Good books about anxiety
The 12 Best Books About Anxiety of 2022
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We polled experts on their favorite books for managing anxiety, from the classics to more unorthodox approaches. Here’s what they said.
When it comes to anxiety, the more tools in your toolkit, the better. There can be enormous comfort in knowing that a single book contains decades of research and wisdom, delivered in a practical, easy-to-access format.
Whether you flip to a random page or go chapter by chapter, books can be an excellent way to learn more about anxiety, develop life-changing coping skills, and help you navigate those tough moments — no matter where you are.
- Best overall: Unwinding Anxiety
- Best workbook: The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook
- Best for social anxiety: Essential Strategies for Social Anxiety
- Best-selling: Unf*ck Your Brain
- Best for meditation: Practicing Mindfulness
- Best therapist-recommended: Mind Over Mood
- Best for hard times: When Things Fall Apart
- Best for children: What To Do When You Worry Too Much
- Best for teens: Conquer Anxiety Workbook for Teens
- Best for creatives: Big Magic
- Best for parents of young kids: The Opposite of Worry
- Best for parents of teens: Helping Your Anxious Teen
Anxiety is the most common mental health concern in America. It affects at least 18% of U.S. adults, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA).
There’s a difference between feeling anxious and having an anxiety disorder, although some symptoms can overlap. Some common anxiety disorders include:
- generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- panic disorder
- phobias
- social anxiety disorder (SAD)
Plus, some conditions used to be categorized as anxiety disorders but are now considered separate conditions, including:
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
When to see a doctor about your anxiety
Anxiety exists on a spectrum. While the books in this list are excellent, some people may find that they need additional support to manage symptoms.
If anxiety is significantly affecting your quality of life, consider reaching out to a professional you trust to co-create the best treatment plan for you.
The book options on anxiety appear to be endless. With so many titles floating around the self-help space, we tailored our list based on a few key factors:
- price
- user reviews
- author qualifications
- science-backed strategies
- therapist recommendations
Plus, all products have been vetted to ensure that they meet Psych Central’s medical, editorial, and business standards.
A note on price
General price ranges with dollar signs ($ to $$) are indicated below. One dollar sign means the product is lower-priced, whereas two dollar signs indicate a higher price range.
Prices for the physical format, most commonly paperback, were used for the price comparison. Most of the books also have Kindle and audio editions, which may slightly increase or decrease the price.
Pricing guide:
- $ = under or at $20
- $$ = over $20
Best overall
Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind
- Price: $
- Format: hardcover, Kindle, audiobook
If it’s written by a neuroscientist, you know it ought to be good.
With mindfulness at the core of the message, this book breaks down 20 years of research into a practical format, so you can truly understand why your brain does what it does.
From there, empirically based practices can help you “unwind” your anxiety and unlearn any unhelpful habits you may have picked up to cope with stress (hey, it happens to the best of us).
Why we chose it
The author, Judson Brewer, MD, PhD not only impresses with his credentials and academic background, he also knows what it’s like to live with anxiety. This book offers a relatable mix of personal anecdotes, step-by-step guidance, and success stories from his lab.
What we like
- easy-to-absorb language
- based on the latest research
- incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
What to look out for
- some research involves animal studies, which may distress some people
Get at Amazon
Best workbook
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook
- Price: $$
- Format: paperback, Kindle
Managing anxiety takes skills and tools, and this 30-year classic is all about both.
“This is an excellent read for the individual who wishes to learn not only about symptom relief and skills to implement in daily life, but the origins of anxiety disorders and how a holistic approach can lead to remarkable change and recovery,” says Karolina Pekala, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in New York. “It’s an ideal book for a motivated person.”
Why we chose it
This book offers a comprehensive, holistic approach to help you approach anxiety from multiple directions — from specific exercises to more general lifestyle adjustments. It provides the “why” as well as the “how-to” for those who are ready to take action.
What we like
- therapist-recommended
- breathing and relaxation strategies
- tips for nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness
What to look out for
- some users feel that it reads like a textbook
Get at Amazon
Essential Strategies for Social Anxiety: Practical Techniques to Face Your Fears, Overcome Self-Doubt, and Thrive
- Price: $
- Format: paperback, Kindle
If you were not socially anxious before, 2020 may have changed all that.
Even the bravest among us may find it difficult to give a presentation, ask a stranger for help, or speak up on a first date — especially now. For any of those everyday scenarios, and more, this book is a good option to help you work through your fears.
Think science-backed strategies, real-life examples, and tools to help you push through your limits and build confidence. We’re here for it.
Why we chose it
Many titles on anxiety are centered around CBT, an important starting point. But as a bonus, this book incorporates elements from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), to help bridge the gap between your knowledge and the application of that knowledge (i.e., taking real, concrete action).
