So you have anxiety,
you may have been told by your doctor, your therapist may have brought attention to anxiety symptoms or you have done the research yourself!
In this post, I will be recommending 5 books that have helped my clients overcome or cope with their anxiety to make it manageable.
These books are not a substitute for medical advice or therapy, so its always best to be used alongside treatment.
Rewire Your Anxious Brain by C.Pittman and E.Karle
This is my number ONE book I recommend to clients experiencing anxiety. The first half of the book is focused on explaining (in everyday terms) what is physiologically happening in your brain and body when you are experiencing anxiety. The last half has techniques to after you recognise the type of anxiety you have, what you can specifically do to help alleviate the symptoms.
Anxiety is really strange by Steve Haines
This book series is amazing visually anyway, however it is also really informative! It uses graphics to visually take you through what's going on in your body and how it presents. Its not a long book however I don't think it needs to be! Short and effective.
Mindfulness By Mark Williams and Danny Penman
So mindfulness for me and a bit of either hit or miss with clients. It can either be amazingly effective and not one bit. I always recommend to give it a go though and you may be the one which it really works for. Anxiety coping techniques is all about trial and error! what works for you wont work for another, so this book is a good general introduction to mindfulness. it also includes a guided CD to help with the exercises.
The CBT Handbook by Pamela Miles and Rox Shafran
This book is excellent for anxiety, although many people who have had CBT may be put off... don't be! This book is really easy to follow and has specific exercises for cognitive anxiety (triggered by thinking patterns).
The Body Holds The Score by Bessel Van De Kolk
So this book is actually focused on trauma, however it really provides an educational foundation on how mental wellbeing effects our physicality. Its not an easy read though (just to warn you)! But totally worth it in the end.
Charli Davies
***If you're a trainee counsellor I might have just the thing for you!!!***
The Trainee Counsellor's Workbook now on amazon:
