I would, but MY DAMN MIND won't let me!: a teen's guide to controlling their thoughts and feelings

by Jacqui Letran

It’s not just the stress...

or the constant frustration…

…it’s the nonstop doubt and unhappiness.

In today’s world of social media distortion, teens face their toughest challenges yet. The battlefield is in the mind and they’re not prepared for the fight.

There’s good news…

Teen Confidence Expert, Jacqui Letran, is here to help. With a Masters of Science in Nursing and more than 20-years of experience with young adults, she’s skilled at equipping teens with the tools they need to win the battle with their mind.

This book will teach you how to:

Change negative beliefs

Create positive self-talk & coping skills

Improve your self-esteem and self-confidence

Stay calm and in control, even in difficult situations

Make healthy decisions, achieve goals, and much, much more!

You’ll love this teen guide because the examples are real and will show you a quick and easy path to being a happy teen.


Get the award-winning book today to give yourself an unfair advantage in life!

Genres: Parenting, Self Help, Nonfiction, Teen, Mental Health

160 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 31, 2015

About the author

Jacqui Letran is an Award-Winning Author, Nurse Practitioner, and Teen Confidence Expert with over 20-years of experience guiding youth to optimal physical and mental health. Her multi-award-winning book series, Words of Wisdom for Teens has earned sixteen awards and is regarded as a "must-read" collection of books for teens and young adults struggling with low self-esteem, anxiety or depression.

Through her writing, client sessions, and keynote engagements, Jacqui teaches that success and happiness are achievable by everyone, regardless of current struggles and circumstances. Jacqui is a gifted and energetic leader who dedicates her life's work to help teens create a powerful and resilient mindset to be happy and successful in life.

An avid adventurer, Jacqui spends most of the year exploring the U.S. in her motorhome with her husband, 4 cats, and a dog. When not traveling, Jacqui can be found soaking up the sunshine and smiles in Dunedin, Florida.

You can connect with Jacqui at:
https://JacquiLetran.com
Author@JacquiLetran.com
https://facebook.com/JacquiLetran
Instagram: @JacquiLetran
https://LinkedIn.com/in/JacquiLetran


Jacqui's Literary Awards
2018 Readers Favorite Gold Medal, Young-Adult Social-Issues
2018 Literary Classics' Gold Medal for Young Adult Self-Esteem
2018 Literary Classics' Gold Medal for Young Adult Self-Help Books
2018 Top Shelf Indie Book Award Finalist
2018 The Author Show's Top Female Author Finalist
2018 Reader's Choice Award Finalist
2017 Nautilus Book Award Gold Medal, Young-Adult Non-Fiction
2017 Wishing Shelf Book Award Finalist
2017 Readers' Favorite Silver Medal, Young-Adult Social Issues
2017 Literary Classics' Gold Medal for Young Adult Self-Help Books
2017 Reader's Choice Award Finalist
2017 Kindle Book Award Finalist
2016 Literary Classics' Lumen Award for Literary Excellence, Young-Adult, Non-Fiction
2016 Literary Classics' Gold Medal for Youth Adult Non-Fiction
2016 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Award for Young Adult Non-Fiction

Reviews

[Toni Owen-Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t usually like self-help books, I’m one of those obnoxious infuriating types who folds their arms and obstinately goes ‘I don’t need to be told to slow down and love myself, people bleat that at me all the time. Bah Humbug.’ However, I saw this Damn Mind book had some great reviews, and I’ve been trying to open up to more things lately – so since the author was offering a book swap I thought it a perfect opportunity to try something new, and I’m really glad I did.

If I had a teenage daughter I would advise her to read it, it’s well thought out and everything is explained with metaphors so it’s more accessible no matter how you think, some of them even made me chuckle and as a visual person I was very grateful for the interjections. The first half of the book just breaks down in very conversational language how the mind works and how we recall things, and exactly where we can interject to try and improve our perspectives.

The second half of the book was dedicated to real stories from real teens (with name’s changed I’m assuming) with a short diagnosis on what exactly had happened in terms of the psychology of each case and a tip on at the end for how to alter your perspective of that particular anxiety. There was one case study for each of the main hang ups a teen may have “I’m not Good Enough/Worth/Loved/Safe” and what I liked about each of them is they’ve clearly been picked for their normality, in one of the cases there wasn’t even a trigger for the anxiety – it simply crept up on her. They were really accessible anecdotes, and I think most teens reading them could empathize and understand.