What we like
- short, yet comprehensive
- written by a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT)
- sections are easily identified, as they’re organized by color
What to look out for
- some exposure therapy exercises may be intimidating for some
Get at Amazon
Best-selling
Unf*ck Your Brain: Getting Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers with Science (5-Minute Therapy)
- Price: $
- Format: paperback, Kindle, audiobook, audio CD
This is not your typical self-help book, though you could probably already tell that from the title.
This book explores the root causes of anxiety, particularly how it’s tied to PTSD. If regular mental health content makes it difficult to hold your attention, this book’s science-and-swearing combo may be the magic formula to help keep you engaged.
Why we chose it
When anxiety takes over your life, it can feel serious and overwhelming. The last thing you may want is to read dry, clinical content that’s difficult to absorb. This book, at least, can help generate some much-needed laughs and comic relief as part of the healing process.
What we like
- easy read
- relatable examples
- written by a licensed professional counselor
What to look out for
- some readers may find casual language style over the top
Get at Amazon
Best for meditation
Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday
- Price: $
- Format: paperback, Kindle, audiobook
Research shows that meditation is effective for reducing symptoms of anxiety.
But if the idea of simply setting a timer and listening to your thoughts sounds intimidating, you’re not alone. We could all use a little guidance sometimes — and that’s where this book comes in.
The exercises in this book range from 5 to 15 minutes, the perfect amount of time to hold your attention if you’re newer to meditation or need a quick dose of calm in your busy schedule.
Why we chose it
Apart from the sheer variety of meditations available, we chose this book because it has more than 6,000 reviews. Readers describe this content as practical, well-formatted, and a handy resource you can use again and again.
What we like
- great for those on the go
- accessible for beginners to meditation
- can be used as a reference-style book (open up to a random page)
What to look out for
- some users find it distracting to have to read the meditation instructions while trying to meditate
Get at Amazon
Best therapist-recommended
Mind Over Mood, Second Edition: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think
- Price: $$
- Format: paperback, hardcover, e-textbook
A favorite in the therapy community, this book has been printed 1.
2 million times so far.
“I have guided patients through these activities many times,” says Lori Ryland, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
“They are easy to use and provide a framework for activities to help reduce anxiety,” she says. “There is an introductory session to each section which makes it very easy for someone to use the information in a self-help process.”
Why we chose it
Numerous worksheets throughout the book mean that you can get to work on the skills you learn about right away. Then, you can review your work at the end and see just how far you’ve come in a short period of time.
What we like
- exercises like gratitude journaling and emotion-rating scales
- incorporates mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy
- addresses anxiety along with depression, anger, and low self-esteem
What to look out for
- may not dig deep enough for certain mental health conditions
Get at Amazon
Best for hard times
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
- Price: $
- Format: paperback, hardcover, Kindle, audiobook
If anxiety is keeping you locked out of the present moment, this book may be your key back home to the now.
Each chapter is only six pages, so you can digest each concept a little at a time. Read it once, then read it again to glean a new pearl of wisdom in a sentence you’ve already visited. Somehow the words feel appropriate for so many, no matter the circumstance.
Why we chose it
At times, it can be helpful to look at ailments from a different worldview. In this case, the Buddhist lens universalizes anxiety, so you feel less alone. It may also offer a greater sense of meaning as you move through life’s many challenges.
What we like
- down-to-earth, realistic view
- suitable for all belief systems
- approachable Buddhist wisdom
What to look out for
- some users say the printed font is too small
- audible version may be too slow-paced for some
Get at Amazon
Best for children
What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety
- Price: $
- Format: paperback, library binding, Kindle
When kids don’t have the language to talk about anxiety, relatable metaphors can help.
This book talks about anxiety in an approachable way to help children accept its presence and establish parameters around it, like putting anxious thoughts into a “worry box.”
Consider introducing at least one chapter a week and using this book to open up the conversation about worry and fear. Though, to be fair, with all the engaging drawings and puzzles in this book, your child may just want to go through it at a much quicker pace.
Why we chose it
Anxiety can be a tricky concept to break down for anyone, especially young children. This book won a gold National Parenting Publications Award for the author’s ability to translate complex scientific information into digestible, kid-friendly content.
What we like
- easy, engaging layout
- interactive self-help book
- suitable for ages 6 to 12 years
What to look out for
- “worry monster” metaphor may be distressing for some children
Get at Amazon
Best for teens
Conquer Anxiety Workbook for Teens: Find Peace from Worry, Panic, Fear, and Phobias
- Price: $
- Format: paperback, spiral-bound, Kindle
Being a teenager is hard enough as it is, without all the extra stresses of life.
