You Are What You Say The Proven Program that Uses the Power of Language to Combat Stress, Anger, and Depression

Dr. Budd presents the principles of this powerful, scientifically validated program, which weaves together ancient and modern insights into human behavior, neurophysiology, language, and spirituality. Indeed, you are what you say; your words play a major role in determining, not just reflecting, your health and well-being. Identifying the "Ten Linguistic Viruses" that damage health, Dr. Budd shows how to combat the ravages of anger, perfectionism, depression, anxiety, and many chronic-stress related ailments by changing what you say to yourself and others.For example, you'll learn to communicate more effectively through Requests (and get the other person to commit to a response); Promises you can honor (by not pledging more than you can deliver); Declarations (to inform others of your true feelings); Assessments (in which you make judgments); and Assertions (statements for which you can provide evidence).Tests at the beginning of the book help you assess how your thoughts and feelings are affecting your health. Each chapter introduces a key principle of Dr. Budd's program supported by real-life examples, followed by exercises proven to help readers put principles into action. Tests at the end will help you see how much your health, with your language, has improved.

Matthew Budd, M.D., for twenty years assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, was the architect for the first Behavioral Medicine department at the Harvard Community Health Plan and the developer of the revolutionary Ways to Wellness program, which is now marketed nationally as the Personal Health Improvement Program. His work has been featured on National Public Radio, in The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times, and in numerous articles in the medical literature. He lives in Boston with his wife, Rosalind, and his dogs, Otto and Zeke.

Larry Rothstein, Ed.D., is a leading collaborator on self-help books, including Joan Borysenko's Minding the Body, Mending the Mind. He lives in Boston.