The author also shared her own less than perfect story, which I thought was a lovely touch. The reason I don’t usually go in for self-help is I find them preachy, and I didn’t think that once while reading this so big thumbs up for that.

The one thing I would say about it is the book is great at explaining, but I could have really done with some more examples of proactive exercises, because I liked the few that were there. I imagined myself being a teen reading this and just sitting there and thinking “Okay, I get it – my mind works this way – what am I supposed to do about it?!”. It’s also quite short, which is not a detriment to the book, I don’t think it would have benefited Damn Mind being any longer than it was – but depending on your perspective you might find the paperback copy a bit expensive for the length. To give you an idea I sat down and read it in a few hours.

While I’ve not been converted to self-help books this is definitely a book I will pass on and recommend – and not just to the teenage girls it’s aimed at, anyone can gain some accessible mindfulness from Damn Mind.

[Jeremy Reddig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must READ, and it's not just for teens!

When I read "The Unconscious mind always wins", I solidified my connection to this book and the author. She is credible and authoritative, and she truly understands that success comes from within as she has personally helped thousands of teens. My connection with the book started a couple pages in, because it relates to the book I wrote titled #ThePowerfulDay.

I wrote #ThePowerfulDay to share a method for living a healthy way of life on a daily basis.

This book, I would but my damn mind won't let me goes deeper into the conscious and unconscious mind and really helps people understand how to use their mind in a technical yet simple way.

The book is filled with plenty of examples that can literally be applied to the readers lives as they are reading. The book also contains clients stories and notes that are relatable. For instance, Like Hailey I get super anxious, except my anxiety stems from war.

Another client Steve connected to me, because I also got in an accident. I didn't have a problem driving afterward, instead my problem was drinking. I vowed to stop drinking, because I have a message to share with other veterans with a TBI and PTSD.

To sober up I joined AA and enrolled into an intensive outpatient recovery program. I was told to live one day at a time, but there was no clear way to live one day at a time in a healthy way. This led me on a journey to discover what that meant to me, and now I am living #ThePowerfulDay because my mind will now let me. Our "unconscious mind always wins" but when our conscious and unconscious mind work together we create a win-win situation.

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review can also be found in Chill and read


Today’s teens are heavy working people in terms of anxiety. The have specific standards to follow, figures to fit, friends and followers to impress and satisfy, that it makes sense when they cannot sort out everyday life.

Jacqui Letran comes to bring an answer to their questions on how to make their brain cooperate! Most common question these days is “Why Can’t You Just Control Yourself?” and teens are sick and tired of hearing it. It is not that they don’t want to, it is that they don’t know how! Letran believes that the key to do so, is to learn how the brain functions and through this exercise to learn also how to control it.

The 60-second reader is a good summary of what was previously discussed and analysed. This way the reader can easily keep the key most important points and move on. The real life examples were a nice touch too! Many readers will correlate, one way or another with the stories!

The book targets teens and parents that want their children to be happy, self confident, successful and positive thinking!

[Joseph Wolfgram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy to read, and packed with valuable information that will uplift, educate, and motivate any reader I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Jacqui Letran is a Nurse Practitioner with advanced training in Neuro Linguistic Programming and has many years of hands-on practical experience working with teens to assist them in overcoming many challenges. This teen self help book is written using real-life case studies that will resonate with readers of all ages, but speaks most specifically to teen girls who face real struggles. The knowledge they can gain through this simple, quick read can be life-changing - real lessons that can be applied immediately and used throughout a lifetime! Read it once and benefit right away, but I suggest re-reading it often until these time-proven invaluable teachings become a natural way of living life!

[Literary Classics Book Awards & Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Would, but My Damn Mind Won't Let Me!, by Jacqui Letran, is a book written to help young girls unlock the tools to overcome many of the mental hurdles which frequently present challenges for teens. Letran helps readers understand how the mind can often send confusing (and sometimes detrimental) signals as a means of protecting one's-self from pain. The author breaks down the root causes of many mental obstacles which can often seem insurmountable while providing solutions for long-term stability and happiness. Topics such as fear and self-doubt are addressed in a way which is profound in its simplicity.

While written for a young female audience, this book will appeal to readers of all ages and genders. I Would, but My Damn Mind Won't Let Me! is highly recommended for home, school and public libraries and for use in clinical settings.