But in America, 25% of children between the ages of 13 and 18 years have an anxiety disorder, according to the ADAA.
This workbook may help. It tackles worry with a three-pronged approach:
- education about what anxiety does to the mind
- education about how anxiety affects your body
- workbook exercises like goal lists, quizzes, and reflections to help channel nervous energy in a positive and useful way
Why we chose it
Since teenagers often feel alone, it can be helpful to hear from someone who “gets it.” The author uses relatable examples and language geared toward young adults to encourage them to do the exercises.
What we like- written by a clinical psychologist
- suitable for teens and adults alike
- content features comments from teenagers
- some families may need to do this workbook together, if a teen is having a hard time focusing on content
Get at Amazon
Best for creatives
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
- Price: $
- Format: paperback, hardcover, Kindle, audiobook
If anxiety is preventing you from taking a leap of faith in your creative life, this book may just be the smooth literary tonic to assuage your fears.
“Gilbert does an amazing job of helping readers understand that we will always encounter our deepest fears on the path toward our biggest dreams,” says Hailey Shafir, a licensed clinical mental health counselor in Raleigh, North Carolina.
“When we know to expect this encounter, we are more prepared for it,” she says. “Gilbert does a great job of talking about how creativity and passion can help people overcome fears they may encounter in both their personal and professional lives.”
Why we chose it
Unlike other books that offer the “how,” this book explores your “why.” It’s witty, fun, motivating, and suitable to read chapter to chapter, or by flipping to a random page for a quick burst of inspiration.
What we like
- short, concise chapters
- personal and historical anecdotes
- may be life changing for perfectionists
What to look out for
- non-instructional (it’s more motivational in tone)
Get at Amazon
Best for parents of young kids
The Opposite of Worry: The Playful Parenting Approach to Childhood Anxieties and Fears
- Price: $
- Format: paperback, Kindle, audiobook
It’s never easy for a parent to see a child live with anxiety.
If you’re unsure about how to comfort them, this book may be a good place to start. Not only will you learn how to manage your own anxiety, but you’ll receive effective guidance on how to talk to them in a way that feels lighthearted yet informative (an excellent combination).
Geared toward children ages 3 to 15, this book is meant to help your children develop confidence and lay the groundwork for positive coping skills as they age.
Why we chose it
The exercises are practical but have an undercurrent of fun and play. According to the reviews, it can also help you to see anxiety through your child’s eyes, so you can better support them.
What we like
- easy to read
- fun, playful exercises
- can address multiple childhood fears
What to look out for
- may not be sufficient if your child has severe anxiety
Get at Amazon
Best for parents of teensHelping Your Anxious Teen: Positive Parenting Strategies to Help Your Teen Beat Anxiety, Stress and Worry
- Price: $
- Format: paperback, Kindle, audiobook
Being a parent to a teenager can be challenging enough, without throwing anxiety into the mix.
If you’re wondering how to tread that fine line between enabling them and supporting them, you’re not alone. This book can instruct you on how to teach your kids that while you can’t exactly do the work for them, you can help them help themselves by building confidence and distress tolerance.
The content is straightforward and easy to read, all based on CBT techniques.
Why we chose it
The book is organized into different chapters related to common issues that teens may experience. That way, you can flip to the section and exercises that feel the most relevant to your child — from addressing panic to perfectionism.
What we like
- includes “what not to do” guidance
- suitable for helping teens ages 13 to 19
- sample communication scripts to help you talk to your child
What to look out for
- some readers find the content to be a bit repetitive
Get at Amazon
If we could, we’d include hundreds of book titles in this article.
In case you didn’t find one that resonated with you, here’s how to expand your search for the right book.
Helpful techniques
Understanding anxiety on a cognitive level is helpful, but doing “the work” may help you reach your goals faster. We suggest exploring books that have an action component, like hands-on exercises, strategies, tools, and techniques to cope.
Scientific evidence
It’s best to look for content rooted in well-proven therapy techniques for anxiety, like:
- acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- mindfulness
Writer credentials
You may find it helpful to look for authors with a background in psychology. Some buzzwords include:
- clinical psychologist (PsyD and PhD)
- licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
- licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT)
- marriage, family, and child counselor (MFCC)
- psychiatrist (MD or DO)
What are natural ways to deal with anxiety?
Anxiety treatment looks different for everyone.
You may find it useful to try a combination of approaches to see which ones work best for you.
Some natural ways to promote relaxation include:
- aromatherapy
- deep breathing
- grounding exercises
- progressive muscle relaxation
- yoga
You can also make lifestyle adjustments that promote emotional regulation, like:
- getting 8 hours of sleep
- eating a balanced diet
- connecting with your support network
- maintaining an appropriate work-life balance
If you’d like to learn more about natural treatments for anxiety, consider reading our in-depth article.
