Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking

UpdateAfter reading this book for a week now. I am confident to say that it is good information but its way to repetitive. It's like Dr.Leaf is trying to convince me that her Neurocycle 5 steps work. But she does not teach how to use the steps in detail. It is almost as if she is trying to convince me to buy the NEUROCYCLE App that is like $70 a year for a subscription.I understand her research and I know it is real but it's nothing knew. We all know the mind plays a huge part in our lives but no one really sits down to teach us how to control ourselves. And she doesn't do it either.I really wanted to like this book more.To all of you who want this book to change your life let me tell you it won't.The information are only tools.To have the change we need special attention and to follow a program.Talk to a therapist. They will be able to help you directly in the spot of your personal issue.

I get the research...seriously I do. The premise makes sense to me. But have ZERO idea where to start to use the Neurocycle in a practical fashion. Sorry...I really wanted to like this book. I need what it offers...I just don’t see how it works in real life.

self help books are casually defined as a text that provides advice and information, supported by science and experience, that allows the reader to learn how to heal themselves. On page 58, Dr. Leaf states that her 5-step mind management process is not self-help. If this is not a self-help book, then Id be interested in understanding how she believes this is different than other texts within this genre.Despite the lack of self-awareness: the clinical data was interesting and added more support towards the advice found in many self help books such as breathe-work, exercise, meditation, etc. She does a great job at explaining and relating highly intellectual information through simple vocabulary, which enables her to educate a diverse range of readers. A trust is easily forged between the author and the reader through knowledge and thus inspires the belief that her program will produce the results it claims. This relationship is important because not only does the reader buy the book but theres also an app mentioned in this book that is available for download, called Switch, created by Dr. Leaf to assist in mind management. The more downloads, the more successful her program appears to be and will drive book sales.She reinforces what we already know about self-help - and uses a vague system cloaked with novelty so readers believe that they are doing something different in hopes that they will feel better. Chances are if you're buying this book you've already heard about meditation, journaling, and reducing sugar and how they are significant towards our health, and if you aren't already doing it...I don't think reading this book will get you to start.This book perpetuates the self-help industry that she claims she is not apart of; however, if you're going to read one - this is one of the best I've read.

It is hard to believe that this book made a brief appearance on the non-fiction bestseller list. I can't recall reading another self-help book that was this pretentious and so full of psychobabble and nonsense pseudoscience. The author claims to have developed a new method to clear the mind of "toxic" thoughts and all the damage they do. The method, called the "Neuro-Cycle" is really just a repackaged interpretation of cognitive behavioral therapy, that has been used for decades to reframe negative thinking. She spends at least 2/3 of the book explaining the "science" of how using this method will positively affect virtually all aspects of the brain and the body, including mitochondrial energy production and telomere length. She even invokes quantum theory in explaining how thoughts develop and travel throughout the brain. Really? I learned absolutely nothing useful from this book. Don't waste your time on this one.

I first heard about Dr. Leaf through a traumatic brain injury survivor. I immediately picked up her book and started using her Switch app. The 5-step process she explains in Your Mental Mess have literally changed my brain and my life. This isn't hyperbole. Toxic thoughts can destroy you, but the effects can be reversed through how we think. Dr. Leaf knows the science and she explains it. Highly recommend her work.

I tell you what- Dr. Leaf has definitely earned the nickname “The Brain”. Her intense ability to break down complex scientific concepts and turn them into simple hacks that help people build healthy minds and brains is unmatched. The work of Dr. Leaf compels us to invite a new way of healing our lives. And it does not require a diagnosis or psychotropic drugs. Working in a broken mental health system, I’m so grateful that I get to cling to updated and proven systems that help me and my clients clean up the mental mess.

Loving how practical this read has been. Dr Leaf has taken a complex subject and given it a simple language and practical steps to apply. Throughout I felt empowered. I felt a fresh hope that I can change my life. I gained understanding of how my thoughts are formed. I realized just how much power I have to change the way I think, my habits and destiny. The steps given are easy to understand and practical. Applicability is the competitive advantage of this book Now the real work begins.I’ve downloaded the accompanying app and will be working out these steps and follow through for 63 days. All I can say that on day one I really felt layers already come off... the process really shines a light on some toxic thought patterns I had not acknowledged and also highlighted the root cause. To 62 more days

Just started reading Dr.Leaf book Cleaning up your mental mess! So far, I love it and it is drawing me to read it as it all applies to my unfocused, overwhelmed, anxious and perfectionist brain that causes me to procrastinate.. in small and big decisions at times.. can’t wait to read through it and get to the detox part and want to apply her knowledge to heal snd free myself from my mental mess! Thank you Dr Leaf!

I bought this for myself for my birthday. This lady is changing my life. I had a mental breakdown at age 44 due to stress but since then stigma and prejudice hasn’t helped me to move past all the stinking thinking and consequences. I’m lucky I have a strong faith (no religion) and I never doubt God will provide me with answers and help and for me that isn’t medication. Caroline Leaf is part of my healing, I have t do the work and even though I’ve learned a lot I’ve found it a real challenge to stick to the 21 day detox enough to reap the full benefits. This book is helping me on that journey because I like to dig away and excavate my pain and my thinking so I know I can. You have to feel it to truly heal it and you are what you think. Lots of tips, I’ve not finished the book yet but anyone who is considering getting it, please get it. Don’t let the dark side in, see your own light and this book as well as all Dr Leafs stuff will help. Much love x

Wish I read the lower ratings before purchasing! I read the first 50% of the book and I thought “wow I’m half way through and this book hasn’t taught me anything, all the author does is repeat herself page after page and babble on about herself and how amazing her experiments were” there is no substance to the book whatsoever! I’ve never had a book give me a headache while reading how to relieve stress??So after reading 50% and FINALLY getting to this amazing “Neuro-cycle” method, I thought I’ll come to the reviews and see if I’m the only one baffled by this book, and to see that we have to download an app that costs money to actually use the method is scandalous! The book is already expensive enough. This book doesn’t sit well with me at all…

If you read the other one and two star reviews I think you will get a fair picture of what is wrong with this book. So much time spent telling you about the science and how the steps will help you and so little time explaining the steps properly. Interesting to a degree but very repetitive and really doesn't give you what it promises. The app starts to lead you through the process but then, suddenly, it's not free, so it leaves you hanging. This feels unfair when you have spent the money on the book. If you are willing to spend a lot of money on the app then you may find that this guides you through the process in a helpful way but for people who are already self aware, meditating, journaling, and avoiding sugar etc etc. I don't think you will get anything helpful at all from this book.

I found the 5 steps a really interesting concept. I can definitely see it working. Especially if you have certain feeling to work through or you are just emotionally suffering. She gives a process that I really like. Definitely worth reading and applying this to your life.I started applying this 12 days ago and I see a definite difference. My mindset has chanced and mood has improved. I recommend this method to anyone that is a bit stuck on a certain negative idea, thought, or feeling.She pushes her app in the book but you can easily save yourself the $20/month subscription by following the below:Days 1 - 21: Once a day perform the 5 steps.Days 1 - 21: Set a reminder on your phone 3 - 7 times a day(say every 2 hours) to remind you of the mindset from step 5.Days 22 - 63: You can stop the daily 5 steps. Continue with the 3 - 7 reminders.

I don’t normally give negative reviews but this was so badly written. When other reviews said that it was repetitive I dismissed it - but read the first 12% and it’s repeated itself almost every page without development of the argument or information being given. It’s contentless. If you are looking to find out more about techniques to still your mind don’t look here. Save your 8 quid and read ruby wax