[Sean Tompkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written guide to beginning to understand how to use cognitive therapy to overcome depression, anxiety, and develop good life skills. It's written so that both teens and adults can understand it, and gives very good explanations of both WHAT works and WHY. It's very simple first steps - it's not a complete guide - but explains things so well that I do recommend it for anyone dealing with these types of issues.

[LeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. The author's style is very easy to read and to the point. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about themselves and where their thoughts and feelings come from. I would love to see more case studies. Those were really interesting and helps me to understand the book even better.

[Anne Rainbow · Rating 5 out of 5]

As per my rview on amazon: I wish I'd read this 50 years ago. My inner child has a lot to learn!

[Réal Laplaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would, but my DAMN MIND won’t let me! by Jacqui Letran, is a brilliant piece of work, a simple, provocative and insightful education on the mind, how it works and how it affects our lives. Don’t let the title fool you, this is a serious and well-developed presentation, providing an understanding of the principles of the mind, and how our subconscious mind records our own beliefs, usually formed at a young age, and how these beliefs about ourselves and the world, can come back to haunt us in ways we could never have known. This is not a book just for those who have had traumas or bad experiences in their childhood or teens. As Letran so effectively shows, we all experience things in our lives and those experiences result in decisions, rightly or wrongly, about ourselves and others. Such hidden, but powerful life-changing thoughts, such as, “I am bad,” or “Something is wrong with me,” or “No one likes me,” or “I can never be happy in life,” have their roots in events which occurred in our lives, early on, and which the author shows can be brought to the surface and by doing so, put one in a position to change one’s entire outlook about life, happiness and success. The book also provides some actual case histories which further illuminate the principles offered in the first part of the book. Not only an excellent read, but a necessary one for anyone who feels they could do with a better grip on their lives, or for that matter, a better understanding of what might be affecting people or family or kids in one’s immediate circle. Give this book to your teenager to read – it will help them. Five stars is our rating.

[Janeen Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book every teen should read (and their parents too)! Ms. Letran does an excellent job of not only explaining how the teen brain functions, but what can be done about the barrage of emotion, self-limiting thought and confusion. She skillfully illustrates simple steps to transition any teen from self-depreciation to confidence, in a way that anyone can understand and immediately implement. I was especially impressed with her case studies, which I felt an instant connection to. Having raised two children, with three younger ones on the way toward puberty, I found this book to be an invaluable resource in helping my family navigate the emotional rollercoaster that is the teen mind. I would highly recommend this book to any teen parent, and most certainly to the teenagers themselves!

[Connie Huddleston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacqui Letran markets her books for teens. As I mother, I know from experience that the teen years are difficult for many. As I read Jacqui’s book for this review, I also saw how it might help may young adults and even older adults suffering from self doubt and depression. Jacqui’s book is much better than many self-help guides in that it provides direct instructions on how to change your thinking. With many teens being reluctant to or unable to obtain counseling, I believe this book can bring about positive changes to their lives. C.M. Huddleston, award-winning author of Greg’s First Adventure in Time and host of Monday Morning Indie.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Quick read, short and easy to read. I liked it because it helped me understand how my own mind works. I like the explanation given about the conscious and unconscious mind. I also liked case studies I can say that I related to each one in some way. I liked the tips she gives at the end of each case. Though she addresses the problem and makes suggestions on how to improve them I wish they were more tips and things one can do to improve those problems but I guess that would have to be in a different book. Overall is a good book.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written for teens but very relevant for adults of all ages. This self-help book opens your mind to all the possibilities available to you at your on control. A must-read for parents of teens, or anyone else, with anxiety or self-doubt. Long enough to get the point across, short enough not to overwhelm. Nice work Ms.Letran!

[Andie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Good info for anyone wanting to learn to reframe their thoughts. Not as brilliantly groundbreaking as I hoped, but useful.

[Carley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Would, But My Damn Won’t Let Me is a great book. There were many different aspects of the book that were helpful. It's informational, yet very entertaining which is why I enjoyed reading it so much. Letran did a great job of explaining everything with specific details and examples. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs some positive reinforcement in their lives. I give this book 5/5 stars. -Carley Underwood

[Lilly Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it’s written for teens, this still had a lot of god information for a 20 something!

[Deanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title and description had my hopes high but it didn’t land for me. While there are some helpful bits I would not recommend this to my clients or students.

Longer explanation-
When I read the title and synopsis of this book I was hopeful it would be an empathic and direct book that addressed anxiety and stress in teens in a way that spoke to teens in a way they would hear it.