Still, keep in mind that if your anxiety is significantly affecting your quality of life, natural and alternative methods may not be enough. In this case, it may be a good idea to reach out to a mental health professional.
What are the signs of anxiety?
Some of the most common symptoms of anxiety include:
- feelings of fear or dread
- difficulty focusing
- digestive distress
- increased heart rate
- quickened breathing
- racing thoughts
- shortness of breath
- sweating
If you’d like to learn more about anxiety, Psych Central’s anxiety resource hub may help.
Do self-help books for anxiety actually work?
Self-help books can be an excellent complement to your overall treatment plan.
They can offer:
- actionable tips
- practical exercises
- psychoeducation
- resources for further treatment
With that said, self-help books alone may not be enough to help you manage your symptoms, depending on your level of anxiety and how much it’s interfering with your overall quality of life.
We recommend that you still work with a professional to examine the underlying causes of your anxiety, receive an accurate diagnosis, and experience regular support to help you cope.
If you’re feeling anxious right now, you may feel isolated in your experience, but know that you’re not alone.
There are countless books on anxiety that can assist you on your journey (including our favorites on this list), providing important tools, tips, and resources that you can carry with you everywhere you go.
With that said, books are not and cannot be a substitute for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. You may find it helpful to reach out to a professional who can help you take that next step.
The Best 13 Books About Anxiety
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- Best overall anxiety book: At Last a Life
- Best for cognitive behavioral therapy: Dare
- Best for mindfulness: Declutter Your Mind
- Best for humor: Hardcore Self Help: F**k Anxiety
- Best for the latest research: The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook
- Best for actionable lifestyle tips: The Anti-Anxiety Food Solution
- Best for historical information: My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind
- Best for relational advice: The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You
- Best for personal stories: From Panic to Power: Proven Techniques to Calm Your Anxieties, Conquer Your Fears, and Put You in Control of Your Life
- Best for specific techniques: Hope and Help for Your Nerves
- Best for learning about medication: When Panic Attacks
- Best workbook: Panic Attacks Workbook: A Guided Program for Beating the Panic Trick
- Best for in-depth understanding: The Anxiety and Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution
Anxiety comes in many forms and can affect people in different ways.
If you’re dealing with anxiety, you’re definitely not alone. It’s the most common mental health issue facing Americans. Anxiety affects 40 million adults in the United States, which is about 18 percent of the population.
Types of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, panic disorder, and specific phobias.
Anyone living with anxiety knows it can have a direct effect on your quality of life. The good news is that anxiety, in all its forms, is treatable.
The most common treatments for anxiety are psychotherapy, stress management techniques, medication, and aerobic exercise. There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment. You may find yourself combining techniques to manage symptoms.
Self-help books can be a good way for you to learn about new techniques or try things that have worked well for others. The books below offer a variety of constructive ways to tackle anxiety symptoms from different perspectives.
The books on this list were chosen because of the tools and techniques they recommend for curbing anxiety.
Some books listed were written by doctors and professionals in mental health, while others were written by people who have experienced and overcome anxiety firsthand.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $12
- $$ = $12–$15
- $$$ = over $15
Best overall
At Last a Life
Price: $$$
When you’re going through long-term panic and anxiety, it can feel like you’ve lost control of your life. Seeing a future free from anxiety may seem hard to envision.
Author Paul David wrote “At Last a Life” to share his story of recovery and provide hope for others that it’s possible to regain your life. The book is based on a combination of his personal story, as well as research he’s done on anxiety.
Pros
- includes both personal stories and science-backed research
- many reviews state the book has been life-changing
Cons
- much higher price point than other books
Shop now at Amazon
Best for cognitive behavioral therapy
Dare
Price: $$$
Author Barry McDonagh asks readers to “dare” anxiety to do its worst.
This book focuses on facing anxious thoughts — and challenging them — instead of feeding into them or trying to ignore them.
McDonagh’s technique is based on scientific evidence and his 10 years of helping people with anxiety. The book also comes with a free app and audiobook to use for relaxation and anxiety relief.
Pros
- based on scientific evidence
- comes with free app and audiobook
Cons
- reviewers say the book is a simplified version of cognitive behavioral theory (CBT), with no new information
Shop now at Amazon
Best for mindfulness
Declutter Your Mind
Price: $$
You’ve heard how helpful decluttering your living space can be. “Declutter Your Mind” applies this same philosophy to your mental space, with the idea that negative and anxious thoughts take up valuable mental real estate.
