Non-fiction book of month: Frazzled by Ruby Wax

[RachelMumsnet]

We have 50 copies of Ruby Wax’s latest book Frazzled up for grabs.

In her bestselling guide Sane New World, she popularised the idea of mindfulness as a means to finding calm. Her latest book Frazzled, Ruby takes us on the next step by providing a comprehensive guide to to the technique of mindfulness. With specific advice for relationships, parents, for children and teenagers, plus a six week course based on her studies of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy with Mark Williams at Oxford University.

Apply for a free copy before 16 January. When you've read the book, come back to this thread to let us know what you think. We're offering all readers - and those who haven't read the book but are interested in the subject - the chance to post their questions to Ruby Wax before 13 February. We'll upload Ruby's answer before the end of February.

Hi Ruby. Do you think fame and celebrity helps or hinders a mindful approach?

Hi Ruby- what is the most important piece of advice you have been given during your mindfulness journey?

Hi Ruby, how do you use mindfulness to keep calm in situations where nothing can change eg full time job small children .. As it can be a trying time especially first thing in the morning!

Hi Ruby.Do you think worry is a massive barrier to achieving mindfulness? In the past when I have tried this sort of thing I am unable to sustain it as the worries kick in.It will be interesting to see if your book offers ways to combat this.

Hi Ruby!
Have you also taken medication to help with your illness? Is mindfulness something that works well alongside AD's? Or is it a stand alone approach?

Hello Miss Ruby. Are you glad that you no longer live in the USA what with The Donald? Sorry that's not my question. Are you planning on writing any further non fiction?

Any tips to gain instant calm, now I understand that im suffering with stress/anxiety especially at work, I recognise the symptoms immediately, but this just creates more anxiety.

Hi Ruby, I very much hope this will help my teenage son. He suffers low-level anxiety and recently 'confessed' he spent his whole childhood 'frightened of everything'. (You wouldn't know it from appearances, he appears very happy and sociable.) He couldn't/wouldn't engage with CBT so I hope a more self-directed 'project' will interest him and help him leave his comfort zone. My biggest fear for his future is 'failure to launch' because he can't overcome his anxieties.

The giveaway has closed and there was an amazing response. We'll notify all those who have been allocated books by the end of the day. We're sorry if you are disappointed this time but please do still post up your questions for Ruby Wax on this thread before 13 February.

If you're still keen to read Frazzled, buy the paperback (£3.85) or e-book (£4.99).

Hi Ruby

Firstly, I'd like to thank you for trying to help with removing the stigma from mental health, I have suffered with depression and anxiety all of my life and people really don't understand a lot of the time, and I've lost count of the times I've been called 'psycho', (thanks to my partner, who reminded me that I don't have a psychosis, it's a neurosis, I dealt with that one eventually - if you're going to call me names, at least get it right, it's 'neuro' not 'psycho'!).

I've been through CBT and found it useful in some respects, and mindfulness is very similar really, just taking the time out to think about your reactions and eventually changing your behaviours as the new ways become more natural.

I would rather read a book such as yours, a person with real-life experience, as you know what you are writing about, I've read so many books by psychologists / psychiatrists, who have studied the behaviours on patients, but unless you're feeling the depression and anxiety, you don't really know what it's like, how difficult it can be to control your emotions and behaviour at times, even I can't understand why I can't walk into the supermarket at times because it's too much, I just know I can't do it without exploding!
So, thank you for writing these books and helping the 1 in 4 with mental health.
Best wishes for a positive future x

Sorry, I didn't mean 'mental health', we all have that, the 1 in 4 with mental health issues!

I got a lovely surprise on Saturday, a copy of this book arrived in the post. I'll be back with questions before 13th Feb!

Glad to hear the books have arrived. We've extended the giveaway until 20th Feb - so please do post your questions up for Ruby before then and we'll upload her answers before the end of the month. Thanks

Thank you for my copy of "Frazzled".