The intro was mixed for me, some parts sounded promising but others sounded potentially minimizing. But the first real section was good. I appreciated the psychoeducation presented and while the CBT approach isn’t the best for all populations, I could see this being helpful for some adolescents.

But then Chapter 5 is where my disappointment started to set in. The primary example for this section was a goal of losing 10 lbs in x amount of days 😳 How does an expert in adolescents think this example is okay during a period of life that is fraught with self-esteem issues, body dysphoria and high rates of disordered eating !? And the way she spoke about it truly felt like she was promoting this goal, not focusing on health but a focus on the number on the scale. One suggestion she made was losing one lb at a time….

I wanted to think it was just an mis step by someone who needs some additional education in this area.

But there were other examples that just felt 😬 to me. Her example of forgiving an abusive dad was so off base. It might have worked for this girl but there are so many layers to healing wounds like this and the way it was presented, especially in a book written with adolescent readers, it felt like it would be emotionally harmful to many adolescents who did grow up in abusive homes and don’t need to feel pushed to forgive their abusers. And other just minimizing examples.

Speaking of audience, the presentation felt messy. Parts felt like it was aimed at adolescents as the audience other parts were focused on case studies and progress notes which felt more aimed at other professionals.

Anyways this is one of my longer reviews and for a short book but I reviewed it right away while it was all fresh in mind.


Chapter 5 weight loss
Forgive abusive father
Session notes

Happier improved
Once he found out adopted he started to believe… so simolified

[Gayle Pace · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS
Being a teen can be the worse time in their lives, or they think it is. Things are changing so much. Physically, mentally, emotionally, they are being faced with so much pressure. They don't understand what is happening and don't know how to deal with it. They feel that life is so against them along with their parents and everyone around them. They are faced with difficult choices and so much peer pressure. They feel they can't and never will be happy.

Ms. Letran has written an easy to read and understand book how teens, or for that matter, anyone, can learn to face those struggles and come out on top. This book isn't just for teens but adults can gain from reading this also. I'm usually not one for self help books. Seems like everyone is an expert on everything, but Ms. Letran has hit the nail on the head with this one. She shows that old ways of thinking can be changed and it's not so hard to do. She shows that to be happy comes from within a person, not from dependence on others, but purely and simply, yourself. You have to take control of your mind. Now that sounds almost impossible but it can be done. Ms. Letran helps with controlling the bad thoughts and using positive thinking in it's place. I found the book helpful since I have severe anxiety and panic attacks. I know that it's all in the way I approach and think of things. It sometimes isn't as easy to change all of that as it may appear. Changing the bad thoughts and the way you think about things needs to start young. As you grow older, your thinking and attitude sometimes is set through the years and it's harder to change, but it can be done. Everything you hold dear, your entire life, is in the power of your thinking. So if you're an adult or a teen who wants to take control of their thinking, grab a copy of this book and give it a try. You may be surprised.

I received a copy of this book from the author and PUYB and voluntarily decided to review it.

[Ally Fell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not normally drawn to nonfiction titles, but after reading this one, I would recommend it to anyone who wants to understand more about how their brain and conscience work, and how to thus control them. It’s written with a younger audience in mind, with the intention to teach them how to handle their emotions; the second person perspective speaks directly to them, teaching about what they are going through and providing a helping hand. Rather than a textbook or lofty scientific journal, the book speaks to the audience as a friend.
Fortunately, it avoids being too dry, as many informative nonfiction novels are. Largely, it accomplishes this by providing a compilation of information, easy-to-read lists, and exercises. While there are some dry facts to understand, they are split up and made more comprehendible by the audience-friendly format. This is a book for the masses, and ideally this style will make the book more accessible for young teens who are trying to understand how this whole conscience thing works. It will also open it up to adults who may not be inclined towards medical or scientific research but are still interested in understanding how the brain works.
Overall, it’s an undoubtedly interesting read that sheds some light on how our human brains work. It does so by creating simple versions of complex answers, but not so simple that the reader feels like a handheld child.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: I would but my DAMN MIND won’t let me!
Author: Jacqui Letran
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 17 readers:
17 would read another book by this author.
17 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
17 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘her knowledge of the subject’.
17 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘This book is all about being positive. I thought it was fab!’ Girl, aged 14
‘There is really good advice in here for teenagers. A lot of adults seem to forget how tough it can be. But this author seems to understand. I loved how the author is trying to empower young people to get control and be successful.’ Boy, aged 15
‘This is a complex subject, but this author is fantastic at simplifying things and helping teenagers to understand where they are and how to get to where they want to be.’ Girl, aged 16
‘Well-written and really interesting. I think it might go down best with teenage girls but who knows. I enjoyed it anyway. It made me think.’ Girl, aged 15