The book focuses on teaching you mindfulness by reframing your negative thoughts.
It uses techniques to allow you to be present in the moment and take control of your thought process.
Pros
- great for people interested in mindfulness
- quick read
Cons
- some users found that the writing isn’t very engaging
Shop now at Amazon
Best for humor
Hardcore Self Help: F**k Anxiety
Price: $
If you’re not into traditional self-help books and want to tell anxiety to eff off, “Hardcore Self Help: F**k Anxiety” may be the read for you.
The book’s philosophy is that reading a self-help book shouldn’t feel like a chore. In the book, author Robert Duff speaks candidly and weaves swearing and humor throughout the information and actionable tips.
Pros
- entertaining to read
- has a sequel related to depression
Cons
- short and not particularly in-depth
Shop now at Amazon
Best for the latest research
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook
Price: $$$
Facing anxiety takes work.
Without a guide, many of us don’t know where to start. “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook” is exactly what the title suggests.
This workbook is designed to help you learn tools and skills to manage anxiety symptoms effectively. Written by a cognitive behavioral therapist, the workbook is based on current clinical research on anxiety and its treatment.
Pros
- written by a cognitive behavioral therapist
- revised and updated for 2020 to focus on the latest research
Cons
- pricier than comparable options
Shop now at Amazon
Best for actionable lifestyle tips
The Anti-Anxiety Food Solution
Price: $$$
An unbalanced diet can have effects on more than cholesterol and blood pressure. As “The Anti-Anxiety Food Solution” suggests, foods also impact brain chemistry and emotions.
The book offers tips on how to eat more nutrients and reduce cravings. There are also lifestyle tips for how to reduce anxiety symptoms and how the food we eat plays a role in those symptoms.
Pros
- provides actionable tips for lifestyle and diet
- written by a nurse
Cons
- information seems to be largely based on two other popular books
Shop now at Amazon
Best for historical information
My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind
Price: $
Anxiety can be a deeply personal experience. Many people experience it in different ways.
Author Scott Stossel draws on his own personal journey with anxiety to explore the condition’s history. He also offers the opinions of scientists, philosophers, and other writers.
In addition to recalling the many treatments — including some strange ones — that were developed to relieve anxiety, “My Age of Anxiety” also provides personal stories of people who’ve found success in controlling their symptoms.
Pros
- shares personal stories with an honest and frank tone of voice
- well-researched, with science-backed information
Cons
- described as a “history lesson” by some reviewers
Shop now at Amazon
Best for relational advice
The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You
Price: $
If others have described you as “too sensitive” or “too shy,” according to psychotherapist Elaine Aron, PhD, you might be a highly sensitive person.
Aron’s book, “The Highly Sensitive Person,” is designed to help you recognize these traits and understand them to improve your life and personal relationships.
Her perspective comes from a place of understanding, since Aron herself identifies as a highly sensitive person.
Pros
- written by a psychotherapist who self-identifies as a highly sensitive person
- includes actionable takeaways
Cons
- the research feels lacking and may be out of date
Shop now at Amazon
Best for personal stories
From Panic to Power: Proven Techniques to Calm Your Anxieties, Conquer Your Fears, and Put You in Control of Your Life
Price: $
Panic attacks can leave you feeling powerless and out of control.
In her book “From Panic to Power,” author Lucinda Bassett shares how she personally used techniques to manage anxiety and reclaim power over her life.
She offers skills and methods to help you respond to anxious thoughts and negative self-talk.
Pros
- based on the author’s personal experience
- has sold over 72,000 hardcover copies
Cons
- reviewers do not feel the book contains enough helpful advice and resources
Shop now at Amazon
Best for specific techniques
Hope and Help for Your Nerves
Price: $—$$$
The physical symptoms caused by anxiety may seem minor to people who’ve never experienced them. But to people who live with anxiety daily, they can make a big difference in quality of life.
The late Dr. Claire Weekes drew on her years of helping patients with anxiety to offer step-by-step guidance. “Hope and Help for Your Nerves” teaches you techniques for analyzing and understanding your own anxiety so you can focus on management and relief.
Pros
- walks you through techniques to help minimize anxiety
- covers many specific scenarios that are common for people with anxiety
Cons
- information and research may be outdated
Shop now at Amazon
Best for learning about medication
When Panic Attacks
Price: $$
Anxious thoughts can be pretty deceitful.
They’re not actually grounded in reality, but they feel so legitimate when you’re having them.
“When Panic Attacks” aims to help you recognize and confront your anxious thoughts.
Dr. David Burns is a believer in treating anxiety without medication. He also shares the latest research on anxiety and depression medications and why he feels they may sometimes do more harm than good.
