Emotional Black Holes
Author
Grant J. Hallstrom
Publisher
ClearStone Publishing
2 Review Copies Left
Shhhh, Listen! Do you hear that vacuum sucking people down? A severely depressed 16-year-old youth broadcasts his suicide on a webcam via the internet, in front of hundreds of horrified onlookers; a third grade elementary school child shoots a parent in cold blood; a public servant is arrested for lewd conduct and solicitation of a gay sexual encounter in a public restroom; a sports legend is found dead of an overdose; political and entertainment celebrities, as well as private citizens are booking themselves into rehab centers in record numbers. Despite a collapsing economy, the neon signs of gambling casinos and parlors still glare brightly over the boulevards across our nation as people, desperate for a ‘kiss from Lady Luck,’ gamble away their paychecks. Each one is another life once full of promise, hopes, and dreams falling into another voracious and soul-devouring emotional black hole. Have you ever said any of the following to yourself? No one loves me. I can do it all myself. I’m all alone. I can’t do it all by myself. I hate him. I am so frustrated. I hate myself. I wouldn’t even be missed. I want to hide. Somebody help me. I’m trapped. If people knew who I really was. No one appreciates me. People are so incompetent. I’m disgusting. I never do anything right. I need a drink NOW. I want to run away. No one understands. It’s useless. People are so stupid. I could hit someone. I’m stupid. I just have to have it. I don’t trust anyone. If they’d only notice me. I don’t trust myself. Don’t bother me. I’m worthless. I’m ugly. I can’t stand the pain. I deserve to be unhappy. I want to die. I’m ruined if they find out. I’m so exhausted. I just want to sleep forever. I don’t feel anything. I’m invisible. No one knows my pain. I’ll never measure up. If you said yes to any of these, then you need to read this book. Emotional black holes like these impact the lives of at least five people you know. Individuals seek to fill their emotional emptiness with everything from drug abuse to an excess of even so called good things, like work, exercise, and yes, even religion. These temporary distractions do not avoid the devastation that awaits us while we continue to be drawn even faster into deeper emotional black holes. There is hope. There is a way to heal the wounds. Emotional Black Holes is one author’s very personal experience and invitation to step, as he did, out of the emotional blackness of deep and painful holes that snuff out life and move back towards the light and a life of fulfillment, love, and joy that we were all meant to experience. Step through the doors of these pages, and you too will share in the author’s journey as you also discover the TRUE way to escape from your emotional black holes. For more information, visit the Emotional Black Holes website at www.emotionalblackholes.com. How Do we mend and escape the emotional black holes that plague us? Here’s a sampling of chapters that offer hope and show the way to a powerful transformation that until now you may have never thought possible. • Emotional Black Holes (Chapter 1) • Polished Stones (Chapter 8) • Suffering (Chapter 10) • Tempted Beyond What Ye Can Bear (Chapter 11) • Lust (Chapter 13) • We Are What We Think (Chapter 14) • Depression (Chapter 15) • Control Freak (Chapter 17) • Sacrifice the Need For Validation (Chapter 18) • Our Choices In Life’s Garden (Chapter 23) • Using Religion to Placate Our Conscience (Chapter 24) • Hope: The Enabling Power of Grace (Chapter 25)
Reviews
Emotional Black Holes is a book which puts into clear perspective the existence of emotional black holes one comes into contact with and how they can and do impact ones life to the point of deep despair. But it also shows through the authors experiences and knowledge that there is a way out of the black holes and a way to enjoy a fuller more enjoyable life despite what has gone before.
It is the type of book one may not know they need until they read but having read it, instantly feel they have connected with the author and his heartfelt message within. It is in my opinion a book that would benefit anyone who has negative thoughts or as the author calls it “emotional black holes’... places where there seems no way of escape which drag the reader deeper into sadness and despair.
Don’t pass this book by as you seek some self help or inspiration, for a lot of what you need may be found within the pages of this book. It is a book worth the read, and one that will find its way to a friend, a “passing on” type of book. And to me, that is the best sort of book to have. One that makes you want to share it’s knowledge and wisdom to someone else, hoping they too will find the inspiration found within it’s pages.
Reviewed on 04/06/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Susan Pettrone
Think about your social circle, your family, neighbors, co-workers, etc. How many of those people are suffering from depression, addiction, and self damaging behaviors? For most of us, probably at least five to ten people we know, at any given time, are finding themselves in that emotional black hole, that void, the sadness that doesn't go away. Maybe you are suffering yourself.
Recognizing the problem is the first step. Then comes finding the way out, and fighting for the life that is valuable and worth living. The journey out can begin with the book by Grant J. Hallstrom, Emotional Black Holes.
The author has written a moving and thought provoking account of his own journey from his own "black hole". By using this book as a guide, you will see that you are not alone in the journey; and will glean helpful ideas for yourself or others. Chapters include dealing with lust, temptation, addiction, even the addiction of religion. You may know someone who is a control freak, or by reading this book you may realize that you are the control freak. There is hope for healing and help for everyone suffering from any form of depression and emotional emptiness or vacuum.
Today's world brings trials and problems for all of us. Getting the help we need to deal with our trials and problems can be daunting; by reading this book you can and will be helping yourself or someone you know find the way out of that black hole. There is hope on the other side. Hallstrom has given us a valuable help in finding the way up and out.
Reviewed on 01/25/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member LAURI COATES