To Sum It Up:
‘Any teenager with low self-esteem should read this book. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Mayo Chilk · Rating 1 out of 5]

I WOULD GIVE THIS BOOK 0 STARS IF I COULD
This book gave terrible advice on how to help yourself. This is the stereotypical self-help book that gives you useless philosophical advice that's more useless that the advice your grandpa would give you while he's sitting in his bed in the retirement home high on meds for his 50 different health conditions. You know that type of useless advice that's somehow both about the "good old days", as in when your grandpa was young(back when the dinosaurs existed) and also so old and useless. Some Sh** like "Back when I was a kid, we used to actually help and respect our parents and earn everything we had, but nowadays you kids all sit at home on your-what are those called-those box things with the little characters that make me go deaf- oh yeah your pee stations, and do nothing but disrespect your parents." You know, the type if advice that criticizes you, is outdated, and doesn't help you at all. Yeah, exactly. I swear this book gave me flashbacks back to when I had barely any eyebrows, those ugly-a** haircuts, and wore clothes that would look better on a fu***** giraffe. That was how much this book made me cringe. If you want your teenage daughter to stop telling you things, then, by all means, please give them this terrible excuse for a self-help book. And enjoy living your miserable lives.

[CathyAyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I previewed this book to see if it would be good for my teen son. It definitely is, but it's also good for adults. I like the way the author explains the concepts of neuropsychology in a very understandable, but not overly simplistic, format.

After first educating about the concepts of the conscious and subconscious mind, belief systems, and how to changes those, she present four cases of teens confronting major emotional issues and how the concepts above were used to help them identify the source of their difficulties and confront and make changes to those.

It also was a relatively short book and a quick read, so not too onerous. The only thing that would make this better for me/my son is if were in an audio version. He really resist reading but will listen to audiobooks. I'm hoping he'll listen to/let me read this to him because I think he'll discover some real truths in it.

[Candice Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would highly recommend this book to all young women. This book stands out from other self-improvement books because it is an easy read and provides a clear message with examples. If you put it's message into action, this book that will have an impact on your thinking and your life.

Harnessing the power of your mind can be an abstract and elusive concept. Jacqui's writing style makes you feel like you're having a conversation with her, and her words guide you like a trusted friend.

If you have any questions while reading the book, I can say from experience that Jacqui is easy to contact and is passionate about helping young women grow. Read her book and follow her on Facebook - she is the inspiration that you need!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really appreciated that the guidance in this book was so straightforward and easy to apply to everyday life. Letran offered simple steps for calming your mind and reprogramming it to recognize strengths instead of faults. The 60-second reader was a great way to recap and save the points of each section, and overall the book felt fluid and well-organized. Occasionally I wanted more details, such as with the concept of scrambling memories, but overall I would recommend this book to those who are interested in learning how the mind affects your perceptions of stress and other emotions.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.

[Anonymous · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice breakdown of basic psychology and tips to help promote a healthier, less anxious life. The author has a way of making everything relatable and easy to read, while remaining positive and uplifting. This self-help book is geared toward teens, but it contains information and helpful tips that would benefit anyone who is suffering from anxieties or negative thoughts.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wished this book was out when I was a teenager! With what teens go through in today's society this book is a great tool to read and use in everyday life! Well written with great information! If you're teen won't read it I suggest all parents read this book to help with raising teens. I know that this book has been very resourceful for myself and my husband with raising our own teens!

[Rara Siregar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is highly recommended for every young adults. I like how Jacqui Letran choose the words. it's very easy to read and understand. I think this is the best book with an easy way to make up every teens mind! I adore you, Jacqui!

[Brianna York · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great self help book aimed at teens but helpful to me as well! A lot of my adult angst stems from teenaged insecurities and this book really helped suggest methods to handle these misconceptions and to deal with the past from a new and better perspective.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up for my daughter and decided to read it as well. The language and writing style are concise and appropriate for teenagers. There are helpful suggestions and relevant analogies throughout the book. I believe it will help teens work through self doubt and low self esteem.

[Susie Post-Rust · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was great in the way it distinguished between our conscious and unconscious mind. It is written for teens, and my teen would be better off if he would read it!