Hello all,

I am curious to know if anyone has any suggestions about books which help to build self-confidence and self-esteem. I feel I have also had trouble accepting myself for who I am, and have poor self image. I am trying to recover from a breakup, and this has only compounded these feelings.

I am interested in buying a book that may posbily help me to build these traits in me, so that I can be more confident in myself, which will lead to me being more fun to be around, and more attractive to other people.

Thanks for any input :)

An oldie but a goldie is the book, "I'm OK - - You're OK: A Practical Guide To Transactional Analysis" by Thomas A. Harris, M.D. Other books you might want to check are: "Perfect Love Imperfect Relationships" by John Welwood and "You Don't Have to Take It Anymore" by Steven Stosny, PhD. I just a new book yesterday called, "You Are Your Choices" by Alexandra Stoddard.

A trip to your local library and look under the Psychology and self-help section.

There are many websites out there too that are maintained by mental health care professionals. Just one example is Michele Germain. Her website is Michele Germain (http://www.michelegermain.com). Another website is Mental Health Matters: Information and resources about mental health issues for consumers, professionals, students and supporters. (http://www.mental-health-matters.com)
Yet another decent site is Inner Bonding: Relationship Advice, Relationship Help, Spiritual Growth, Parenting Advice (http://www.innerbonding.com)

I have a good book "The Self-Esteem Companion" Simple exerises to help you challenge your inner critic and celebrate your personal strengths by Matthew McKay, Ph.D. Patrick Fanning, Carole Honeychurch, and Catharine Sutker. This book helped me a lot with self esteem issues. I don't know how old you are, but I was going through self esteem issues in my twenties. I am thirty-one now and I look back and wonder why I felt the way I did because there was nothing wrong with me. I think the older you get, the more self confident you get because you know yourself a little better. But I really think this book might help you-it did me. It gives you different exercises for your mind to improve yourself esteem and also helps you to just relax.