The Green-Eyed Goblin. Kay Al-Ghani

      The

      Green-Eyed

      Goblin

      What to do about jealousy – for all children

       including those on the Autism Spectrum

      K.I. Al-Ghani

      Illustrated by Haitham Al-Ghani

      Jessica Kingsley Publishers

       London and Philadelphia

      First published in 2017

      by Jessica Kingsley Publishers

      73 Collier Street

      London N1 9BE, UK

      and

      400 Market Street, Suite 400

      Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

       www.jkp.com

      Copyright © K.I. Al-Ghani 2017

      Illustrations copyright © Haitham Al-Ghani 2017

      Cover illustration by Haitham Al-Ghani

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying, storing in any medium by electronic means or transmitting) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the law or under terms of a licence issued in the UK by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. www.cla.co.uk or in overseas territories by the relevant reproduction rights organisation, for details see www.ifrro.org. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.

      Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.

      Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

      A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress

      British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

      A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

      ISBN 978 1 78592 091 2

      eISBN 978 1 78450 352 9

      This book is dedicated to

       the memory of a dear husband and devoted

       father, Ahmed Mohammed Al-Ghani

      Introduction

      Of all human emotions, jealousy has to be the most negative, the most destructive and the most difficult to control and conquer. Everyone – young and old, typical and atypical – has been visited by the Green-Eyed Goblin.

      His effect on our psyche is unmistakable – a growing feeling of unhappiness and discontent descends, then the green mist exuded by the Green-Eyed Goblin begins to thicken and cloud our judgement. If we succumb to his poison, he can define how we feel about ourselves and how much happiness we can enjoy in life.

      The Green-Eyed Goblin reminds us of something we don’t have or are in danger of losing. This could be success, a special relationship, a talent or, more simplistically, the latest car, telephone or pair of shoes.

      The Green-Eyed Goblin may awaken when we have something dear and become increasingly concerned by the threat of losing it. The “it” could be the love or admiration of a mother,

       father, husband, wife, friend, boyfriend, girlfriend or work colleague. He arises from

       our fear of comparison and can make us feel like a lesser person, and so we begin

       to think obsessively about our imperfections or shortcomings. This

       can then lead to a loss of self-esteem, and general unhappiness.

      In children, the Green-Eyed Goblin can quickly turn into anger

       and hatred; in adults, he may manifest as an overwhelming

       sense of suspicion. In extreme cases,

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