The Anxiety First Aid Kit: Quick Tools for Extreme, Uncertain Times

It’s so handy for a quick k but sufficient overview, heaps of greatTechnique ideas and I recommend it to most clients.

Thanks to NetGalley and New Harbinger for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book!I really enjoyed this little book and while it can't replace things like professional therapy or prescribed medication, it's a great supplement with a variety of techniques that you can try in the moment and on your own time. I would say it's more like a toolbox than a first aid kit, since out of the 40 suggestions, only 10 are meant for immediately dealing with anxiety in the moment and trying to find calm. The next section is about working on worry and anxiety from a step away, and ways to distance yourself from anxious thoughts. The third section is on deep relaxation achieved through things like hypnosis, and the fourth section is on structural life changes that will help, like better sleep and moving your body with exercise.I appreciate the very straightforward nature of this book. It's laid out very simply, with each suggestion numbered 1-40, and each section divided into "What to Know" - a little bit of background, ranging from the biology of the fight or flight response to the history of hypnosis - and "What to Do" - action steps to carry out the technique.Some of these techniques are familiar, especially in the first two section - deep breathing, mindfulness, setting a "worry appointment" where you tell yourself to address at a later time - while others were new and interesting. The word "hypnosis" makes me nervous (I blame Office Space), but I appreciated how they framed it as something like daydreaming. And while there are some elements like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and trying to approach the problem logically, there are suggestions that go the opposite way and talk about repeating your most intense, outlandish thought dozens of times until it loses its meaning. This wide variety of approaches means that I'm confident that I'll be able to experiment and find some approaches that work best for me.The real test is whether I'll pick this book up in the moment and find something, vs this current cover-to-cover read with the intention to review. We shall see! On that note, I appreciate that the authors suggest taking the paperback and putting it somewhere like a coffee table, where it's easy to pick it up when needed. Again, this cannot replace professional help but I hope it can assist people in its intended use in providing some ideas to explore on your own.

I’m a good way through this. Had some very helpful info and exercises. Would recommend for beginners in their journey.

Very nice, great tips for anxiety and panic! I loved his book Buddha's Brain, and I love this one too!