrobinschindelka_EG095MPFJWNXDK7VWZC8_asin - A return to Love’ by Marianne Williamson
This book I read after I had already been a far way on my journey and feeling more recovered, but still had a profound impact on me. In her book, Williamson delves into the incredible healing and powerful force of Love. When we connect to it, when we can love our demons and choose to love the life around us, we can heal not just ourselves but our environment as well. “A Return to Love” is a heartfelt guide that navigates the profound path of self-discovery through the lens of love. It taught me the principle of ‘choosing love over fear’ and that love is a choice, a decision. Truly an amazing, beautiful and optimistic book that I would recommend to anyone that finds themselves stuck in pessimistic tendencies and catastrophizing.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060927488?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzrobin04f-20&creativeASIN=0060927488&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.1CSUGCQJNH8FR&ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_aipsfshop_aipsfrobinschindelka_EG095MPFJWNXDK7VWZC8_asin - ‘Loving what is’ by Byron Katie
“Loving What Is” by Byron Katie is a liberating roadmap to transform the way you approach challenges. With Katie’s profound method of inquiry, this book teaches you how to question and reshape your thoughts and beliefs, leading to a deeper understanding and acceptance of the reality around you. As I knew most of her methods through teachings I had gotten in my coaching training and past experience recovering from an ed and depression, it was still very refreshing and a good start for anyone wanting to challenge their ways of thinking.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593234510?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzrobin04f-20&creativeASIN=0593234510&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.1CSUGCQJNH8FR&ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_aipsfshop_aipsfrobinschindelka_EG095MPFJWNXDK7VWZC8_asin
I hope this post gave you some inspiration on where to get started on your journey.
Need a compact source with everything you need to know to fully recover from existential anxiety and DP/DR? Take a look at my recovery course: https://www.spiritcoaching.be/en/product/dpdr-existential-anxiety-recovery-course/