Praise for I HATE Myself
"I hope that in exploring Dr. Aguirre's concepts in this book, you will begin to realize that destructive thoughts and opinions and certainties of self-hatred are not only not true but are distracting you from experiencing the journey of a lifetime-discovering who you actually are. And who you are, I promise, is beautiful. Scars and all."
-JEWEL, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, humanitarian activist, and mental health advocate
"Dr. Blaise Aguirre has led the way on many clinical issues. Here he again breaks new ground on the poorly understood and researched topic of self-loathing... This practical and ultimately hopeful book will be of use to individuals, families, and therapists alike."
-KEN DUCKWORTH, MD, Chief Medical Officer, NAMI, and author of You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health
"I thought I knew what self-hatred was, but I only knew how it manifested in other observable symptoms. As a concept of its own, defined equally by the author and by the generous people with lived experience who contributed to this book, self-hatred transcends diagnoses and can be, or rather finally will be, a core treatment target in the alleviation of human suffering."
-JON HERSHFIELD, MFT, Director of The Center for OCD and Anxiety, Sheppard Pratt Hospital
"Not only is this book beautifully and compassionately written as itself an act of love and inspiration, it shines a light on one of the most underlooked topics in mental health and the lives of suffering people who deserve better. It's not just my hope but my belief that this book can bring relief to millions."
-Dr. CHRIS WILLARD, PsyD, Harvard Medical School faculty and author of How We Grow Through What We Go Through
"In this evocative volume, Blaise Aguirre provides critical information on a deeply painful, yet under-recognized clinical problem: the persistent, unrelenting, and unyielding intense dislike of the self that is self-hatred. In his characteristic straight-talking yet compassionate style, Aguirre not only provides a rich understanding of self-hatred, but the life-saving tools to combat it. This book is essential reading for those who experience self-hatred and the clinicians who support them."
-CARLA SHARP, PhD, John and Rebecca Moores Professor, University of Houston
"A long overdue masterful deep dive into the importance of tackling self-hatred head-on, with expert viewpoints from individuals with lived experience and mental health professionals. This is a must-read for those impacted by self-hatred, with insights to overcome this distressing core belief, and for therapists and researchers to take up the challenge of addressing this condition, allowing affected individuals to reclaim their self-worth."
-LYNN COUREY, CSW, Founder and President of The Sashbear Foundation, helping families with skills and hope
