Effective Self-Management: Prevention, Transformation and Recovery in Mental Health

Summary

In a world defined by constant change, uncertainty, and growing pressures on mental health, the ability to manage oneself effectively has never been more important. Effective Self-Management: Prevention, Transformation, and Recovery in Mental Health offers a comprehensive and practical framework for understanding how individuals can strengthen their mental resilience and navigate life's challenges with greater clarity and purpose. Drawing on insights from biology, psychology, social science, economics, and ecology, this book explores how the complex systems surrounding us shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It examines the impact of stress and dysregulation in modern life and explains why self-regulation and transformation are essential for maintaining mental health in an interconnected world. Through a systemic perspective, the author introduces a five-dimensional model of self-management that integrates personal awareness, social relationships, future planning, decision-making, and effective action. To support real and measurable change, the book also presents the Self-Management Self-Test (SMST), a scientifically validated tool that allows readers and practitioners to assess progress and evaluate personal development over time. Combining theoretical insight, practical guidance, and empirical research, Effective Self-Management is a valuable resource for anyone interested in strengthening mental health, preventing psychological difficulties, and fostering lasting personal transformation.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2026
Copyright Year: 2026
ISBN-Online: 978-3-86321-783-9
Publisher: Mabuse Verlag, Frankfurt am Main
Language: English
Pages: 254
Product Type: Monograph

ChapterPages

1. Table of contents No access
1. 1. How Biology, Psychology, Society, Economy, and Ecology Shape Who We Are No access
  2. Why Do We Need Self-Management? No access
  3. The Importance of Global Mental Health No access
2. 1. The Challenge of Dysregulation No access
  2. The Importance of Transformation No access
  3. In the End, It’s All About Self-Regulation! No access
3. 1. Self-Management Within a Virtual Triangular Space No access
  2. How Can Self-Management Contribute to Mental Health? No access
4. 1. The Systemic Perspective on Self-Management No access
1. 1. How to Be Aware of Your Internal State of Mind and Perceive External Reality Clearly No access
  2. Take a Look at Reality and Consider the Facts No access
  3. Awareness is Essential No access
  4. Improve Self-Perception (Introspection) No access
  5. Identity: Who Am I Really? No access
  6. Be Aware of Your Internal State of Mind No access
  7. Be Aware of Your Fears and Anxieties No access
  8. Be Aware of Your Needs No access
  9. What Can We Do to Improve Our Awareness? No access
  10. Perception Is Essential No access
  11. What Can We Do to Improve Our Perception? No access
  12. Look at Yourself No access
  13. What Can We Do to Look at Ourselves? No access
  14. Look at the World No access
  15. What Can We Do to Look at the World? No access
  16. The Value of Reflection in Self-Management No access
  17. What Can You Do to Face Reality? Look and Listen! No access
2. 1. How to Sustain Your Relationships with Others and Maintain Your Social Networks No access
  2. People and Their Challenges No access
  3. Coming to Terms With Yourself and Others No access
  4. I Am Not Alone in the World No access
  5. Being Open Towards Others No access
  6. Caring for Others No access
  7. Personal Relationships No access
  8. What Can We Do to Sustain Our Personal Relationships? No access
  9. Social Networks No access
  10. What Can We Do to Maintain Our Social Networks? No access
  11. Being Connected with Others No access
  12. What Can We Do to Be Connected with Others? No access
  13. Upholding Friendships No access
  14. What Can We Do to Uphold Friendships? No access
  15. The Value of Feedback in Self-Management No access
  16. What Can You Do, Knowing You Are Not Alone? Recognize and Respond! No access
3. 1. How to Set Priorities and Plan Your Own Future No access
  2. Time Perspective: Short-Term and Long-Term No access
  3. The Challenge of Too Many Possibilities No access
  4. Navigating Choices: From Feeling Overwhelmed to Clear Focus No access
  5. Which Way Should I Go? Clarifying Your Path No access
  6. First Things First: Setting Priorities and Building Motivation No access
  7. The Interplay of Self-Management and Motivation No access
  8. Developing Cognitive and Behavioral Strategies No access
  9. Plan Analysis: Individualized Approach to Change No access
  10. What Can We Do to Put First Things First? No access
  11. Looking Towards the Future No access
  12. Effective Goal-Setting No access
  13. What Can We Do to Look Towards the Future? No access
  14. Getting Ready to Move No access
  15. What Can We Do to Get Ready to Move? No access
  16. Moving Forward No access
  17. What Can We Do to Move Forward? No access
  18. Overcoming Obstacles and Building Resilience No access
  19. What Can You Do as You Think About the Future? Be Confident and Remain Hopeful! No access
4. 1. How to Choose Among Several Options and Make Decisions No access
  2. Decisions: Considering Alternatives and Making Choices No access
  3. Looking at the Options No access
  4. What Can We Do to Look at the Options? No access
  5. Making Decisions: From Deliberation to Action No access
  6. What Can We Do to Make Good Decisions? No access
  7. Sorting Things Out: Gaining Orientation and Control No access
  8. Evaluating Progress and Adjusting Your Approach No access
  9. What Can We Do to Sort Things Out? No access
  10. Committing Yourself: Turning Decisions Into Action No access
  11. What Can We Do to Commit Ourselves? No access
  12. Coping Styles or Defensive Functioning: Understanding Our Psychological Defenses No access
  13. Overcoming Barriers to Self-Management No access
  14. Emotional Barriers and Dysfunctional Coping No access
  15. Sustaining Motivation and Preventing Burnout No access
  16. The Role of Self-Compassion in Self-Management No access
  17. What Can You Do to Make Up Your Mind? Consider Alternatives and Decide for Yourself! No access
5. 1. How to Do What Realistically Can Be Done and Act Effectively No access
  2. Bringing About Change – From Insight to Action No access
  3. Have the Courage to Act: Less Theory – More Action! No access
  4. The Practical Applications of Self-Management in Everyday Life No access
  5. Taking Responsibility for Yourself and Others No access
  6. What Can We Do to Accept Challenges? No access
  7. Making Things Happen No access
  8. What Can We Do to Make Things Happen? No access
  9. Being Realistic in Terms of Your Actions No access
  10. What Can We Do to Be Realistic in Terms of Our Actions? No access
  11. The Role of Self-Efficacy in Effective Self-Management No access
  12. The Interplay Between Motivation, Emotion, and Self-Regulation No access
  13. What Can We Do to Make a Difference Through Self-Efficacy? No access
  14. The Importance of Practice in Self-Management No access
  15. Refining Your Self-Management Approach No access
  16. What Can You Do to Start Moving? Focus on Your Tasks and Bring About Change! No access
1. Measuring Change Using the Self-Management Self-Test (SMST) No access
2. 1. Self-Management Competence No access
  2. Five Dimensions of Self-Management No access
  3. Constructing the Self-Management Self-Test (SMST) No access
  4. The SMST Validation Study No access
  5. Summary of the SMST Validation Study No access
3. How Does the SMST Compare to Other Scales and Questionnaires? No access
4. Critical Path Innovation Meeting (CPIM) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) No access
5. Copyright and Use of the Self-Management Self-Test (SMST) No access
References No access Pages 234 - 247
Index No access Pages 248 - 253