Pros
- provides 40 helpful techniques to help anxiety
- includes workbook-style surveys and questions
Cons
- research may be outdated
Shop now at Amazon
Best workbook
Panic Attacks Workbook: A Guided Program for Beating the Panic Trick
Price: $$$
Panic attacks can be downright terrifying if you don’t know what’s happening. Even after you’ve become familiar with them, they can still make you feel out of control and helpless.
The “Panic Attacks Workbook” is designed to help you understand panic attacks and break the cycle of anxious responses leading to them.
It uses charts and worksheets to help you literally work through recovery.
Pros
- clearly explains how panic attacks work
- utilizes charts and worksheets
Cons
- may not apply to people with generalized anxiety
Shop now at Amazon
Best for in-depth understanding
The Anxiety and Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution
Price: $$
CBT has been proven as one of the most effective treatments for anxiety.
Dr. Aaron T. Beck, a clinician researcher, and David A. Clark, PhD, cognitive behavior therapy expert, have put the CBT techniques used by therapists into a workbook for you.
“The Anxiety and Worry Workbook” offers tools to better understand and manage anxiety thoughts and triggers.
Pros
- treatment approach was developed and tested over 25 years
- includes worksheets and homework
Cons
- the back-and-forth from the book and worksheets can be overwhelming
Shop now at Amazon
| Price | What it’s best for | Customer rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dare | $$$ | learning about cognitive behavioral therapy skills | 4. 5 out of 5 stars |
| Declutter Your Mind | $$ | implementing mindfulness into your day-to-day | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| Hardcore Self Help: F**k Anxiety | $ | funny stories and making light of hard situations | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook | $$$ | doing activities to help you make sense of feelings of anxiety or panic | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| The Anti-Anxiety Food Solution | $$$ | lifestyle tips that you can carry with you | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind | $$$ | historical information and scientific data to back up advice | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You | $$$ | people who often feel overwhelmed by worldly events and things going on around them | 4. 5 out of 5 stars |
| From Panic to Power: Proven Techniques to Calm Your Anxieties, Conquer Your Fears, and Put You in Control of Your Life | $$$ | personal anecdotes | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| Hope and Help for Your Nerves | $$ | learning specific techniques to help with your anxiety | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| At Last a Life | $$$ | science-backed techniques on approaching anxiety | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| When Panic Attacks | $$$ | learning about meditation | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| Panic Attacks Workbook: A Guided Program for Beating the Panic Trick | $$$ | guided activities and journaling prompts | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
| The Anxiety and Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution | $$ | in-depth understanding about anxiety and panic | 4. 5 out of 5 stars |
There are many different methods of dealing with anxiety, ranging from CBT to mindfulness to medication. Some methods may work better for certain people than for others. If you’re interested in learning about specific areas, you should look for a book that focuses on those techniques.
It’s also a good idea to look for a book written by a qualified professional, such as a doctor (an M.D.), therapist, counselor, or psychologist. This way, you can feel confident that all information included is vetted and science-backed.
Alternatively, some books about anxiety are written by non-medical professionals and simply focus on the author’s personal experience. Should you feel that this is most helpful in your anxiety journey, there are plenty of reads you can pick up that dive into people’s personal anecdotes.
Finally, you may want to look for a book that was published as recently as possible. A book that came out 10 to 20 years ago most likely will not include the most up-to-date information about mental health conditions, medication, or helpful techniques.
You may want to consider seeing a mental health professional for anxiety if:
- your symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life
- you’re experiencing physical symptoms in addition to mental ones
- you’ve been experiencing these symptoms for a long period of time
Your primary care physician can refer you to a psychologist or therapist if needed. These professionals will be able to help you find methods to manage your anxiety.
What is the difference between stress and anxiety?
Most of the time, an external trigger causes stress. Stress can be short-term during times of relational difficulty or extra tasks at work. Anxiety, however, may have no discernible cause. It can be persistent and escalate into anxiety or panic attacks, or uncomfortable physical symptoms.
What is the best book to overcome anxiety?
Our pick for the best overall book on anxiety is “At Last A Life” by Paul David. However, there are dozens of anxiety-based books on the market, many of which cover different research or personal experiences.
A single book might not be as helpful to some people as others.
Can reading books help with anxiety?
Yes! Reading can help with anxiety by easing stress and helping your body and mind relax. Some doctors even incorporate bibliotherapy (treatment through the use of books) for patients with mental health conditions.
Reading books about anxiety can be a good way to help you think more positively and find ways to manage anxiety attacks.
It is important to remember that although these books can be helpful, they shouldn’t take the place of working with a licensed mental health professional.
If you feel like you need help managing your anxiety, schedule an appointment with a professional.