The book is written in a clear style, and is resolutely amusing.
Chapter 5 giving the instructions for the 6 week Mindfulness course is well thought out, and the exercises are easy to follow. I particularly like the pages for that chapter being edged in grey, so they are VERY easy to find.
The best plus for me, is that Ruby even supplies ideas for slotting Mindfulness exercises into the busiest of schedules, where the reader might be convinced there is not one free second in a day to practise....... and then she tosses in the odd amusing quip as well.
Well done Ruby Wax. Anyone who wants to have a try at mastering Mindfulness ought to find something helpful here.

Loved this book! I felt so much more confident after reading it. Will try to come up with a good question...

Are the books still being sent out? I had an email informing me I would receive one but nothing has arrived yet.
I think there was a mix-up between this and another book.

Love, love, love the book.

How would you support teenaged girls to be aware of the importance of mental health, as well as physical health?

(Teacher, and mother of teens)

Thank you Mumsnet for a copy of the book!

I really loved Ruby's honest, self deprecating and humorous style. The book was easy to access with short chapters, perfect for those with busy lives! Also, thank you Ruby for speaking so honestly about your battle with depression

My question for Ruby is - what do you feel has been the biggest benefit of mindfulness for you?

Thank you for a copy of the book. I like the humorous way in which sanity is discussed. Is definitely really nice to know that I am not the only one that keeps accepting more and more responsibilities, without knowing why and getting totally frazzled.

I wonder how it was to go back to uni, and why did you feel that this was the best thing to do at this point in your life?

Thanks Mumsnet for this book - a truly thought-provoking read!

Really appreciated how Ruby made the science accessible and tied it in with the benefits of mindfulness, and I particularly enjoyed the practical tips on using mindfulness in relationships. It was a very readable book, Ruby's witty and self-deprecating style makes it easy to engage with. Didn't agree with all her points, especially when she generalises - I think there's more to be gained from going to a top university than great parties! - but she certainly gets you thinking.

My question for Ruby is - you make a convincing argument for the inclusion of mindfulness activities in schools, are you (or do you plan to be) actively involved in encouraging this?

Thanks so much for my copy . I haven't read it all yet but am really enjoying it - I feel I need the advice and love the fact it's entertaining , funny and easy to read as well . It's very engaging and explains the science in an easy to understand way . While I haven't finished it yet I feel it's a book I will keep and dip into every now and then in the future . Thanks again !

Thanks Mumanet for the book. I found it a very accesible introduction to the topic and I enjoyed the humourous style.

My question for Ruby is following the success of Sane New World and Frazzled eo you have any plans to write another book?

Read the book quickly when it arrived and have to confess was a bit 'meh' about the 'science bit'; I think I get mindfulness but didn't want to be lectured to. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the times when Ruby was being Ruby, she/you (to Ruby) have a very confessional/engaging style - it does make me sad that you still sometimes struggle to be you. I was really with you in the moment when you were at the retreat - that felt like a very moment of revelation.

I am also interested in how powerful mindfulness can be for teens - this can be such a difficult and self-defining time.

Thanks for the copy of this book. I found it interesting and a good mix of the science behind the mindfulness technique and Ruby's personal experiences. Ruby made many points in the book that I can relate to and I hope to work on these. As a previous poster said, it is very helpful having the 6 week course marked in the way that it is and I can see myself often referring back to the rest of the book. In addition to the 6 week course, there are many useful exercises and examples of situations you might find yourself in and as well as using many of these excercise myself, I can also see them being extremely beneficial to my pre-teen daughter in the next couple of years.

My question to Ruby is having had what you class as a difficult childhood, how did you find that impacted on how you parented your children? Did you have to make a conscious decision to parent them like Ed's parents were with him or did the kind, homely mother persona come naturally anyway?

Thanks to all those who posted up feedback and questions for Ruby. We've sent the Qs over to her publicist now and as soon as we get the answers back we'll upload them to this thread.