A self-help book that will teach you how to cope effectively when life hurts and how not only to survive life's unexpected curve balls, but also how to thrive, despite them.

'This wise book is one to keep within reach. It will do more than soothe - it will ground you, guide you and help you grow' Steven C. Hayes, Foundation Professor of Psychology, University of Nevada, and author of Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life

If we live long enough, life will knock us around. Relationships will fail. Loved ones will die. Injury, illness and disease will all take their toll. Our suffering might seem unbearable at these times, but there is hope. The Reality Slap is a compassionate and extremely practical guide to handling the anxiety, grief and suffering that inevitably follow such major life blows.

This updated and revised edition - with over 50 per cent brand new material - contains a wealth of strategies for coping well when life truly hurts. You'll learn how to handle all those difficult thoughts, feelings, emotions and memories; how to take the impact out of them - and let them flow through you without sweeping you away. You'll discover:
· how to be there for yourself in a kind and supportive way
· how to take a courageous stand in the face of your life
· and how to rebuild your life, one small step at a time

Russ Harris, a medical doctor and psychotherapist, is based in Melbourne. He is one of the world's leading authorities on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and author of several books on the subject, including the million-copy bestseller The Happiness Trap.

Sometimes, it can feel like life holds endless setbacks and challenges; like reality is continually slapping you in the face and causing pain that you aren't equipped to handle. This 'reality slap' can take many forms, from the death of a loved one to the loss of a job, from loneliness to rejection. And whatever form it takes, it hurts! With constructive methods based on real world research, this guide gives you the tools to rebuild your life and thrive after serious setbacks.

Ten years after the success of its first edition, this fully updated and rewritten edition of The Reality Slap contains a new wealth of advanced expertise on coping effectively when life hurts. Dr Russ Harris shows you how to apply the scientifically proven methods of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in your daily life and reconnect with yourself and others.

Written in a kind, supportive voice with lots of examples and exercises, this timely self-help book contains mindfulness wisdom, hands-on advice and case studies. Every aspect of the book is designed to be accessible and simple to implement so that you can comprehensively tackle emotions arising from setbacks.

If you are facing difficulty and don't know where to turn, The Reality Slap is the essential guide to finding happiness and fulfilment. Learn how to heal from your pain and come out stronger than before with this powerful book that might just change your life.