How to deal with anxiety? Books about psychology to help with this
T
CULTURE•books
Text: Lisa Birger
Lisa Birger, a literary critic, writes about new, interesting and important books every week in The Blueprint and Bookmate column.
In this issue, we deal with one of the main problems of the modern resident of the metropolis: anxiety and related diseases - from depression to bipolar disorder.
We live in an era of anxiety — and it seems that anxiety has become the main urban disease today. Everyone feels it differently: someone pours sanitizer on their hands five times a day, someone is afraid to go down the subway because of panic attacks. Like most urban dwellers, I am also prone to anxiety. I experience it when I find myself in a crowded subway car, when I read the news, and when I face my own impotence when I count family finances. At the same time, our mental anxiety rarely becomes a reason to go to the doctor (and in vain, of course). Fortunately, there are books that clearly explain how the psyche works - and help, if necessary, to take the first step towards psychotherapy.
Anna Pogrebnyak
The Tyranny of Anxiety: How to Get Rid of Anxiety and Worry
The mechanisms of anxiety have long been disassembled into gears, hundreds of books have been written about it.
But sometimes one is enough to put everything in order and get a chance to manage your anxiety. And maybe even defeat her. The book of the psychologist Anna Pogrebnyak is good for just such a calm pronunciation. What makes us unhappy is primarily shame learned from childhood and high expectations. That many of us are in an imaginary “Anxiety Club”: you are in it, if you see negativity everywhere and don’t tell anyone about it, you try to escape from discomfort and control everything, instead of letting go and forgetting, accepting life.
The main advantage of this book is that it is written about us right now. About a city dweller in the era of unfinished quarantine, who experiences a feeling of frightening uncertainty, is afraid of the future, sprays everything with a disinfectant and cannot bring himself to leave the house. Anxiety manifests itself in various forms, sometimes obvious fears, sometimes implicit fears, but we can definitely say that today everyone experiences it in one way or another.
The psychologist has the main advice for this: breathe. Straighten your back, take your eyes off your smartphones, practice inhaling and exhaling for a count of five while holding your breath, it helps.
And if it seems to you that you still owe someone, owe something, are not good enough, and since today you have not taken a single step to make the world a better place, then there are enough lists, tables in the book of Anna Pogrebnyak and other simple and understandable explanations why this is not so. It is easy to read, and this reading itself is somewhat like a breathing exercise - as a reminder that you live, that there is not much you can change, and that it is the ambition to control and change everything, from politics to yourself, that leads to anxiety. The brevity of Pogrebnyak's book becomes its next virtue - you can just open it when once again you feel that you can't cope. And understand that you don't have to do it on your own.
Jennifer Shannon
Don't feed the monkey! How to get out of the vicious circle of worry and anxiety»
Translation from English: Lyubov Kolodyazhnaya and Elena Davydova
Therapist Jennifer Shannon wrote a book about anxiety, based on twenty years of practice and her own life-long experience of dealing with anxiety.
In her book, she takes the main Buddhist metaphor of the restless mind, the “monkey mind.” But in her skillful hands, the monkey seems to become alive - she does circus tricks with us, we can tame her in return. Jennifer's story is all the more important for the reader because she herself succeeded. And she writes about it in such an easy, funny and understandable way, with funny pictures and accessible techniques, which we can do too.
Anton Zainiev, Daria Varlamova
“Go crazy! City Guide to Mental Disorders
This important book for all of us not only popularly explains what everyone can get sick at any moment - depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD and other abbreviations that we would prefer never to decipher, - but also clearly shows that getting sick is also normal. 14.9% of men and 22% of women will face some kind of mental disorder in the next year, but these diseases themselves are often hushed up, they are ashamed and do not understand. What is a shame - in addition to the fact that this knowledge can be useful to us in life, it is also incredibly interesting.
After all, what can show the structure of the brain more clearly than a demonstration of exactly how it fails?
David Burns
Mood Therapy. A clinically proven way to beat depression without pills”
American psychiatrist David Burns is one of the popularizers of cognitive behavioral therapy, which claims that in order to change your life, you need to change your thoughts. And although psychologists and psychiatrists warn that dealing with depression without specialists (and sometimes medications) is almost impossible, the book itself contains the results of clinical studies: judging by them, one reading of this book is enough to improve your condition. In response to panic, feelings of worthlessness and anxiety, Burns provides rational explanations and solutions that are so convincing precisely because they are so undeniably reasonable. No Buddhist stuff, pure science: chemistry, physics and logic, of course.
Jeffrey Brantley
Calm Your Anxious Mind: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Relieve You of Anxiety, Fear and Panic
Translated from English by Sergey Komarov
Another classic book on anxiety was written by Dr.
