Anxiety has a very unwelcome way of popping up when you least expect it.
For some, anxiety strikes early in the morning—just to make sure your day starts off on a really stellar note.
The good news though is that with treatment (via self-reflection, therapy or medication), anxiety can be very much managed and a lot of it comes down to breaking the negative thought patterns that cause you to doubt yourself.
Much like most things in life, knowledge is power when it comes to trying to understand better what anxiety is, the role of your brain, and how, once it hits, to re-establish some control. Books on the topic of anxiety - as long as they're well backed by research - can be helpful for anyone who might struggle with the language around articulating a feeling or experience or might require more practical tools on a daily basis.
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The best books for anxiety are the ones that equip you with a new outlook, different habit, fresh motivation or actionable exercises to implement and try.
If you're looking to shake anxious thoughts before they take hold, see our expert-advised reading list below — and don't forget to grab a pencil, because a number of these reads require serious note-taking.
Useful Books for Anxiety
If you’re not sure where to start:
The Worry Trick, by David A Carbonell - BUY
If you're prone to perfectionism:
Better Than Perfect, 7 Strategies to Crush Your Inner Critic and Create a Life You Love, by Dr Elizabath Lombardo - BUY
If you want something radical:
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life, by Mark Manson - BUY
If you're a chronic worrier:
When Panic Attacks: The New, Drug-Free Anxiety Therapy That Can Change Your Life, by David D. Burns - BUY
If you like your help served with a side of humour:
We’re All Mad Here: The No-Nonsense Guide to Living With Social Anxiety, by Claire Eastham - BUY
If self-love is your biggest goal in self-isolation:
How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety, by Dr. Ellen Hendriksen - BUY
If you or someone you know is suffering from mental health issues, there is help available:
- Samaritans – 116 123 – [email protected] or [email protected]
- Pieta House – 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444
- Aware - 1800 80 48 48
- Childline – 1800 66 66 66 or free text 50101
Main image by @gisele on Instagram
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