Jeffrey Brantley twenty years ago, when mindfulness and awareness were brand new words. This is practically a meditation textbook for a modern person: how to breathe, how to meditate (and how not to meditate), how to eat consciously and rest consciously. The book also describes another Buddhist practice that will be useful to any of us: in order to calm anxiety, one must not run away, but, on the contrary, develop empathy and compassion for someone else's pain. And through someone else to regret and accept yourself.
Scott Stossel
The Age of Anxiety. Fears, hopes, neuroses and the search for peace of mind”
Translation from English: Maria Desyatova
The English title of the book is “My Age of Anxiety”. Because the age of anxiety is a well-established name for the second half of the twentieth century after the Caribbean crisis, with the constant expectation of a catastrophe that is about to break out. A personal disaster may well begin with a panic attack at the altar.
The hero and author of this book has a whole bunch of anxiety disorders in general - and an equally long list of therapies and drugs that did not work in his case. All the more valuable is his book, which does not offer any cure for anxiety, does not claim that it is possible, but turns into a journey to its very essence. Thus, by analyzing the genetic or pharmacological component of anxiety, learning about those who worried before us, we feel not alone and aware.
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5 Self -help books with increased anxiety
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5 Self -help books with increased anxiety
Vika Arakelyan
August 16, 2021 13:29
According to the American publication Morbidity and Mortaly Weekly Report, during the Pandemia, people in the Pandemia of steel in three times more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety disorders.
Coping with such conditions can be difficult. Hiring a specialist is still the best solution, but it's good to have tools on hand to help yourself.
The Anxious Brain
Joseph A. Annibali
The American psychiatrist's original title is Reclaim Your Brain. Annibali believes that an overloaded brain underlies the entire spectrum of anxiety disorders, from post-traumatic to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Describing cases from his practice in the Amen clinic, he illustrates various "breakdowns" of consciousness and suggests ways to get rid of them.
Anxious Brain is good because, unlike many self-help books, it does not dissuade the reader from drug therapy and does not promise miraculous healing. On the contrary, Annibali talks in detail about what drugs you can be prescribed and what to expect from them. The chapter on each disorder also ends with a small list of dietary supplements that have actually shown their effectiveness in research: for those who want to try to do without "big pharma".
Publishing House
Bombori
Translation
MV Novikova
“Return to Life”
Paul David
The book of Paul David does not have an official Russian publication, but amateur translations are often published on thematic forums and publics . David is not a psychiatrist, but an ordinary person who has suffered from a severe anxiety disorder for 10 years. He speaks the same language with readers and describes sensations that are understandable and close to every "anxiety person" - this is what many lack in books written by psychiatrists. In Resurrection, David addresses conditions that are rarely covered in the self-help literature, such as derealization and depersonalization syndromes. This is one of those books that you can read right during a panic attack or an acute attack of anxiety: David's confidence that your healing is possible no matter how many months or years you live with the disorder is therapeutic in itself.
Buy
Amazon
Anxiety Therapy.
How to Manage Fears, Anxiety, and Panic Attacks Without Medication David Burns
Anxiety Therapy is a new book by psychiatrist David Burns, author of the bestselling Mood Therapy, about self-help for depressive disorders. Despite the clickbait headline (the attractive “no drugs” won’t work for everyone, of course), this is a good guide to applying the principles of CBT. Inside the book, Burns offers an anxiety profile test and gives you a mood journal template to fill out daily. This is followed by a dozen chapters with different CBT techniques that psychotherapists use in their practice (and which you can apply yourself). Burns also helps to understand how to recognize the cherished recovery and stop fearing the recurrence of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety Therapy is more like a real workbook than any other book in the collection: it is expected that you not only read it, but also regularly perform the tasks and practices described.
Publisher
Alpina Publisher
Translation
A.
Kogteva
“Don't feed the monkey! How to get out of the vicious circle of worry and anxiety
Jennifer Shannon
A pretty book by CBT psychotherapist Jennifer Shannon is more suitable for people with a high level of daily anxiety, but "not holding up" to clinical manifestations. Shannon writes about perfectionism, over-responsibility, cycles of worry, and fears. The disturbing mind in the book is embodied in the image of a monkey, which is proposed to be tamed and trained. "Don't feed the monkey!" Written in simple language and illustrated with clear and funny infographics, it can make life easier for those who worry about little things every day.
Publisher
“Ves”
Translation
E. Davydova, L. Kolodyazhnaya
“Anxiety, fear and panic attacks. Self Help Book”
Andrey Goloshchapov
In 2010 Andrey Goloshchapov received his Ph.D. at the University of California and worked for several years as a research fellow in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior.
